The spirituals represent Hill's two-part meaning in several aspects. There is either a direct or an indirect implication of things or places of which the human specie can only imagine. The spiritual "Oh What A Beautiful City" depicted someone, perhaps a Christian imagining of how wonderful the scenery is in Heaven. Battle and Norman sung of " children / All dressed up in white" and " those children / All dressed up in red". These lyrics imply that the children in white were possibly angels of the Israelites and those in red possibly little demons were led by Moses. There were also lyrics that symbolized the outer appearance of Heaven, such as "My Lord built-a dat city". The lyrics of the spiritual Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass tells of a Christian pleading for a loved one (sinner) to repent and ask God for forgiveness before its too late. This form of poetry concludes that the harvest is passing and we are not saved. Norman sung of " the cruel tree / Where Christ died for you and me". The title of this spiritual symbolized the ending of the season or time before the Lord returns for another soul. What the Christian is concerned about is the soul of the loved one; he/she wants the sinner to give his life to Jesus before He comes back again. Another spiritual that convey similar imagery and symbolism is "In Dat Great Gittin' Up Morning". This spiritual touches on judgment day for both faithful Christian and backsliding sinners. Some spirituals tell of overworked slaves and Christians with their bags packed and ready to go for when Jesus comes. The lyrics of "Deep River" refers to this statement:.
Oh, chillun.
Oh, don't you want to go, to that gospel feast.
That promised land, that land where all is.
peace?.
It seems as if the individual wants to escape to such pleasant place in which he would not suffer any more. He is telling the Lord that he " wants to cross over into campground" possibly in attempt to escape from dreadful surroundings.
