We Didn’t Know

We didn’t know what we didn’t know

We didn’t hear the freedom bell ringing

We didn’t see the free people singing

We didn’t feel the chains falling

We didn’t see over the mountain

Our hands were still at the plow, pushing and pulling cotton

Falling bags full; backs bowed but strong

Our eyes had not seen the coming of the Lord

Our voices sang out songs of sweet chariots

Swinging low and coming down, Jordan

We didn’t know what we didn’t know

Our feet had trotted over the valley and

Through the troubled waters where

We never did lay our burdens down

We didn’t know what we didn’t know

We dreamt dreams of God’s sweet Heaven

Where all His children got shoes, got wings to fly free

We tarry, full of pain, lost hopeless feeling

Like there was never relief from the strain

We didn’t know what we didn’t know

We opened our mouths to the Lord,

Ain’t gonna tarry here no more

The bells of Jubilee are telling us we are free

Free at last, thank God Almighty, Free at last

Because we didn’t know what we didn’t know