The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air1990

Vivian Banks:
[sings] Follow the drinking gourd, follow the drinking gourd for the old man's waiting to carry me to freedom. [stops singing] Now, who can tell me what that song means?

William 'Will' Smith:
I can, this is something I definitely know about. Spirituals were sung so that the slaves could keep their spirits up and their minds on God during times of hard oppression.

Vivian Banks:
That was very well put, Mr. Smith, but you're wrong.

William 'Will' Smith:
Beg pardon?

Vivian Banks:
Who can tell me what the Underground Railroad was?

William 'Will' Smith:
This I can... the Underground Railroad was a group of people that helped the slaves escape to freedom.

Vivian Banks:
And when was it established?

William 'Will' Smith:
During slavery.

Vivian Banks:
That covers about 260 years, Mr. Smith. Would you care to narrow it down?

William 'Will' Smith:
Not really.

Vivian Banks:
The Underground Railroad was established in the year 1830. Now these spirituals were codes telling the runaway slaves how to get to freedom. In "Follow the Drinking Gourd", they mean the Big Dipper, so at night when the slaves escaped, they would know to follow the Big Dipper. There they would meet with the Abolitionists and escape to freedom.

William 'Will' Smith:
Well, that's what I meant.