Slave Spirituals

History Behind the Spirituals Spirituals are the Southern sacred "folk" songs created and first sung by African Americans during slavery. Their original composers are unknown, and they have assumed a position of collective ownership by the whole community. They lend themselves easily to communal singing. Many are in a call-and-response structure, with back-and-forth exchanges between the leader and the group. Arthur C. Jones, University of Denver http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/History/

How do You Do, Ev’rybody? http://www.allmusic.com/song/how-do-you-do-evrybody--greeting-shout-t5061505 http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-The-Best-Of-Harry-Belafonte-s-Long-Road-To-Freedom-MP3-Download/11485834.html

The Purpose of Spirituals Spirituals functioned on many levels for enslaved Africans. While the songs primarily expressed deeply held religious convictions, especially for newly converted Christians, they also reflected deep longings for freedom, often masked in the form of secret codes or messages imbedded in the lyrics of the songs. In fact, the singing of spirituals often provided the organizational rallying call for numerous slave revolts or insurrections.

No More Auction Block For Me No more auction block for me, no more, no more No more auction block for me, many thousand gone. No more peck ‘o corn for me, no more no more, No more peck ‘o corn for me, many thousand gone. No more driver’s lash for me, no more, no more, No more driver’s lash for me, many thousand gone. No more pint of salt for me, no more, no more, No more pint of salt for me, many thousand gone. No more hundred lash for me, no more, no more, No more hundred lash for me, many thousand gone. No more mistress’ call for me, no more, no more, No more mistress’ call for me, many thousand gone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU5diqPgfTU

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Swing low, sweet chariot, Comin' for to carry me home; Swing low, sweet chariot, Comin' for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, And WHAT did I see, Comin' for to carry me home, A band of angels comin' after me, Comin' for to carry me home. Repeat chorus: If you get there before I do, Comin' for to carry me home, Tell all my friends I'm comin' too, Comin' for to carry me home. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” performed by The Caravans (1958) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-J4MxuKNew&feature=related Johnny Cash sings “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZ128zVEr4

Go Down, Moses When Israel was in Egypt's land Let my people go Oppressed so hard they could not stand Let my people go Go down (go down) Moses (do down Moses) Way down in Egypt's land Tell old, Pharoh 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 (repeat chorus) No more shall they in bondage toil Let my people go Let them come out with Egypt's spoil Let my people go “Go Down, Moses,” performed by Louis Armstrong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP5EfwBWgg0