Features of work songs

Created by NIE in Entertainment & Lifestyle 17 Jan 2025

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">These are songs sung during work sessions,
on the way to the work place or from work.
Work workplace work songs, sea shanties, cowboy songs, industrial fork
songs and women’s work songs.

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Such songs are simple, they are repetitive
so that they can last the duration of the job at hand. They can be accompanied
by the sound of work tool like panga,
jembe, slasher, mopper among others. There is a call and response i.e.,
antiphony. They are fast in rhythm that goes in unison with the work. They can
have interjections of praise names and whistling.

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Work songs encourage the workers to labour
for long hours and to face work positively. As we start the year from recess,
workers are likely to grow weary. These songs are used to boost the morale of
workers and take their mind off the fatigue. They praise the hardworking people
in the community. They discourage laziness and castigate the mean and lazy.
They distract the workers from the strenuous work. Students should note that
these songs do not make work easier but simply distract the workers so they
feel less strained. They make workers relieve the boredom of a tedious work.
The songs are also used to coordinate and dictate the movement of the workers
in their tasks.

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Work songs were commonly done during
communal activities such as harvesting, planting, cultivating buildings and
construction. Currently, they can be used in the field by students as they
clean the grass or the walking paths. They can also sing them during the weeding
of the flower beds just for unity and togetherness.

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Work songs have similar characteristics to
any other song and they are meant to be sung due to their richness in the sound
devices among them alliteration, assonance, consonance, repetition and rhyme.

mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:
major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">A good example of a work song is ‘Working
on the Railroad’ by Alvin and the Chipmunks. Kindly check YouTube to get the
lyrics of the song.

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major-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">