Carrie Gossett wrote:
Negro Spiritual music is fundamental the history of African American people. This form of music was created as a way of communication for the slaves who had been stolen away from the home, culture, traditions and religions they knew. The slaves, all from many regions of the western African Coast, were brought to this new land by force, and they were stripped bare. The songs also reflect the influence of African songs from their native lands. The slave owners believed that to save the slaves’ souls they had to be taught the ways of the bible. Slaves were prohibited from worshipping or holding any type of gathering for fear that they would learn to rebel against their owner. The first Negro spirituals featured words that mimicked the formal Christian hymns they had been exposed to during church service.
The spiritual became a way to express the hard life of slavery and to beg the God of the white master to deliver them from the bondage of this strange land. The characters in the early Negro spirituals were from the Old Testament, such as Moses, and David, who also had to overcome trials and tribulations in their lives. Slaves could easy identify with them. Though the music was based on existing hymns, the words and the dialect used were particular to the way slaves talked. Spirituals used words with dual meaning, and they conveyed messages. "My home," or "Sweet Canaan, the Promised Land” would be an example of a place where they would have freedom. When they sang of crossing the River Jordan, it was actually the River Ohio they meant! Negro Spirituals like “Wade in the Water,” “The Gospel Train” and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” all refer to methods of escape and going north. “Swing Low” refers to the Ripley, a “station” of the Underground Railroad, where fugitive slaves were welcome. The words in the song go on to say “I looked over Jordan and what did I see a coming to carry me home/a band of angels coming after me.” This was a message to tell slaves that once they crossed over the river (Ohio) someone would be there to guide them on home (to the North). Many spirituals took on this form as a way to create hope. These spirituals songs differ from the field calls or working songs; they were sung in slow deep voices, and the work songs were more like a rap or chant using the call and response method. The messages were of dread, and of moving on to a better life, a safe place. As the tone of spirituals changed to reflect new thoughts of a promised freedom and a better way of life, the songs became more upbeat and looked forward to better times to come. They changed from songs to pass on messages and stories of hardships as a slave. The change came after Civil war. The new name given to the songs is Gospel. The Gospel songs taken from the New Testament of the Bible reflected a new beginning and happier times to come. The old Negro spirituals were changed and updated to bring in instruments, upbeat rhythms, and words of joy. The songs took on a new meaning. Now the gospel songs became a way to spread the word of Jesus and righteous living if the word is followed. Today, Gospel has become a form of preaching with song.
The songs in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? come from both genres of the music. For example, the song titled; “Down to the River to Pray” talks about redemptions and freedom. The movie created a story with music, based on meaning from the Gospel Hymns; the words are direct indications of parts in the Bible which talk about moral and spiritual forgiveness. The words in the gospel hymns “The Lonesome Valley” and “Angel Band” are messages that talk about redemption and how the walk has to be taken alone. The word "hymn" comes from the Greek "hymnos," and this gives some indication as to the age of hymn. They were originally songs written in honor of the Gods, leading figures, and heroes. The words; “You got to go there by yourself Oh, you got to ask the lords forgiveness” refer to human suffering and how to make it easier with God’s help. This sub-plot of the movie reveals, just as in The Odyssey, a message of what life is like and how hard things can get without the guidance of a higher power. All humans can become lost in their goal to reach home, or self, or freedom.
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