Swing Low, sweet Chariot.

Spirituals

Spirituals seem to have come from the African people conforming to Christianity. They were forbidden to use any instruments (most apparent the drums they were accustomed to with religious expression) and forced to give up any other religion aside from Christianity.

At first they started to have "bush meetings" or "camp meetings" in which they could practice the beliefs they were used to: such as jumping up and dancing, acting as though they were possessed and speaking in their languages. Practices that were very different from 18th century conservatism. By reading and identifying with some of the stories in the bible, such as the story of Moses and the Exodus, they used it as a way to hope for a better life after death.

Songs like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot were a universal use of communication to other slaves that danger was not evident and it was time to escape.[1]