{"id":7604,"date":"2023-09-26T16:14:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T21:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/?p=7604"},"modified":"2023-09-26T16:29:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T21:29:47","slug":"working-songs-and-the-role-they-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2023\/09\/26\/working-songs-and-the-role-they-play\/","title":{"rendered":"Working songs and the Role they Play"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Library of Congress Photos & Print Division. 1940. Farmer and His Brother Making Music. Pie Town, New Mexico. \u200c<\/p><\/div>\n

Do songs have a purpose? I think they do. Think about the music that you listen to on the
\nway to work, while you\u2019re doing your homework, sometimes while you sleep. Many songs serve a purpose in today\u2019s culture in America, I think working songs in the 19th century aren\u2019t much different. One song that comes to mind is Songs of the Sea, they serve as a beacon of unity and tribute to the voyage. See below an article written for an American music magazine, an interview of men who sail frequently. Check out this link below for the interview.<\/p>\n

SONGS_OF_THE_SEA.<\/a>1<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

We see another aspect of working songs in Negro spirituals, most sung by enslaved people while working in the 19th century.2<\/sup><\/a> These songs serve as a beacon of hope and spirituality for them while being forced to work. These spirituals are deeply rooted in Christian traditions, religion can be an out-of-body experience that brings communities together. They all have their religion in common and it can bring them together. \u201cIn Africa, music had been central to people’s lives: Music-making permeated important life events and daily activities. However, the white colonists of North America were alarmed by and frowned upon the slaves’ African-infused way of worship because they considered it to be idolatrous and wild.\u201d3<\/sup><\/a> This quote from an article cataloged by the Library of Congress displays the sense of community that these spirituals bring. Before the atrocities committed against the African people, they had music as an integral part of their lives, and no oppression from the white man was going to stop them from making their community out of music. They might be wearing a different set of clothes, but still very important to their community and culture.<\/p>\n

Another example of working songs that bring a community together are songs sung by the working class in the 19th century. Popular songs like the \u201cBell Hop Blues\u201d and \u201cAll in, down and out\u201d perfectly demonstrate the songs of the working class.4<\/sup><\/a> The Bell Hop Blues is a song about a bellhop and how he laments his position in the world. Feeling like he can go nowhere the bellhop sings about it, the song below is sung by Al Bernard. As someone who must work hard to stay afloat, I resonate with this song. I feel like many would have resonated as well when the song was popular.<\/p>\n

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