Song of the Underground (with captions)

Описание: This song is part of a series based on the poems of Hafiz in his book Little Book of Life made new by Erfan Mojib & Gary Gach. This one is the 24th poem in the book. Poem & Lyrics below. Song on Suno; Video Editing on Clipchamp; captions on MixCaptions; assistance from Lyra (my ChatGPT AI.)

Hafiz poem 24: Do you know what the harps / & the ouds proclaim? / “Drink liquor in privacy – / Or be whipped.”

Song of the Underground

When the fields were hot, and the days were long,
they carried freedom inside a song.
Not just prayer and not just praise
but secret fire beneath the phrase.
If “Go Down Moses” was the line,
it might mean it was travelling time.
A whisper wrapped in harmony—
“Steal away.” Be ready to flee.
Keep your pack by the door,
staff in hand like those before.
Eat in haste, don’t linger slow;
when you hear the signal, be ready to go.

[Chorus]
Sing it low; sing it strong.
Rebellion hiding in a song.
Chains may bind the hands you see,
but they can’t chain melody.
Under watchful eyes we stand,
but hope is passing hand to hand.
What sounds like faith is strategy;
a song can be a key.

“Wade in the water,” they might say.
Let water wash the past away.
The river is where your scent can hide.
Stay awake and travel light.
Know the song like the back of your hand.
That’s how you’ll reach the promised land.
Like Israel walked through parted sea,
run from enslavement and into free.
Leave the old life where you ached;
cross through danger into grace.

[Chorus – See Above]

“Follow the drinking gourd” was code
to watch the sky to build a road
toward the star that does not roam
pointing north in the direction of home.
“When the first quail calls and the sun goes back”
meant spring was the time to ready your pack.
“The river ends between two hills.”
That’s the place. Be quiet. Be still.
Somewhere waiting, someone knew
the roads, the woods, what path to choose.
A map memorized in minor chords—
directions hidden between the words.

It wasn’t just a spiritual sound
or just sorrow rising from the ground.
No, every note was sharp and clear—
a message meant for freedom’s ear.
The first who stepped to the water’s edge
carried courage so others could pledge
to hold the fire inside their chest
and light the dark for all the rest.

[Final Chorus]

Hafiz. Hafiz's Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.