by Eliana West
“Bird Up Yonder”
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
Code: Bird up at the main house has the details. Find the bird.
Fix my eyes to Zion, Lord.
I’m here on bended knee.
Code 1: Be on your knees and look up. Wherever this bird is in the house, it’s not very high.
Code 2: pretend you’re cleaning on your knees, don’t draw attention. Don’t get caught. Be discreet.
To white slave owner, slaves are singing about praying (on their knees) to God and being subservient.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
When the hour is early,
Walk me on to glory.
Code: It’s best to see the bird early in the morning, natural light makes it readable. Will lead you to freedom.
To white Slave owner, my slaves love God they don’t mind dying (glory, the afterlife) I got good slaves.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
Moses tell the story,
The Power and The Glory,
Code: Moses, let my people go. Everyone this is an escape song. Find the bird and take direction to leave tonight. Harriet Tubman (aka Moses or someone like her) is meeting us. Power & Glory. Glory repeated (to simplify) also representing Almighty God (The King of Glory) will go with us.
Meaning of “Go Down Moses,”
- “Go Down Moses” is a spiritual phrase that describes events in the Old Testament of the Bible, specifically Exodus 8:1: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the LORD, let my people go, that they may serve me”, in which God commands Moses to demand the release of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt.
- Sarah Bradford’s authorized biography of Harriet Tubman, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman (1869), quotes Tubman as saying she used “Go Down Moses” as one of two code songs fugitive slaves used to communicate when fleeing Maryland. [7] Tubman began her underground railroad work in 1850 and continued until the beginning of the Civil War.
- Used Moses 3rd verse to rep Harriet Tubman and Underground Railroad. Moses = it’s time to escape.
To slave owner, I have good submissive slaves they know the Bible (Moses, power and the glory)
A bird up yonder’ll show the way.
If you enjoyed The Way Home, you’ll love the next book in the….
Heart of Colton series
Book 1: The Way Forward
Buy now!
Book 2: The Way Home
View the series here!
Book 3: The Way Beyond
Coming September 2021!
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About the Author
Eliana West writes multi-cultural romance with diverse characters. When not writing, Eliana can be found exploring the many wineries in Oregon and Washington with her husband in their vintage Volkswagen Westfalia named Bianca.
She is the founder of Writers for Diversity a community for writers interested in creating diverse characters and worlds.
Visit her website at elianawest.com
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