Southern slave owners claimed that their slaves happily sang from morning to night, as they worked on the plantations and prepared meals. Frederick Douglass during his experience claimed that “the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery” (50). Douglass suggested that the slaves sang out of sorrow rather than joy. The slaves sang most when they were depressed. The songs the slaves cried represented the sorrows in their heart which is relieved by music, just as broken heart is relieved by tears. A song a slave would sing during that time would be a song very similar to “Sweet Low Sweet Chariot”, known as a slave spiritual. The song is about using the Underground Railroad as a path to freedom. The Underground Railroad a mysterious connection of people and places all serving the same purpose of helping those bound by slavery to escape. Those who were succeeded in escaping slavery often vanished to the North or Canada from hiding place to place under cover of disguise. …show more content…
This song was usually sung by those who were experiencing the torment and pain of slavery from dusk to dawn. While listening to the song, one would best describe it to be hopeful. When they would sing this song, they were reminded that good will come to them, and that bad will come to those who have treated them harshly, beaten them, or killed and separated their family and friends. This song is an expression of religious hope and faith. This song encouraged them to move forward and hope for someone to save them. This song was a prayer to escape from the miserable human existence, and a prayer to be sent “home,” in other words, to heaven, essentially