Work songs appeared during the time of slavery .African transplants to colonial Virginia arrived largely empty handed. However, much of their culture was maintained through music and dance. As both a source of entertainment and a means of survival, music and rhythm played an important part in the everyday lives of slaves

To make harvesting tasks less monotonous black slaves used to sing “Work songs” while picking cotton or cutting sugar cane. They had to use English and were not allowed to sing in their native language or use traditional African instrument such as drums .The songs they sang became the foundation of a new kind of music which expressed the history and hopes of the Black people.