A survey of work songs from around the world, recorded by Alan and John A. Lomax. We narrow the definition of work song to mean specifically those sung to assist in or accompany actual jobs of work.

Visit our brand new work song exhibit here.

Playlist (links to catalog records in the Lomax Digital Archive when available):

1a Alla Boara

1b A Mezzononte en Punto

2 Walter Brown on Privileged Penitentiary

https://archive.culturalequity.org/film-and-video/american-patchwork/greenville-levee-1978

3 Levee Camp Hollers

https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-delta-survey-1941-1942/lake-cormorant-941/levee-camp-hollers

4a Track Lining Song and Talk https://archive.culturalequity.org/node/1689

4b Dogging Steel https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/southern-us-1959-and-1960/williamson-959/dogging-steel-part-1

4c Sis Joe https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-1933-1940/parchman-farm-833/sis-joe

5 Houston Bacon Sinking and Joining Iron https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/mississippi-delta-survey-1941-1942/clarksdale-842/sinking-rails-and-joining-iron

6a Di Yo Pa Hele https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/la-plaine-ii-662/di-yo-pa-hele-pou-nou

6b Naje Kanot-la https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/scotts-head-662/naje-kanot-la

7a Dekouwe bwa-la https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/caribbean-1962/la-plaine-ii-662/dekouwe-bwa-la

7b Clyde Maxwell wood chopping https://archive.culturalequity.org/film-and-video/american-patchwork/clyde-maxwells-wood-chopping-holler-1-1978

7c John Bray Cypress Logging

8 Winnowing songs

https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/morocco-1967/tazzarine-967/winnowing-song-i & https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/morocco-1967/tazzarine-967/winnowing-song-ii

8b Shouts on the threshing floor https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/morocco-1967/tazzarine-967/shouts-threshing-floor

8c Unidentified Threshing Song

https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/spain-1952-1953/valldemossa-752/unidentified-threshing-song-i

9a I Like Picking Olives https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/spain-1952-1953/valldemossa-752/magrada-collir-oliva

9b Bentara Noa https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/spain-1952-1953/uitzi-1252/bentara-noa

9c Larre Berrian https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/spain-1952-1953/uitzi-1252/larre-berrian-i

10a Warning Cry 

https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/spain-1952-1953/alan-lomax-inspecting-recording-machine-marble-quarry

11b O’s Toils https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/garrygall-851/o-s-toil-s-ro-thoil-liom-i-i-very-much-desire

12a O’s Fhada https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/garrygall-651/o-s-fhada-bhuainn-anna-far-away-us-anna

12b Oganach https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/balivanich-651/oganach-gun-toir-na-dheaghaidh-young-man-whom-no-one-0

12c An Cuala https://archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/balivanich-651/cuala-sibh-man-mhaighdean-cheutach-have-you-heard