Steal Away

This spiritual was sung by Nat Turner as a signal. Nat, a slave from Virginia who organized a slave revolt against slave owners, used this song to alert other slaves to meetings. After the failed revolt and Nat’s death, slaves everywhere were forbidden to speak his name. It was, however, worked into the lyrics of another slave song.

Lyrics:

Chorus:
Steal away, steal away!
Steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home!
I ain’t got long to stay here!

My Lord calls me!
He calls me by the thunder!
The trumpet sounds in my soul!
I ain’t got long to stay here!

Chorus:

My Lord, he calls me!
He calls me by the lightning!
The trumpet sounds it ina my soul!
I ain’t got long to stay here!

Chorus: