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Keep Your Hand On the Plow
Tune for Keep Your Hand On the Plow
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"Gospel Plow" (also known as "Hold On" and "Keep Your Hand on the Plow") is a traditional African American spiritual. It is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, number 10075. The title is biblical, based on Luke 9:62.
The earliest date in which this spiritual appears in written form is in 1917, in the Cecil Sharp Collection, while the earliest recording is from 1930 under the title of "Keep Yo' Hand on the Plow, Hold On" by the Hall Johnson Negro Choir.[1]
Like most African American spirituals, Gospel Plow can be defined as a "musical poem, not attributable to any specific poet or composer" that describes some aspect of the "early Afro-American's view of life."[2]
The allusion to the plow makes clear reference to the enslaved condition of African Americans working in the fields. Presumably, this spiritual must have been a message of encouragement connected to Luke 9:62's teaching that to keep plowing is to be fit for the kingdom of God.
^"Keep Your Hand on the Plow". The Traditional Ballad Index: An annotated source to folk song from the English-speaking world, edited by Robert B. Waltz.
^Tyler, Mary Ann L. "The Music of Charles Henry Pace and Its Relationship to the Afro-American Church Experience" (Ph.D. diss., University of Pittsburgh, 1980), 15. Contained in: Darden, Robert. “What Spirituals Are, What Spirituals Mean.” People Get Ready! A New History of Black Gospel Music, 2015, pp. 70–93.
Keep Your Hand On the Plow Tune for Keep Your Hand On the Plow Problems playing this file? See media help. "GospelPlow" (also known as "Hold On" and...
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"GospelPlow," also known as "Hold On," "Keep Your Hand on the Plow," and various permutations thereof. An early reference to the older song, "Gospel Plow...
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of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
of Dyin'" "Man of Constant Sorrow" "Fixin' to Die" "Pretty Peggy-O" "GospelPlow" "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" "House of the Risin' Sun" "Freight Train...
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