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During the times of slavery, work songs and spirituals helped African Americans get through the long, hot days. The music filled the fields and lifted the spirits of those working in them. Spirituals and worksongs most frequently took the form of call-and-response. Other songs were simply sang as a whole group. The songs were predominantly religious in nature and talked about the prospect of freedom and the Promised Land (Brook 43). The best example of this song is the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". In this song, the leader is singing to the Lord to send down the chariot and take him to Heaven and away from the troubles of life on earth.
The best group of the time that sang spirituals was the Fisk Jublilee Singers. The group was based out of Fisk University in Tennessee (see Education). This pioneering group of African American men and women toured the country and sang for different audiences. The Fisk Singers introduced Negro Spirituals to a wide variety of people. Spirituals and worksongs paved the way for the blues and jazz.
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