work song

American  

noun

1. a folk song sung by workers, with a rhythm like that of their work.

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Etymology

Origin of work song

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

It’s a call-and-response work song, likely concocted spontaneously by overnight dockworkers cramming bunches of bananas onto ships, hot-footing it away from loose spiders, and fantasizing about rum.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 22, 2017

She was already having a fine time when the Carolina Chocolate Drops singer stepped to the microphone and unleashed a riveting rendition of Odetta's traditional work song, "Waterboy."

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2015

Strachwitz named Arhoolie after a type of work song, a field holler, that had deep roots in African-American musical culture.

From Reuters • Jan. 24, 2013

Her second album, the 1957 Odetta Live at the Gate of Horn, climaxes with “Take This Hammer,” a prison work song recorded by Leadbelly in 1942.

From Time • Oct. 24, 2011

It was her mama’s work song, which meant that she was cleaning somewhere off in that direction.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland