Black Folk - Tumblr Posts
Song of the day
"Freight train" Elizabeth Cotten, written 1906-1912, recorded 1958 by mike seeger
Elizabeth cotton composed freight train while she was just a teenager, inspired by the trains that ran past her home in north Carolina
Suggested Song
"900 Miles" Terry Callier, 1968
origins under the cut
the origins of this song are a bit unclear. No one knows who first wrote it or some specifics with its origins. 900 miles is related to the traditional southern song, "Reuben's train," written sometime after 1860, based on the Reuben Wells Locomotive.
the earliest example of the song in print (that i could find anyway) was in 1913, from the journal of American folklore. somewhat similar to the song that Terry Callier covers. I've seen some references to the song being dated to the very early 1900s and late 1800s, so this song is older than 1913.
the first recording of the song (that i could find) was in 1924 by Fiddlin' John Carson "I'm Nine Hundred miles from home"
and in 1927 by Henry Whitter and G. B. Grayson "train No.45"
a common title for this song is Train No. 45 (which is usually just the instrumental version for the reuben train song), which is confusing because the reuben wells is actually referred to as no. 35, but maybe they changed it in the 20s because that was when the California Western Railroad No. 45 was built. I'm not really sure.
Many of the folk artists who covered this song and the music anthologists who collected have credited to hearing it from black singers originally like woody guthrie and Alan Lomax (p.245). Alan Lomax talks about its different versions in different southern states and its history as a labor song for Sharecroppers and convicts who were both white and black.
and Folklorist Norm Cohen talks about its use and connections to black folklife here (p. 502-518).
and it's featured here in the album, "Before The Blues Vol. 2 (The Early American Black Music Scene) 2016"
based on Alan Lomax's account, it seems that the 900 mile version was popularized because of Woody Guthrie's version in 1944
This song is incredibly famous and has been covered by many other traditional and revival folk artists, including: Cisco Houston (1950-1953), Odetta (1963), Barbara Dane (1961), Richie Havens (late 1960s?) and Bob Dylan (1967).
one of the most popular versions of the song "500 miles" was written in 1961 by Hedy west and is a much newer adaptation of the traditional song, it also has a much more cheery melody and fast tempo compared to the somewhat sullen "900 miles". it has been covered many times by country and folk revival artists like: the journeymen (1961), The Kingston Trio (1962), Peter Paul, and Mary (1962), and the Brothers four (1963).
the version by Terry Callier was recorded in 1965, but his folk album wasn't released until 3 years later in 1968. when he released his first album, "The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier." 900 miles was the first song on the tracklist and the album combined elements of traditional folk/blues as well as jazz. he takes traditional songs and re-imagines them with a fresh pair of eyes that makes this folk album stand out from the multitude of others at the time. While it's considered a cult classic today, it seems like it may have not performed very well monetarily considering how long it took to release and how every other Terry Callier release is completely different.
still, even though this was only his first album, and his genre and style diverged pretty heavily from this first album, it remains to me, one of the best things to come out of the folk revival scene, and 900 miles by Terry Callier will remain the best cover of the traditional labor song.
for user @paulkleefishmagic
my plan is to post aesthetic pictures of Bob dylan for fellow queers to reblog to lure them into following my blog, where they will have to learn the history of folk music as a a traditional tool for protest and labor and the many leftist origins of folk and the ways this is often overlooked and erased especially when it comes to black artists
oh hey, unrelated, check out this cool song by paul robeson in 1924 :)
or this rendition of Strange Fruit by Josh White (1964)
or this song by Odetta in 1957
or this song by lead belly in 1936
or this Gospel song by the Freedom Singers in 1961
or this song 1961
or this song by Nina Simone in 1965
Nina Simone - Symphony Hall, Boston, Mass. - 1969, Smithsonian Institution
Song of the day
"Free and Equal Blues" Josh White, 1940s
this song was also covered by Earl Robinson here in 1957
Paul Robeson in Big Fella 1937 (colorized)
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1941
Leadbelly and Josh white
Paul Robeson on colonialism
Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest, ep. 5, 1965 "O' Mary Don't You Weep" Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Bernice Reagon
Song of the day
(do you want the history of your favorite folk song? dm me or submit an ask and I'll do a full rundown)
"Joshua" Odetta, 1956
"Joshua fit De Battle Of Jericho" is an encredibly old song created by african enslaved people in America sometime prior to the Civil War. Like many Old Testament songs in black gospel music, it alludes to a longing for freedom and victory against persecution. The song was first recorded in 1922 by Harrod's Jubilee singers,
and in 1925 by Paul Robeson.
the combination of this historic freedom song, the emerging civil rights movement, and the "Queen of Folk" (dubbed by Martin Luther King Jr.) lead to the best possible cover of this song by Odetta.
Furry Lewis (1893-1981) c.1960s
Peggy Seeger 2023 interview talking about Elizabeth Cotten and "Freight Train"
i am Obsessed with "The Union Boys" band, formed on March 11, 1944, that literally only existed for one day.
they released one album consisting of entirely anti-fascist, anti-racist, and pro union songs. And it was given its name by Moses Asch, very descriptive name.
consisting of Josh White (underrated ! listen to his music), Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Pete Seeger, Burl Ives, Tom Glazer, and technically woody guthrie. this album is the reason i always have "UAW-CIO" stuck in my head lol.
Song of the day
"Ol' Man River" Paul Robeson, 1936
originally written in 1925 by Oscar Hammerstein II, featured in the 1927 musical "Showboat" here
later, the musical was turned into a musical film in 1936 with Paul Robeson playing the character Joe
Old Man River always sends chills down my spine; the depiction of the exploitation of black people and the toiling of black workers, and the contrast between the uncaring and unfeeling river, lead to a haunting song.
Tribute to Elizabeth Cotten with Odetta
Ralph Rinzler Collections, Smithsonian Institute
jimmie strothers and Joe Lee, 1936
paul robeson, abc interview "on colonialism " 1960
"I would say unquestionably, i am an American,
born there
my father, a slave there
upon the backs of my people was developed the primary wealth of america"