I googled the song. Here are the lyrics:
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is awaiting for to carry you to freedom,
If you follow the drinking gourd.

The old man was the guy with the boat. I'm assuming that he takes them to the 4th artifact since there are no other stops according to the poem.

I think you're right about the symbolism, plus it's an interesting twist.

Basically, they have to take the boat to get to the box with the next artifact, but the boat can only carry 2 people (other than the old man). So, when the first two get to the other side, they have to decide whether one of them will go back for the third team-mate (delaying forward movement by a few hours) or go on and abandon the third team-mate.

As for the We’re-tired-of-coming-in-last-but-won’t-do-anything-about-it Browns, they were let back in the game both because the Grad Students were out and because that leg of the game required an even number of teams since they had to pair-up. I was glad to see the Hanlons go -- except for the kid, they quickly wentfrom entertaining to jackasses. The Browns and the grad students can leave anytime now.

The show is definitely growing on me.

Aren't the grad students gone thanks to the wrecked up knee? :confused:

DaffyKD

Of course, you're right. I meant the so-called Geniuses -- or as I like to call them, Team Wile E. Coyote. (Not that I'm in a position to cast too many stones, having gotten them confused with the Grad Students. ;) )

I have to disagree there. Katie Fogal has GOT to shut up. Please God, let them be the next team to go.

Glad Sam didn't get left behind, AznSAE.

Go team Air Force!

It seemed that the Browns just talked and talked too much without actually doing anything. But yea, Katie Fogal is annoying as all hell. I loved when her dad said that with her, everything is about 10 times exaggerated than it really is.

Hey AZNSAE, everyone thinks your friend is a douchebag. LOL

for what? sam has not done anything wrong. he is just on a bad team with those two losers. so what if he is not the most athletic person?

why were the browns penalized 6 hours when they could continue with just two people? that katie girl owes her dad big time for sticking to his plans.

i have a feeling that this game will not be foot race to the end.........

My guess (and, it's just a guess) is that it was getting dark, and the swamp was difficult enough to manage during daylight. Perhaps the producers didn't want to risk either of the Brown's getting injured. It did seem pretty unfair, though.

I thought that it was because they were significantly far away from the swamp. Up until they got to swamp, they had to perform as a three person team.

Approx how old is Katie Fogel? I thought she was 16, but then Mama Fogel said something about their marriage (?) lasting 24 years.

Could this whiner REALLY be 23ish!?

So I've been watching this show and given her behavior, I would have guessed she wasn't much older than 18. I checked NBC's website from the link listed earlier in the thread and she's 25!

I missed this past week, so I'll have to watch the rerun next week.

Haha this means that she was conceived before their marriage. I find this funny.

Not only is she 25, she is a college graduate and married!
From the NBC website:

Actually, the NBC website says they have been married 26 years.