African American Spiritual Songs

• Almost all of the first Africans who came to the “New World” were slaves.

•Where was the “New World?”

America:

•Most slaves had to work on plantations or in town.

•Work songs:•Daily life•Chores

• Slaveholders allowed slaves to meet for church services.•Rural slaves stayed after the regular

worship services for hours singing and dancing because slaveholders did not allow dancing and playing drums.• These were the first spirituals.• Slave owners thought religious songs

were harmless.

Spirituals

• Inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and his Good News (Gospel) of the Bible.• Used as a way to share hard conditions of being

a slave.• Spirituals communicated secret messages

through metaphors.

•What is a metaphor?

Metaphor:

•A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.

“Free Country” Metaphors• “My home”• Biblical references:• “Sweet Canaan” or “The Promised Land”

River Metaphor

• Ohio River= Jordan River (Biblical reference)

Underground Railroad:

• IS A METAPHOR!

• Several ways to run away:• 1. Walk at night, using hand lights and moonlight,

along with walking (wading) in water so that dogs could not smell their tracks.• 2. Jump into chariots and ride away.

Harriet Tubman:

• Escaped slave who became a “conductor” of the Underground Railroad.• Known as the “Moses of her

people”• Sang many spirituals to

communicate on the Underground Railroad.

Wade in the Water:

• Harriet Tubman sang to warn slaves to get off of paths and head to the water because men with dogs were coming.

• Find the metaphors:

“Wade in the water.Wade in the water, children.

Wade in the water.God's gonna trouble the water.”

“Well, who are these children all dressed in red?Must be the children that Moses led.

Who's that young girl dressed in white?Must be the Children of Israelites Jordan's water is chilly and cold.

It chills the body, but not the soul.If you get there before I do.

Tell all of my friends I'm coming too.”

Swing low, Sweet Chariot:

• One of Harriet Tubman’s favorites.

• Described:• Carriages•Wagons• Trains (later)

Find the metaphors:

“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,A band of angels comin' after me,

If you get there before I do,Tell all my friends I'm comin' too.”

Keep Travelin’ On: (The Spiritual we will be singing)

Find the metaphors:

“I’m gonna keep travelin’ on, tryin’ to get to heaven, Travelin’ on, tryin’ to see my Lord.

I’m travelin’ on, tryin’ to get to heaven.I’ll keep travelin’ on.”

“Oh, sister, won’t you help me? Don’t let me stray.

Oh, brother, won’t you help me?Show me the way

Oh, sister, won’t you help me?

Don’t let me roam.Oh, brother won’t you help me?

Lead me on home.”

“I want to go to heaven,On that great day.

I want to see my Lord.Show me the way

I want to get to heaven

Happy I’ll be. I want to see my LordWaitin’ for me.

I’ll keep travelin’ on,

I’ll keep travelin’ on…”