Form and Structure Analysis
The following section explains the overall form of "Watch That Star" and how the harmony and cadences are critical to the structure of the piece.
What follows is a theoretical analysis of "Watch That Star."The Roman numerals above the text reveal the diatonic sequence of the piece. A diatonic sequence is a series of harmonic progressions within one tonal center or key.
The key center is called the tonicThe note upon which a scale or key is based; the first note of a scale or key; the keynote. 
. It is the first degree of the scale. In this instance, we are in a major key, therefore, the Roman numerals are shown in upper case. If this were of a minor key, the tonic would be lowercased . The DominantThe fifth tone of a scale. 
is the fifth degree of the scale and has a natural gravitational pull to the Tonic. Think of "Open door. Close door." The fourth degree of the scale called the sub-dominantThat tone that is one step below the dominant of a key. 
. It belongs to a set of pre-dominant chords that lead to the dominant before resolving to the tonic. Think of: "Step outside." Therefore, within this sequence, there is a concept of: "Close door" "Step outside" "Open door" .
Cadences demarcate the end of musical phrases. The first phrase ends with an authentic cadenceA chord progression where the dominant chord (chord based on the fifth step of the scale, V) is followed by the tonic chord (chord based on the first step of the scale, I). meaning the natural tension of the dominant -tonic relationship. The plagal cadence A chord progression where the subdominant chord (chord based on the fourth step of the scale) is followed by the tonic chord (chord based on the first step of the scale). is a harmonic progression from to . An anacrusis is essentially a "pick up." Normally found at the beginning of a piece, it is an incomplete measure based on the dominant. In this song, it consists of three eight notes, ascending to the tonic. ["you know the"]
The form/structure has been identified as well. 
Is the first statement. 
Is prime because the material is not quite the same but has the same rhythmic structure. 
is contrasting material, and the last phrase is a repetition of the first. Like several others to be discussed, the form is rounded binary. In that, it has two parts; however, the first phrase returns as an ending.
What was considered gibberish to the slave owners revealed the genius of the slaves to employ codified messages within their songs. "That Star" is obviously the North Star that pointed to freedom. To watch it "run" is an urge to take notice. "If the sun goes down in the Western hills," is a reference to help the person identify the West cardinal point as being to the left, therefore "That Star" is located precisely at a ninety-degree angle.
Albert Raboteau
...even as the gods of Africa gave way to the God of Christianity, the African heritage of singing, dancing, spirit possession, and magic continued to influence African American spirituals, ring shouts, and folk beliefs.
Rev. Johnson
It was something in the religion of the oppressors the slaves saw which was deeper than that of the oppressors' presentation.