Where My Soul will Be Free
Improvisation by Bernie Katzman, of a song by Susan Maskin
Lyrics by Susan Maskin

Frederick Douglass, an enslaved African who escaped to freedom and later became an abolitionist, implied in his autobiography,  Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,  that some of the spirituals sung by the enslaved people contained coded messages which helped the enslaved to escape.  He stated that songs had "multiple uses." There is  probably no clear written documentation that supports the claim that  some of these songs were instructions, though  legends do indicate that songs such as "Follow the Drinking Gourd," "The Gospel Train," "Steal Away," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,"  "Wade in the Water," and some others were actually partial guides  for those escaping bondage.  "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot might  have referred to the Ohio River and the safe haven of Ripley Ohio. (for more information check out this wonderful website: http://www.negrospirituals.com/    ) There is controversy over whether in fact these songs actually did have  codes or instructions for those trying to escape. However, since a variety of  ways for sending messages and communicating were used, it is quite possible, perhaps probable, that these spiritual songs might have had this function or at least, been used as inspiration to escape. In addition, since many legends are at least loosely  based on something factual, I believe songs were possibly used. Whatever is true regarding coded messages,  the "spirituals" were  religious songs and a source of hope and support for the enslaved people.

It is important to note that some well-known spirituals were written by identifiable composers after the Civil War.
See: http://www.negrospirituals.com/composers.htm

The song below ,"Where My Soul Will Be Free" is not a pre-Civil War spiritual, but is composed with those songs in mind. 

note: follow the minutes and seconds at the left side of the song bar to know the place in the song which match the lyrics.



Instrumental

Lyrics

Introduction

(starts at 15 seconds into the music)
I looked toward the sky,
I stood  to pray.
Pray for some angels,
To take me far away.

To the promise land, where my soul would be free.
Maybe today, they're comin' for me.

(starts at  44 seconds)
I'll look for  angels..
Search day and night..
They're comin' for me..
To help me see the light.
The Promise land,  is waitin' on me.
I'll get there someday,  it's gonna be.

(starts at 1 minute 13 seconds)
And so I know, I got  to go.
I must  get ready, Can't never be slow.
The Lord is watchin', He's waitin' for me.
In the promise land,  my soul  can be free.

( starts at 1 minute 43 seconds)
I'll look for  angels..
 I'll search day and night..
They're comin' for me..
To help me see the light.
In the promise land,  it's  waitin' on me.
I'll get there someday,  it's gonna be.


 (starts at 2minutes, 19 seconds)
Instrumental--dance sequence to

(stats at 3 minutes 26 seconds)
And so I know, gotta   go.
I must be ready, Can't never be slow.
The Lord is watchin', He's waitin' for me.
In the promise land,  In the promise land, In the promise land,
In the promise land...

That is where my soul .......................be free.

Click on the music below to enlarge 
Notation done by Dylan Roberts