Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Follow the Drinking GourdGourd

Direction TranslationDirection Translation

Follow the Drinking Gourd!Follow the Drinking Gourd!Follow the Drinking Gourd!Follow the Drinking Gourd!

The Drinking Gourd = the Big DipperThe Drinking Gourd = the Big Dipper

Points northPoints north

For the old man is awaiting For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedomfor to carry you to freedom

►Old Man is slang for a captainOld Man is slang for a captain

►Old Man= Peg Leg JoeOld Man= Peg Leg Joe

Where & WhenWhere & When

When the sun comes back When the sun comes back and the first quail callsand the first quail calls

►““Sun comes back”= SpringSun comes back”= Spring the days get longerthe days get longer

►““the first quail calls”= Mid-Aprilthe first quail calls”= Mid-April quail breeding seasonquail breeding season

Mobile, Alabama- Mobile, Alabama- NorthNorth

The riverbank makes a very The riverbank makes a very good road,good road,

►““river”= Tombigbee river which is in river”= Tombigbee river which is in AlabamaAlabama

The dead trees will show you The dead trees will show you the way,the way,

►Charcoal mud markings were put on Charcoal mud markings were put on tree and rocks as a guidetree and rocks as a guide

Left foot, peg foot traveling Left foot, peg foot traveling onon

►The markings were of a human left The markings were of a human left foot and a round spot for the right footfoot and a round spot for the right foot

Mississippi- Mississippi- TennesseeTennessee

The river ends between two The river ends between two hillshills

►The Tombigbee River ends at Woodall The Tombigbee River ends at Woodall MountainMountain

There’s another river on the There’s another river on the other sideother side

►Cross to the left side of the Tennessee Cross to the left side of the Tennessee RiverRiver Why? Because it had a more direct Why? Because it had a more direct

northern route north to Ohionorthern route north to Ohio

End of the RouteEnd of the Route

Where the great big river meets Where the great big river meets the little riverthe little river

►Big river= Ohio RiverBig river= Ohio River►Little river= Tennessee RiverLittle river= Tennessee River

The old man is awaiting for to The old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedomcarry you to freedom

►A guide will be waiting where the rivers A guide will be waiting where the rivers meet meet