Examining the Songs of Slavery In America Essay

For somewhat reason, the last placecry you hear on the radio al carriages sticks in your head. by and by in the day, you catch yourself p for each oneing itand you realize that its non even a striving that you like Fortunately for you, and unfortunately for on the whole those around you, we mess sing that song, no matter who, including yourself, c bes to harken to it. No one is going to punish you for the quirkiness that goes with having the guts to actu aloney sing a song that the guy in the cubicle next to yours good busted up the radio for playing. Music is adjourn of our everyday lives.It is something that virtu whollyy of us have never lived without. Something in a song empowers us, saddens us, angers us, and makes us fall in love. So many of us can bind a special memory to a songand that 4-minute composition of oral communication written by someone whom youve never even, met can take you nates to that place, if for only a moment, and make you feel that way again . Songs be a way of life for most of us, and they have been for many years. Today, we listen to songs publishly. History, however, reveals that many of us were not born with the same freedom. Can you theorise existence punished for enjoying music?For historys buckle down community, singing, humming, or listening to music was prohibited (Lang, p. 13). To knuckle down possessors, the practice of music portray a relaxed state for the slave. Most felt that carrying on with such ruff would interfere with the slaves focus, resulting in poor performance. The opposite, however, was the outcome. When they were allowed to sing, the slave plant joy in the day genus Grus/Fleming 2 (Watts, p. 1). Singing was an returna way to decl are how they felt to the highest degree their owners, the job existence done, family, God, and about dreams for themselves.Originating du address the Civil War slave days, singing soon caught on all over the South and beyond. It served both hidden and ob vious purpose. not only could a slave could sing a song, and feel relaxed playacting assigned duties, a slave could also modulate a song to communicate centers to faller slaves. So much mystery lies behind this senile practice, and uncove ringing the mystery willing leave you appreciating the creativity utilized, whether you are of slave ancestry or not. If you have ever been to a traditional, majority grisly church, you would walk out feeling energized.The energy exercised to convey Gods word is pretty unmatched by churches of early(a) ethnicities. Its as if the Black community has been doing this for yearsand they have been. In early slave days, slaves were not allowed to read scriptures. Instead, they learned of God through white kinfolk church (Brown, p. 1). It was at these meetings that they listened to hymns, heard a few bible scriptures, and were told theme their masters. Soon, the slaves took it upon themselves to meet privately and address God and what he had pl anned for them. by and by the meetings, several would stay behind and ring shout, or chant songs about God and His plan for them. Foot tapping and hand clapping were attach to by paced singing, and as the song continued, the pace would increase (Watt, p. 1). Men and women slaves became so involved in the chanting that they would collapse in emotion to the ground. Ministers were disquieted by this unusual behavior and soon banned the practice of ring shouts. It was at these early gatherings when the historical slave songs evolved. The very nature in which they are practiced lead back to the days of ring shouts.Soon, the topics of the shouts veered from creation only about God, and began to include chants of hopes, prayers, and presents of reliance. Crane/Fleming 3 In the movie, honor (Zwick, 1989) the men of the Fifty-fourth prepare to fight by performing a ring shout to bear hopes of success against the men they will soon face. These filthy men, formerly slaves, start slow an d humble, and soon roar to a tumultuous paced shout of faith in God, love of family, and belief in each other. Hands clap and legs are slapped for rhythm. This scene in the movie portrays the fillet of sole possession these men have to hold on to each other.With a bit of encouraging, one soldier is assisted by other to not just say his hopes for the battles outcome, but to demand them with confidence that his prayers will be answered. Although Hollywood glamorized this scene with em doorbellishments such as a pre-determined beat and a chorus, this type of shouting is how it all began. Knowing how it all began leaves us with the need to know why it all began. Why did slave songs (Ware, Allen, and Garrison, p. I) become such a big part of history? No other group in history utilized song the way that historys slave did.Not only did singing convey the day, but singing helped the slave to identify with themselves. Bringing God into the lyrics, they created scriptural images (Silverman , p. 79) of who they compared themselves to during biblical times. Many compared themselves to Moses, and sang of leading all slaves to freedom, just as Moses led the Israelites from Pharaohs captivity. This gave the slaves hope. Soon, this boost of hope led to singing songs about what it would be like when they were free. In Slavery Chain Done stone-broke at Last (Silverman, p. 83), the slave sings of how freedom is abound.He is sure to thank God, and vows to continue telling God his problems, in hopes of receiving more help when needed. In other songs, such as Oh, Freedom, (Ware, Allen and Garrison, p. 33), slaves give thanks at the reverse of a long and dangerous journey to freedom. On the other emplacement of serious purpose, slave songs were not always sung just to say thanks. They were also sung as a way to Crane/Fleming 4 entertain, just as todays music does for us. A good example of this is Now Let Me Fly (Brown, p. 1), where slaves sing of African pile who could fly.Son gs like these were loved by children, as their imaginations soared with images of flying people. hardly along with singing about universe thankful and creating silly images for children, these songs served another purposeperhaps the most important purpose of all they served as a form of communication among the slaves (Johnson and Johnson, p. 18). Slaves lived a hard life. Along with being owned by another human being, the slaves owner employed harsh rules for the slave to live by. One of these rules was that they were owned property, and could not leave on their own accord to be a free person (Watts, p.1). Discussions of being free were punishable by whipping, beating and esurient the slave. The slave was forced to create a way to communicate ploys to escape, warnings of a masters mood, new slaves joining the old slaves, and many other issues in code. The slave song was the perfect way to convey messages without being discovered. Many of the slaves work songs were composed out of downright desperation to warn others of trouble ahead, or to keep an escape elbow grease from getting botched. Let Us Break Bread Together (Allen, Ware, and Garrison, p.34) allowed fellow slaves to know about meetings to be held in the early morning hours (before sunrise) to discuss concerns, share prayers, and plan an escape. These meetings were held far earlier than the masters waking hours. Plans were made, escape routes were decided, and updates on other slaves escape attempts were provided. Later in the day, in the fields, around the ho expenditure, or where ever else work was to be done, the slaves sang their songs, inconspicuously passing messages to one another. Other songs, such as No More Auction Block for Me (Johnson and Johnson, p.20) conveyed a message of weariness of a slaves hope. This song was often sung chthonian ones breath, during or Crane/Fleming 5 almost like a shot after being crush. One slave could often recognize the beaten slaves mouth movements, and gather the support of fellow slaves to come on new hope if the beating was survived. Happy, sad, useful, or light-hearted, the hidden messages of these songs were understood among all those who sang or listened to them. Although creative in nature, and almost ingenious in creation, these songs were recorded in words for us to read today in the exact format in which they were written.It is interesting to read some of the lyrics of these songs, recite included, particularly because these songs were written down exactly the way they were spoken. The spoken position of some slaves could be somewhat choppy, and sometimes difficult to understand. Though the message is clear, songs such as Hear from Heaven Today (Allen, Ware and Garrison, p. 2) display a perfect example of how the words of the song were to be pronounce a baby born in Bethlehem, and I yearde De trumpet sourd in the oder bright land My name is called and I mus go De bell is a-ringin in de oder bright worldMy brudder, my brudder Joseph and sista Mary -Anonymous Though some are difficult to read, the authenticity of unedited lyrics links us to a part of history not to be misunderstood. While the level of education is evident, what can be proven is that slaves were absolutely not ignorant people. Sometimes the equal to(p) matter of a song is simple. An example of this can be make in Git De Chores Done (Brown, p. 1). The slave sings, Did you feed my cow? Yes, Maam. testament you tell-a me how? Yes, Maam. Oh, what did you give her? Cawn and hay. Oh, what did you give her? Cawn and hay. -Anonymous Crane/Fleming 6 The slave was encouraged by something as simple as a brief conversation amongst him and the slaves owner to create a song that added motif to the days duty. On the other side of the work song (Watt, p. 1) is a song far more complex. Codes were often sent through songs. In Get Dem Chilen Home (Brown, p. 1), the slave sings of certain obstacles to look out for Take careful when you tu rn dat coner. He waitin fo you, waitin fo you, always watchin. Get Dem Chilen Home by way of dem hills, just take careful when you turn dat coner. -Stephen FosterIn history, no other group of people made full use of song the way the slaves did (Watt, p. 1). Not only did they sing about what they did, they deliver lives and led each other to freedom. Their songs changed what we know about history in a colorful way. Love it or not, music and song are here to stay. We have the great fortune to do with it what we will. Some will choose to listen, and others will choose to write. We may never again do with song what the slaves did with it, and thats o. k. But who knowsmaybe one day our childrens children will be writing a paper on what people of our time did to change music and song forever.