O, Mary Don’t You Weep
Your Bible Lesson for the Day.

“O Mary Don’t You Weep” is an old gospel song from the era of slavery in the southern United States. The slaves could empathize with the Old Testament stories about becoming free. Although this song’s lyrics allude to the Passover and Moses leading his people out of Egypt, it was sung by the Americans in bondage with hopes that they too would some day be free. Singing of their own yearnings for liberation, they had learned to encrypt the language of their song’s lyrics so as not to offend their white masters. After all, the black folk were just singing about the Bible stories they had learned at church.

O MARY DON’T YOU WEEP
“We Shall Overcome” by Bruce Springsteen version

Well if I could I surely would
Stand on the rock where Moses stood
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

(O Mary don’t you weep, don’t you mourn)
(O Mary don’t you weep, don’t you mourn)
(Pharaoh’s army got drownded)
(O Mary don’t you weep)

Well Mary wore three links and chains
On every link was Jesus’ name
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Go! Go! ~~

Well one of these nights bout 12 o’clock
This old world is gonna rock
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Well Moses stood on the Red Sea shore
Smote’ the water with a two by four
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Alright! ~~

Well old Mr. Satan he got mad
Missed that soul that he thought he had
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Brothers and sisters don’t you cry
There’ll be good times by and by
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Well O Mary don’t you weep, don’t you mourn
O Mary don’t you weep, don’t you mourn
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Hey! Drums! ~~

God gave Noah the rainbow sign
“No more water but fire next time”
Pharaoh’s army got drownded
O Mary don’t you weep

Everybody! ~~
Oooooooh, Mary don’t yoooooou

Bruce Springsteen recorded this traditional song with a group of non-E Street Band musicians during what is known as “The Seeger Sessions”. The song is included on Bruce’s 2006 cover album, “We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions”. Video from the album is available HERE.