Go down, moses, way down in egypt land tell old pharaoh to let my people go. when israel was in egypt land let my people go oppressed so hard they could not stand let my people go. go down, moses, way down in egypt land tell old pharaoh “let my people go.” “thus saith the lord,” bold moses said, “let my people go; if not i’ll smite your first-born dead, let my people go.” go down, moses, way down in egypt land, tell old pharaoh “let my people go! ” how do the short stanzas and brief lines of the song shape its impact? they give the song an epic quality. they inject the song with its subtle humor. they create a mournful, somber mood in the song. they make the message of the song direct and purposeful.