This is a 1930’s recording of Ed Lewis’ rendition of an old slave song. The call and answer structure of the song is reminiscent of the slaves’ communication in the fields. The lyrics of the song repeatedly express that relief comes when the sun goes down because you do not have to work and you have the fleeting opportunity to rest. Slavery is an instance of the imprisonment of identity. Hegemonic beliefs placed people of color into a position of inferiority, and indeed even diminished their status as people. Thus, slavery as a form of incarceration served an economic purpose and reflected the importance of expanding industrialization in the United States.