Rise Up Singing
Freedom
p. 60
Alternate Title: 
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
First Line: 
Paul and Silas were bound in jail

Artist & Tune

Composed by: 
Alice Wine

Reference

Genre: 
composed folk US
Culture: 
African-American

About the Song

Wikipedia Entry
Mudcat
Misc Info

Alt Lyrics

Here is an alternative rendering of the lyrics recorded in 2012 by the trio DEM (see above). According to a member of the trio "This arrangement owes a great deal to Stevie Mackey."

Noah, Noah let me come in.
Doors all fastened and the windows pinned.
Keep your hand on that plow. Hold on.
Noah said: "You done lost your track.
Can't plow straight and keep a-lookin back".
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

Hold on. (Hold on.)
Hold on. (Hold on.)
Keep your hand on that plow . Just hold on. (repeat)

Mary had a golden chain,
Every link spelt with Jesus name.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.
All that chain had never been tied
Every round goes higher and higher.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

[Refrain]

If you wanna get to Heaven, now I'll tell you how.
Keep your hand on the Gospel plow.
Keep your hand on that plow. Just hold on.
All that chain had never tied.
Every round goes higher and higher.
Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

[Refrain]