Eli was a young Negro. Unfortunately, like most other Negroes of his time, he was also a slave. He lived in a small, one-room shack on an immense plantation in Virginia along with his family. While his family consisted of four members at the present time, there was still another – his older brother. James had been unmercifully auctioned off long ago. Now they had no idea where he was or what condition he was in, much less whether he was alive or not. The rest were Eli, the mom and dad, and Josiah, his younger brother.  Singing songs to each other, Eli’s family quietly enjoyed a slave’s only time of rest, the evening. Although he could never understand its meaning, there was one particular song that he, and the whole family, had always enjoyed. Eli noted the chorus as they sang:

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,

Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd.

For the Old Man’s waiting for to carry you to freedom,

If you follow the Drinkin’ Gourd.

As they finished their song on this spring night, the father suddenly bolt upright. The quails had begun calling, like a chorus of melodic angels, over and over again. “Tonight is the night,” said the father, poorly covered excitement radiating from his face. “We must leave immediately.” Instantly, the father and mother began dashing around the house, packing up what small belongings they had, while the two boys stood, barraging their parents with questions. Before Eli knew what was happening, he found himself running through the tobacco fields with his family towards the nearest patch of woods. Once there, his father said, in a gruff yet somewhat excited voice, “Follow the drinkin’ gourd.”

“Why? What’s happening? Where are we going?” asked the son as they began to run again.

“Shh, keep your voice down, I can’t explain right now just run.” Suppressing the questions that threatened to burst from his mouth, Eli was shocked to find himself wading through a river. “To hide our scent from the dogs,” his dad hurriedly explained. With those few words Eli realized what was happening, and as the switch flipped, he understood the meaning of that wonderful, glorious song, “Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd.” They were escaping! If ever there ever came a time when Eli was found filled with joy beyond words, now was it! That glorious song was the key to their escape! Instructions for a runaway slave!