To Freedom With Miss Tubman

The Ballad

Ol’ Bill Waters was goin’ to freedom
He’d asked Miss Tubman, “Anything I can do?”
He was ready, he’d been waitin’ for a long, long while-
Oh, what was Bill Waters wantin’ to do?

He was on his way to freedom, freedom
Was on his way to joy!
To a life of peace, and happiness,
With his only little child, a boy.

Miss Tubman arrived just a few moments later,
With a pack on her back, and shoe’ in her hand,
She looked at Bill Waters, and she looked at the child,

And said, “Let’s get goin’ to freedom land!”
He was on his way to freedom, freedom
Was on his way to joy!
To a life of peace, and happiness,
With his only little child, a boy.


Old Bill Waters was crossin’ the river,
But the bay of hounds he did hear.
He cried, and he saw his son’s eye fill with fear,
But, “Come on, Ol’ Bill! We’ll play it by ear!”

He was on his way to freedom, freedom
Was on his way to joy!
To a life of peace, and happiness,
With his only little child, a boy.

Into a stack of some sweet-smelling hay
Plunged Ol’ Bill, and his boy.
He was nervous, and afeard;
Miss Tubman saw his tears, and sang him an old slave joy:

“You are on your way to freedom, freedom
You’re on your way to joy!
To a life of peace and happiness,
Along with your own little boy.”

“You’re givin’ him a life of freedom, freedom
Without no killin’ work.
To have a life of peace and happiness,
What a thing for your little Burk.”

Well, the dogs went past that stack of hay,
Much to the excitement of Bill.
Harriet smiled, made a grab
Of Ol’ Bill’s right hand, and off went they, not to stray.

He was on his way to freedom, freedom
Was on his way to joy!
To a life of peace, and happiness,
With his only little child, a boy.

Early that morning, before the dawn was grey,
A white house did they spot.
“A freedom house,” as Miss Tubman said to Bill,
“Where you surely won’t be caught!”

“Only one more day to freedom, freedom,
One more day till joy!
With a life of peace and happiness,
What a thing for your boy.”

So Ol’ Bill pushed on, quickly to the house,
And softly knocked on the door.
Harriet gave the password; they passed,
Where there weren’t no fear of the war!

Bill had made his way to freedom, freedom
Had made his way to joy!
To a life of peace, and happiness,
With his only little child, a boy.