Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk… Read Full Bio ↴Arlo Guthrie (born 10th July 1947, Brooklyn, New York ) is an American folk singer who is the son of folk singer and composer Woody Guthrie and his wife Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a one-time professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington's Disease. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Massachusetts in 1965, and briefly attended Rocky Mountain College.

His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.

Go Down Moses
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics

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Traditional

When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
Let my people go,
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.
Chorus
Go down, Moses,

Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharoah,
Let my people go.
Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go,
If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
Let my people go.
Chorus
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go,
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go.
Chorus
We need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go,
And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go.
Chorus
Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go,
And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
Let my people go.
Chorus
O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go,
And let us all in Christ be free,

Let my people go.
Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "Go Down Moses" is a spiritual that was popularized during the time of American slavery. The lyrics refer to the story of Moses as told in the Bible's Old Testament book of Exodus, where the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and eventually led to freedom by Moses. The chorus, "Let my people go," became a powerful message for the African American slaves who were also seeking their own liberation.

The lyrics begin with "When Israel was in Egypt's Land, oppressed so hard they could not stand." This sets the scene for the story of the Israelites and their enslavement, with the repeated plea of "Let my people go" serving as a cry for freedom. The second verse references the Biblical account of Moses asking Pharaoh to release the Israelites, threatening to smite his first-born if he refused. This verse reinforces the power of the Lord and the authority of Moses.

The third verse speaks to the idea that the Israelites should not only be freed from bondage but also be able to take with them the spoils of Egypt. This symbolizes a hope for not only freedom but also economic and material prosperity. The fourth verse urges an end to sorrow and mourning and a breaking free from the chains of slavery. The fifth verse talks about the Israelites taking possession of the Promised Land once they are free, and the final verse equates the release of the Israelites from bondage with the Christian concept of spiritual freedom.

Overall, "Go Down Moses" is a powerful and timeless song that speaks to the universal yearning for freedom and liberation from oppression.

Line by Line Meaning

When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
During the time when Israelites were in the land of Egypt

Let my people go,
Moses requests Pharoah to free his people

Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Israelites were severely mistreated and could not bear the pain any longer

Go down, Moses,
Call for action to Moses

Way down in Egypt's Land.
In the midst of the land of Egypt

Tell ol' Pharoah,
Directly address Pharoah

Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Moses, speaking as the messenger of God, proclaims

If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
Moses warns of the consequence of not freeing Israelites

No more shall they in bondage toil,
No longer will they have to work as slaves

Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Israelites should take what they deserve before departing