"I say, the RockIsland Line is a mighty good road.
I say, the Rock Island Line is a road to ride,
O the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
If you want to ride it you got to ride it like you find it,
Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line."
Leady Belly has a complicated history. Trying to fit Leadbelly into a single, 4 hour class period makes my head spin. Since I already discussed in my last blog about the films we watched on Leadbelly, I learned a lot this week about the people recording musicians: What does it mean when records are recorded in prison? When Lomax went to several prisons, was he looking for talent from the controversial inmates (because it was stated earlier that he didn't know Leadbelly was there)? What does the world get out of this kind of commission? A legend in this case, but not at his time. Racial relations were always complicated in the 20th century, as a black man could not even run up the stairway in a hotel without being yelled at. Yet, exceptions were also made for people, despite their race, because they were musically talented. Lead Belly got out of the first prison he was held at because the governor appreciated the religious songs Leadbelly was singing. We also briefly touched on the talented blues player Skip James, who equalizes the extreme parts of life: hard conditions working on the railroads, work as a bootlegger, etc. Yet, his songs are about his experiences as a laborer, and drew inspiration from fellow Mississippi blues pianists and guitarists.
Good follow-up, Melissa. Let's bring up in class the "head-spinningness"--I see what we do each week (admittedly, whole worlds) as introducing you guys to the music... Knowing it well is a life-long endeavor!
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