Go Down Moses
SubRosa Lyrics


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When Isreal was in Egypt's land
Let me people go
Oppressed so hard the could not stand
Let my people go

Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land
Tell old Pharaoh, let my people go
So Moses went to Egypt's land
Let my people go
To make old Pharaoh understand
Let my people go
Thus spake the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go




If not, I'll strike your firstborn dead
Let my people go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song Go Down Moses by SubRosa speak of the Biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt. The singer of the song calls out to Pharaoh to let their people go because of the immense oppression they were facing. Israel was in a land where they were reduced to servitude, and they had no freedom. The lyrics "oppressed so hard they could not stand" captures the harsh reality of their lives where they were worked to the bone and had no respite.


The singer then calls upon Moses to go down to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh to let the people go. Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery by using his divine powers to convince Pharaoh to release them from bondage. The phrase "tell old Pharaoh, let my people go" repeated throughout the song captures the essence of the story where Moses repeatedly demands that Pharaoh frees the Israelites.


Line by Line Meaning

When Isreal was in Egypt's land
At the time when the nation of Israel was present in the land of Egypt


Let me people go
Pharaoh should release the Israelites from their slavery


Oppressed so hard the could not stand
The Israelites were under extreme and unbearable physical and mental pressure while working as slaves


Let my people go
Pharaoh should release the Israelites from their slavery


Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land
Moses, go to the land of Egypt where your people are enslaved


Tell old Pharaoh, let my people go
Instruct Pharaoh to release the Israelites from their enslavement


So Moses went to Egypt's land
Thus, Moses travelled to Egypt where the Israelites were enslaved


To make old Pharaoh understand
Moses went to Pharaoh to make him understand that he should release the Israelites from their enslavement


Let my people go
Pharaoh should release the Israelites from their slavery


Thus spake the Lord, bold Moses said,
Moses spoke on behalf of God, putting emphasis on the importance, boldly


If not, I'll strike your firstborn dead
If Pharaoh does not comply, God will take action and kill the firstborn of the Egyptians


Let my people go
Pharaoh should release the Israelites from their slavery




Contributed by Eliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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