African American slaves in the United States created a vibrant culture of resistance and dissent, despite attempts by white slaveowners to indoctrinate them into passivity using a variant of Christianity.

[5] The striving nature of this "climb" toward God is depicted as a series of tests, and draws heavily on the New Testament tradition of the Christian as warrior—in this case, overcoming the slave-owner.

[6] The traditional lyrics hold out hope that the slave can rise up and escape slavery, and the nature of the call-and-response asks both the singing respondents and the listener for greater sacrifice to reach the next level.

[9] Paul Robeson sang and later recorded an a cappella version,[10] and the American labor movement used the song in the 1930s (sometimes altering the lyrics to reflect the industry being organized).

[11] Noted American folk singer Pete Seeger began singing the song some time in the 1930s or 1940s,[12] and in the mid to late 1960s added a new verse ("We are dancing Sarah's circle") to reflect, as he saw it, a more feminist, less hierarchical, less restrictive, and more joyful meaning.

If there are still listeners who perceive this tune as a campfire singalong, or who have until now failed to feel the misery, longing and pride that pulses through such songs of slavery, they can't miss the point here.