Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People, Original Music Video - The Singing Pediatrician
My newest song, Moses, is based on the gorgeous Caldecott Honor book, Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The song is a fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey from runaway slave to conductor on the Underground Railroad. I found the book deeply moving, poignantly recounting the fears and struggles of a faithful woman on a courageous journey.
I have been intending to write a song about this book since the first time I read it over a year ago. However, I was paralyzed by an initial sense that I needed to write the song in a genre appropriate to subject of the book. Unfortunately, given my limited experience in writing and performing traditional styles of African-American music, after a year of mediocre attempts, I eventually realized that I would not be able to write a gospel song that did the story justice. Thus, I gave up on the idea of writing within a specific genre and just set out to write a song that was as good as possible -- and the only way I was going to do that was to write in the genre that I know best (although I'm not sure of the best name for it: Singer-songwriter? Indie? Rock-pop?). I hope you're not bothered that this isn't a gospel, jazz or blues song; I'm sorry, I did my best!
So, here it is, the account of an epic journey that lies at the roots of our national history; a reminder of both our nation's shame and the heroism it produced. This Black History Month (February), I want to remember Harriet Tubman's courage. We are all on journeys; we all face the option of giving up or forging ahead. I hope that when we encounter obstacles that appear insurmountable, we can pray with Harriet: "Lord, make me strong. Help me fight."
If you like the song, please share it with a friend -- and let me know below!
Below are the lyrics for the song:
I am your child, Lord
I hear you in a whip-poor-will's song
My mind is made up, tomorrow, I will flee alone
When that old chariot comes, I'm going to leave
An owl screeches that the hour has come.
Hounds snarl, hoofs beat, I'm hiding in the reeds
Must I trust my life, to strangers, will they turn on me
Each moonlit weary mile, I'm marching on, all the while holding to your hand
Swing low, sweet chariot, swing low,
'Cause I can't make it on my own
Don't let nobody turn me 'round
I'd rather die than go back now
Living on free soil, but tears fall, for family still down South
I'm ready Lord, lead me, over paths on secret routes
Shepherding runaways through the night, I will bring your slaves to Canaan Land
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home
Coming for to carry me home
Carry me home