by Stacey Torres

Created on: January 23, 2010

Everyone has heard an old Negro spiritual either in church, the movies, and sometimes school. They were songs of drudgery, hardship and hope. “Every tone was a testimony against slavery and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears." Frederick Douglas. Spirituals - or slave songs - were much more than primitive hymns of endurance and a better life ‘on the other side.’ When sung by slaves, spirituals passed secret messages and information to each other about the Underground Railroad. The lyrics were part of an intricate system leaving no incriminating evidence for owners and overseers to find. Codes hidden in the lyrics advised slaves when, how and where to escape, and gave other signals.

Most slaves could not read or write and it was illegal to teach them. So, the spirituals provided a way to communicate in code that was only understood by those connected to the Underground Railroad. Heard on a literal level by outsiders, but when singing the refrains, the call and response style of singing, and the rhythmic drumming sounds made by dancing feet, slaves could decipher hidden meanings. Since songs were a part their daily lives, this was easy for them to do unnoticed, as they were encouraged to sing (they sang while working so the overseer knew where they were at all times.)

Like the coded quilt patterns, spirituals were passed on from one place to another. When real trains came along, the vocabulary changed, and the word ‘chariot’ was replaced by ‘train’. Consider the song, “The Gospel Train’s a Comin’,” the ‘gospel train’ was a code name for the Underground Railroad. When slaves heard this song sung, it meant a Conductor was among them or runaway slaves (Passengers) were close by giving them a swift chance to escape. In “This Train is Bound for Glory,” ‘glory’ meant freedom. Yet, caution was taken when they sang train songs, because these were easier to interpret by outsiders than traditional spirituals with biblical references. Let’s visit some old standards.

“Oh, Freedom” is a song of bliss and determination. It was sung in celebration once a Passenger found freedom. Code words 'darkness’ and ‘glory’ were also used to show places of refuge

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