{
 "id": "james-weldon-johnson/let-my-people-go",
 "title": "Let My People Go",
 "poet": "James Weldon Johnson",
 "poet_slug": "james-weldon-johnson",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse",
 "book_slug": "gods-trombones",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 4,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1927,
  "venue": "God's Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse (1927)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/godstrombonessev00johnso"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/james-weldon-johnson_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://www.google.com/books/edition/How_the_National_Association_for_the_Adv/AAs-AQAAMAAJ",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17884",
   "https://archive.org/details/fiftyyearsother00johnrich",
   "https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/johnson/johnson.html",
   "https://archive.org/details/godstrombonessev00johnso"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-12"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 205,
  "n_stanzas": 22,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 66,
  "max_indent": 0
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 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "And God called Moses from the burning bush,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He called in a still, small voice,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he said: Moses⁠—Moses⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses listened,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he answered and said:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lord, here am I.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And the voice in the bush said: Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Draw not nigh, take off your shoes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For you’re standing on holy ground.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses stopped where he stood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses took off his shoes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses looked at the burning bush,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he heard the voice,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But he saw no man.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then God again spoke to Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he spoke in a voice of thunder:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I am the Lord God Almighty,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I am the God of thy fathers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I am the God of Abraham,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Isaac and of Jacob.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses hid his face.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And God said to Moses:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’ve seen the awful suffering",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of my people down in Egypt.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’ve watched their hard oppressors,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their overseers and drivers;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The groans of my people have filled my ears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I can’t stand it no longer;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So I’m come down to deliver them",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Out of the land of Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I will bring them out of that land",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Into the land of Canaan;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Therefore, Moses, go down,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Go down into Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And tell Old Pharaoh",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To let my people go.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Moses said: Lord, who am I",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To make a speech before Pharaoh?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For, Lord, you know I’m slow of tongue.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But God said: I will be thy mouth and I will be thy tongue;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Therefore, Moses, go down,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Go down yonder into Egypt land,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And tell Old Pharaoh",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To let my people go.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Moses with his rod in hand",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Went down and said to Pharaoh:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let my people go.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh looked at Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He stopped still and looked at Moses;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he said to Moses: Who is this Lord?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I know all the gods of Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But I know no God of Israel;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So go back, Moses, and tell your God,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I will not let this people go.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Poor Old Pharaoh,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He knows all the knowledge of Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet never knew⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He never knew",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The one and the living God.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Poor Old Pharaoh,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He’s got all the power of Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he’s going to try",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To test his strength",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With the might of the great Jehovah,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With the might of the Lord God of Hosts,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Lord mighty in battle.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And God, sitting high up in his heaven,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Laughed at poor Old Pharaoh.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh called the overseers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh called the drivers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he said: Put heavier burdens still",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the backs of the Hebrew Children.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then the people chode with Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they cried out: Look here, Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You’ve been to Pharaoh, but look and see",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What Pharaoh’s done to us now.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses was troubled in mind.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But God said: Go again, Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You and your brother, Aaron,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And say once more to Pharaoh,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let my people go.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses and Aaron with their rods in hand",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Worked many signs and wonders.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Pharaoh called for his magic men,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they worked wonders, too.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he would not,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No, he would not",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let God’s people go.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And God rained down plagues on Egypt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Plagues of frogs and lice and locusts,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Plagues of blood and boils and darkness,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And other plagues besides.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But ev’ry time God moved the plague",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Old Pharaoh’s heart was hardened,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he would not,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No, he would not",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let God’s people go.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses was troubled in mind.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then the Lord said: Listen, Moses,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The God of Israel will not be mocked,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Just one more witness of my power",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’ll give hard-hearted Pharaoh.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This very night about midnight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I’ll pass over Egypt land,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In my righteous wrath will I pass over,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And smite their first-born dead.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And God that night passed over.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And a cry went up out of Egypt.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh rose in the middle of the night",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he sent in a hurry for Moses;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he said: Go forth from among my people,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You and all the Hebrew Children;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Take your goods and take your flocks,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And get away from the land of Egypt.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And, right then, Moses led them out,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With all their goods and all their flocks;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And God went on before,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A guiding pillar of cloud by day,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And a pillar of fire by night.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they journeyed on in the wilderness,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And came down to the Red Sea.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "In the morning,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Oh, in the morning,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They missed the Hebrew Children.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Four hundred years,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Four hundred years",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They’d held them down in Egypt land.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Held them under the driver’s lash,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Working without money and without price.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And it might have been Pharaoh’s wife that said:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pharaoh⁠—look what you’ve done.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "You let those Hebrew Children go,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And who’s going to serve us now?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who’s going to make our bricks and mortar?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who’s going to plant and plow our corn?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who’s going to get up in the chill of the morning?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And who’s going to work in the blazing sun?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pharaoh, tell me that!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh called his generals,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the generals called the captains,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the captains called the soldiers.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they hitched up all the chariots,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Six hundred chosen chariots of war,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And twenty-four hundred horses.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the chariots all were full of men,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With swords and shields",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And shiny spears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And battle bows and arrows.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh and his army",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pursued the Hebrew Children",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the edge of the Red Sea.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Now, the Children of Israel, looking back,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Saw Pharaoh’s army coming.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the rumble of the chariots was like a thunder storm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the whirring of the wheels was like a rushing wind,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the dust from the horses made a cloud that darked the day,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the glittering of the spears was like lightnings in the night.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And the Children of Israel all lost faith,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The children of Israel all lost hope;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Deep Red Sea in front of them",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh’s host behind.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they mumbled and grumbled among themselves:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Were there no graves in Egypt?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they wailed aloud to Moses and said:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Slavery in Egypt was better than to come",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To die here in this wilderness.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But Moses said:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stand still! Stand still!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And see the Lord’s salvation.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For the Lord God of Israel",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Will not forsake his people.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Lord will break the chariots,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The Lord will break the horsemen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He’ll break great Egypt’s sword and shield,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The battle bows and arrows;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This day he’ll make proud Pharaoh know",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who is the God of Israel.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Moses lifted up his rod",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Over the Red Sea;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And God with a blast of his nostrils",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Blew the waters apart,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the waves rolled back and stood up in a pile,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And left a path through the middle of the sea",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dry as the sands of the desert.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the Children of Israel all crossed over",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On to the other side.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "When Pharaoh saw them crossing dry,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He dashed on in behind them⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Old Pharaoh got about half way cross,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And God unlashed the waters,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the waves rushed back together,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pharaoh and all his army got lost,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all his host got drownded.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Moses sang and Miriam danced,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the people shouted for joy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And God led the Hebrew Children on",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till they reached the promised land.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Listen!⁠—Listen!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All you sons of Pharaoh.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who do you think can hold God’s people",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When the Lord God himself has said,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let my people go?",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}