Read the song lyrics. go down, moses "go down moses" is a negro spiritual that references the old testament and the events of exodus. go down, moses, way down in egypt land tell old pharaoh to let my people go. when israel was in egypt land let my people go oppressed so hard they could not stand let my people go. go down, moses, way down in egypt land tell old pharaoh “let my people go.” “thus saith the lord,” bold moses said, “let my people go; if not i’ll smite your first-born dead, let my people go.” go down, moses, way down in egypt land, tell old pharaoh “let my people go! ” moses: biblical figure who led the enslaved israelites out of bondage in egypt pharaoh: ancient egyptian ruler smite: strike which part of the song most emphasizes its singers’ demand for freedom? the title and first line “go down, moses” the repetition of the line “let my people go” the reference to israel being in egypt's land the description of the israelites being oppressed "so hard they could not stand"