Alan Lomax was a pioneer folklorist, who spent his life traveling to remote parts of the U.S. and other English-speaking countries with his tape recorder, archiving a rich and diverse set of cultures through song.
When I was in college, I came across one of Lomax’s recordings called “Prison Songs,” which documented the songs sung by the prisoners of Parchman Farm (Mississippi State Penitentiary) in 1947-48. The songs, all sung a capella, include “The Murderer’s Home,” “No More, My Lord,” “It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad,” and “How I Got in the Penitentiary.” I don’t know if I have ever heard a more lonesome, weary sound.
Another historian documented prison songs from another time and another prison. In Acts 16 Luke chronicles how Paul and Silas were imprisoned on false accusations of advocating “unlawful customs” and disturbing the peace. After they had received a severe beating, their jailer locked them up and fastened their feet in stocks to prevent them from finding a comfortable position. In the midst of this turmoil and pain, in the middle of the night, imprisoned in a strange country, Paul and Silas sang. Wouldn’t you like to know what they were singing?
Their songs were, no doubt, different from the variety sung in Parchman Farm. Luke tells us they “were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25). Singing was an important part of every facet of life in ancient times. Music was present when people greeted each other and said farewell (Gen. 31:27; Lk. 15:25), when they married and when they buried (Jer. 7:34; 48:36), when they went off to war and when they were welcomed back from it (Jd. 30:34; Is. 30:32). God’s people had their laments, but the blues were rare in biblical times. Usually singing indicated joy, praise, and celebration.
Singing often expressed salvation. Isaiah even talked of how the mountains would sing: “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Is. 55:12).
Job’s friend Elihu pointed out that God gives “songs in the night” (Job 35:10). When a person has been redeemed by Christ and has received the inexplicable peace of God (Phil. 4:7), he sings praises, even in prison. And that is not all. In the worst of circumstances, God’s people are empowered to press on, to triumph, to endure. As Paul put it from another prison in Rome: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
From the dark recesses of an inner prison in Philippi came songs of joy and salvation. The next time you are burdened with cares and weighed down by troubles, I pray that you will be sustained by the knowledge of God’s blessings. May he grant you songs in the night.