Work song

acoustic rhythmic song sung by persons who are working in likely mundane conditions. The work song is probably intended to reduce feelings of boredom and to increase feelings of euphoria. Rhythms of work songs also serve to synchronize physical movement in a gang.

The origin of many American work songs comes from African slaves.

See also: musical genre, sea shanty, cadence

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Samples

Download recording of ?Dollar Mamie?, a work song for hoeing from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Judge "Bootmouth" Tucker and Alexander "Neighborhood" Williams on May 23, 1939 at a State Penitentiary in


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