Songs From Slavery
African American slaves also used song as a means of self-expression (Caprio, n.d., para. 5). These songs often could be separated into three different categories, “religious," “work," and “recreational” "(Educational Broadcasting Corporation, n.d.). Religious songs often were “sung a Capella” an example is “Do, Lord, Remember Me” (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, n.d., para. 2). These songs are also very telling of a deep belief in Christianity that was a very important aspect of the culture of slaves. In fact slaves readily identified their slave experience with the struggles of the Israelites in the Bible. This is expressed in the song “Let My People Go." Spirituals were often a blending of European and African culture as they were often modified versions of songs sung amongst white Christians (Sambol-Tasco, p.1). This led to the development of gospel music and explains the strong clinging to the faith of Christianity that has become embedded within African American culture (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, n.d., para.2). Work songs were used to help slaves remember tasks and “ease the burden of labor" (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, n.d., para.3). While through recreational songs, slaves were able to express themselves during their free time and often danced to these songs as well (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, n.d., para.4). These songs were used as an outlet for slaves to express their emotions as they endured through the traumatic and horrific conditions of slavery (Caprio, n.d., para. 5). Similarly to both folk tales as well as dance, these songs are passed on from generation to generation as a means of preserving and inheriting African American culture (Caprio, n.d., para. 5). These songs also give “insight into the ‘lived experience’ of slavery” (Caprio, n.d., para. 5). The songs enable an inward study on the experiences, struggles, and beliefs of slaves by providing insight into the conscious and emotions of slaves. These songs were often sung as the slaves worked throughout the day on the plantation (Caprio, n.d., para.12). These songs connected directly to African culture incorporating “African music traditions, incorporating rhythm, call-and-response patterns, drumbeats, and banjos” (Caprio, n.d., par. 12). As with the oral tradition of storytelling and dance, this was one of the only means by which slaves had the ability to express themselves. They clung to this freedom and realization and readily utilized it to their advantage.
In a sense, the artistic expression of slaves was an aspect that could not be controlled or suppressed unless slaves consented to their oppression. Due to the fact that slaves were in the presence of their masters for large percentages of time they used what is known as “coded language” in order to communicate with one another (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). They used metaphors and symbolism to disguise the content of their songs in a way in which the slave owners did not know the message of the songs. They often made political and social commentary within their songs (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). An example is the well-known song amongst the African American community, “Follow the Drinking Gourd” (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). This was a song used in order to communicate instructions to slaves as they escaped by means of traveling north, seeking to be freed from slavery via the Underground Railroad (Caprio, n.d., para.12). Below is an excerpt from the song:
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom,
If you follow the Drinking Gourd (Caprio, n.d., para.15).
The Drinking Gourd refers to the Big Dipper or the North Star that slaves followed during the winter time in order to escape to the north (Caprio, n.d., para.17). In these lines, the song also describes “the old man waiting to carry you to freedom” which was a helper along the Underground Railroad helping slaves escape (Caprio, n.d., para.17). As one can tell, slaves cleverly were able to sing this song with their slave masters present using coded language that kept the slave masters ignorant about the true meaning of the lyrics. This was a creative method utilizing the avenues of culture and art as communication devices for the purposes of survival.
In a sense, the artistic expression of slaves was an aspect that could not be controlled or suppressed unless slaves consented to their oppression. Due to the fact that slaves were in the presence of their masters for large percentages of time they used what is known as “coded language” in order to communicate with one another (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). They used metaphors and symbolism to disguise the content of their songs in a way in which the slave owners did not know the message of the songs. They often made political and social commentary within their songs (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). An example is the well-known song amongst the African American community, “Follow the Drinking Gourd” (Caprio, n.d., para. 12). This was a song used in order to communicate instructions to slaves as they escaped by means of traveling north, seeking to be freed from slavery via the Underground Railroad (Caprio, n.d., para.12). Below is an excerpt from the song:
When the sun comes back and the first quail calls,
Follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom,
If you follow the Drinking Gourd (Caprio, n.d., para.15).
The Drinking Gourd refers to the Big Dipper or the North Star that slaves followed during the winter time in order to escape to the north (Caprio, n.d., para.17). In these lines, the song also describes “the old man waiting to carry you to freedom” which was a helper along the Underground Railroad helping slaves escape (Caprio, n.d., para.17). As one can tell, slaves cleverly were able to sing this song with their slave masters present using coded language that kept the slave masters ignorant about the true meaning of the lyrics. This was a creative method utilizing the avenues of culture and art as communication devices for the purposes of survival.
Below you will find a list of different types of songs sung during slavery,to listen to the songs Click Here
Religious Songs |
Work Songs |
Recreational Songs |
Look Down that Long, Lonesome Road |
Arwhoolie (Cornfield holler) |
Shortnin’ Bread |
Run Old Jeremiah |
Quittin’ Time Song 2 |
Bile Them Cabbage Down |
Do, Lord, Remember Me |
Mealtime Call |
Rosey |
House Done Built Without Hands |
Hammer, Ring |
Soldier’s Joy |
Meet Me in Jerusalem |
It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad |
Go to Sleep |