"Run to Jesus—shun the danger"

Frederick Douglass remembered singing a particular song to encourage his escape

Frederick Douglass was interviewed in 1875 about his escape. He pointed to inspiration from the song “Run to Jesus.”

“It was while singing this song that the idea of escaping from slavery was first suggested to my mind. As the thought grew upon me, the song became more and more a favorite, and I used to sing it about the plantation continually. My master was very well pleased, for he thought I was thinking about heaven, but I was thinking all the time about that other country up North.”

Run to Jesus—shun the danger—

I don’t expect to stay much longer here:

He will be our dearest friend,

And will help us to the end—

I don’t expect to stay much longer here.

Oh I thought I heard them say

There were lions in the way—

I don’t expect to stay much longer here.

Many mansions there will be,

One for you, and one for me—

I don’t expect to stay much longer here.

Run to Jesus—shun the danger—

I don’t expect to stay much longer here.

Source: A paper handbill advertisement for the Jubilee Singers, March 23, 1875 (Smithsonian)