Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

Key Themes in the Song Presentation

• Introduction

  • Music sets the emotional tone.
  • Harriet Tubman is the main focus.

• Imagery of Perseverance

  • Face turned to the side
  • Weight on shoulders
  • Eyes in the back of the head (alert and ready to run)

• Determination and Resilience

  • "Do what I can while I can"
  • Description of fighting with strength until the end.

• Journey and Sacrifice

  • Freedom journey of 100 miles
  • Various struggles on the path to salvation
  • Losing blood on the way to freedom

• Collective Effort

  • "Take my people with me"
  • Togetherness in crossing the river
  • Concept of collective salvation

• Victory and Hope

  • Stars filling the night
  • Light shining
  • Continued effort to keep moving forward ("keep on keepin' on")

• Symbolism

  • River as a boundary for freedom
  • Reference to changing names as a mark of freedom

• Historical Context

  • Welcome to the Underground Railroad: reference to the network used by enslaved African Americans to escape

Important Lines and Their Significance

• "I got eyes in the back of my head just in case I have to run"

  • Constant vigilance and readiness to escape oppression.

• "Take my people with me together we are going"

  • Emphasis on collective action and leadership.

• "Keep on keepin' on"

  • Encouragement to persist despite challenges.

• "I fight with the strength that I got until I die"

  • Depicts the fierce determination to achieve freedom.