Josh Vardaman
African American Lit.
Professor Giliar
3/16/11
Music of the Slaves
Music has been a major part of every civilization in world history, and never was it more
necessary than in America during the slave times. The slaves used songs to transfer messages
between each other about how to become free, and also used them as a way to pass the time
while they were working various jobs on gigantic plantations. Other songs were sung to
educate the younger generation about religion and African culture; some were even generated
out of ancient African music. White slave owners tried to strip every part of the culture the
slaves had, but the songs sung by the slaves helped to preserve their African culture. The
oppression the slaves faced was enough to make anyone go certifiably crazy, but their music
and a keen will to become free kept most of them sane.
For slaves singing was as much a part of their culture as tea is a part of British culture.
Close to every slave sang secret songs about freedom and how to reach it, and even those who
did not sing knew what the songs meant. They used code words in their songs so the slave
owners would not catch on to what they were singing about, such as the instructions for how to
get to the North in the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” At first, most slave owners did not
permit their slaves to sing, but they soon got used to the singing. The a capella style of slave
songs was very soothing to the ear, and some slave owners are even said to have enjoyed the
singing of his slaves. Although they were usually allowed to sing, the slaves could not have
instruments such as drums. An old urban legend explaining the ban of instruments says that
because the slave owners thought banging a drum could signal other slaves it was time to rebel,
they weren’t allowed to use them.
There are thousands of songs that can be traced back to the slavery period. Famous
gospel songs such as “Wade in the Water,” “Down to the River to Pray,” and “Amazing Grace”
are said to be created by slaves to give them directions to freedom and to educate them
without slave owners knowing. Perhaps the most famous slave song, “Follow the Drinking
Gourd,” was somewhat of a treasure map leading slaves to the North where freedom awaited
them. The song is about following the drinking gourd, which is said to be the big dipper star
constellation, in the Northern part of the sky and meeting a man named Peg Leg Joe who would
take you across the Ohio River to freedom. If there was ever an actual man with a peg leg that
met them at the Ohio River is uncertain, but someone would meet the slaves to ship them
across the river. The Ohio River was often referred to as the border between slave land and
free land, and the goal for the slaves was always to make it across the river. Not all made it
across, but some 30,000 slaves are said to have made the journey successfully thanks to help
from the songs.
Other than help from conductors on the Underground Railroad, music could have been
the biggest aid to runaway slaves. Putting the secret codes into songs was the only way slaves
could learn the routes of escaping because they were legally not allowed to be educated, and
the some of the songs have now become some of the most famous songs in American history.
Music lovers all over America have slaves to thank for marvelous songs that can get stuck into
one’s head very easily. The point of the songs was to be catchy enough so the slaves wouldn’t
forget the words, mind you. The catchy melodies and genius coding of the lyrics make them
very interesting songs to listen to, and if one travels into any Christian church on a Sunday
morning there is a very good chance he or she will hear a song written by slaves.