These are thought to be songs that were sung by pilgrims making their way up to Jerusalem and the Temple for the various festivals.
They are songs that both tell of the pilgrimage that we make as followers of Christ towards God, and songs that tell of the life of discipleship we lead as we learn at the Master's side.
These songs of ascents are 'songs for the road'; they help us to understand who we are and where we are going - part travel song to cheer, part guidebook and map for direction.