| Great spiritual songs that inspire are a part of | | | | Swing Low, Sweet Chariot |
| America's folklore. Long a part of our nation's canon of | | | | Wallis Willis wrote this song around 1862. The Red |
| song, we hardly give thought to how they came into | | | | River reminded him of the Jordan River, and the |
| existence. Each one does have a story though, which | | | | references in the song are to the Prophet Elijah going |
| sheds light on the place and time they were born. | | | | to heaven on a chariot. This song was a favorite of |
| The following songs are a few examples of great | | | | plantation workers in the 1800s. It enjoyed new |
| spirituals and their origins. These songs are great for | | | | popularity in the 1960s as part of the music of the Civil |
| singing around the piano and are a fine addition to any | | | | Rights movement. Willis was once a slave of the |
| piano repertoire. | | | | Choctaw Indians. |
| Amazing Grace | | | | Michael Row the Boat Ashore |
| Written originally as a poem by John Newton in 1772, | | | | First published in "Slave Songs of the United States" in |
| Amazing Grace is one of the most popular spiritual | | | | 1867, this song began in the oral tradition. The |
| songs in America. The music that accompanies the | | | | abolitionist Charles Ware wrote the music for the |
| version we know today is a variation of the tune "New | | | | words that freed slaves sung on St. Helena Island in |
| Britain." This music first appeared in 1829 in a hymnal | | | | the 1860s. This song speaks of crossing the Jordan |
| titled Columbian Harmony. The composer is unknown. | | | | River, and the river is a metaphor for crossing over |
| Amazing Grace is John Newton's personal thoughts on | | | | from life to death. The Michael of the song is Michael |
| divine grace and his conversion to Christianity. | | | | the Archangel. |
| When the Saints Go Marching In | | | | Go Tell It on the Mountain |
| This song is familiar as a spiritual tune often played in | | | | This song is a popular Christmas tune. It's a traditional |
| New Orleans to accompany a funeral procession to | | | | African-American spiritual written by John Wesley |
| and from a burial. Louis Armstrong propelled the song | | | | Work, Jr. in 1907. The song received publication that |
| to great popularity in the 1930s with his rousing jazz | | | | year in Nashville, Tenn., in his book, "Folk Songs of the |
| rendition. However, researchers point to the Bahamas | | | | American Negro." Work devoted his time to preserving |
| as the birthplace of the song. | | | | African-American folk music. Go Tell It on the Mountain |
| A song titled "When the Saints are Marching In" | | | | has a rich performance history, with Peter, Paul, and |
| resembles the song we know today. Published in 1896, | | | | Mary; Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby; and Bob Marley |
| its lyricist and composer were Katherine E. Purvis and | | | | among its performers. |
| James M. Black. Various titles of the piece appeared | | | | The great spiritual songs continue to speak their words |
| over the years. The title we are familiar with received | | | | to new generations of listeners. They offer hope to |
| publication in a hymnal in 1927 titled "Spirituals | | | | those who seek inspirational messages in musical form |
| Triumphant-Old and New." Vocal and instrumental | | | | to help them in their trials. For this reason, they will uplift |
| versions of the song play across the land year after | | | | those who play and sing them for generations to |
| year. | | | | come. |