This is an excerpt from the documentary, Harlan County, USA (1976), which is about a group of coal miners and their families from Kentucky who participated in the "Brookside Strike" of 1973. I have the video set to start a little early for some context. It is over by about 51:24, but feel free to check out the whole documentary!
I believe this is an example of a holler. Workers and their spouses participating in the strikes and trying to unionize would perform these for and with each other. In the context of the strikes, they functioned as a kind of rallying cry and were a token that communicated the struggles/goals of the strikers and their families to others.
This topic is close to my heart because my grandfather grew up in rural Kentucky and was a coal miner for several years before he and my grandma were able to get out and come to Michigan. They have often shared with me some of the hardships they faced in Kentucky when my grandpa worked in the mines. For instance, my grandma would worry every time my grandpa left for work that he might not come home.
I love the messages in pro-union protests, as they often mirror anticapitalist sentiments. It is a strong image to see working class people united to make for themselves a better quality of life. To demand a fairer, more balanced society and way of life. I find it interesting that the melody is reminiscent of spirituals. Perhaps this can be viewed as musical appropriation by a segment of society that historically has oppressed the originators of the style, and is therefore hypocritical in nature. On the other hand, it could potentially be seen as a move toward solidarity, focusing on the shared struggles of the communities rather than the differences.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a rallying cry, especially one this powerful. The way it's made to be something that can be sung by everyone is beautiful, I think there's a power in her voice singing, even if, as she says, she isn't the best. I got chills, and I think a part of that is seeing someone who knows they aren't the best singing or performing for what they believe, even if it's not what they usually do.
ReplyDeleteA few of my composition friends who come from the south (Virginia, Missouri and Kentucky) get together and do sacred harp and things like that. I also come from the Rust Belt part of Pennsylvania and all the mines are closed here, but the remnants of poverty and the sickness that came with it remain. I'm really touched by the dialect and sound of this kind of rural folk singing.
ReplyDeleteHer cry for change is so clear and powerful, even for only thirty seconds. There is so much anger and dying patience living in her words. Rallying cries and chants are always so powerful because they were designed for huge, unified groups to sing together, and it's already so persuasive with one women singing it, so it must be beautiful if everyone in that room joined in.
ReplyDeleteNick, thank you so much for sharing this. It's amazing that you have a personal connection to the story of this iconic song, which was made famous by Pete Seeger at a time where Unions and workers rights were at the forefront of much protest music. I encourage everyone to check out some different recordings by different artists over the years, some of whom have changed the lyrics to reflect contemporary causes.
ReplyDeleteThe music is modal, clearly coming from the appalachian tradition—which would have resonated with the audience, and helped them sing along. Notice how the responsorial nature of the tune, along with its text, have a 'rallying' function. The song is yet a different kind of protest, and the music is perfectly suited: it is designed to win people over, to galvanize their position, to unify them behind the cause.
This is such a powerful clip! Adding on to the comments above, I feel like this definitely does have a similar feel to spirituals, but I think of it more as a form of class solidarity being that the blues is a genre that often voices the stories of disenfranchised people.
ReplyDeleteThis is a testament to how music can unite people, her simple blues melody grabs you in such an effective way because it is simple and catchy. Maybe the most effective pieces are the one's that allow people to remember them easily, allowing them to spread their message anywhere at anytime.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was an interesting choice, but none the less powerful. The way it seamlessly blends spirituals and blues (the outcropping of suffering) and Ozark region folk music. It's simple enough to sing and memorize and has a strong message.
ReplyDeleteI like how her holler feels like it comes from her gut. It emphasizes the importance of gathering people together to unionize. I think the persuasion that Olivia mentioned is present in the words "which side are you on," even if they are sung in the form of a question. I'm also interested in the idea of a rallying cry that conveys struggles at the same time as it communicates goals of the disenfranchised group.
ReplyDeleteUntil now, I really know of my own family's personal experience with this story so thank you for sharing. My dad grew up on a farm that also acted a foster home in a southern Kentucky coal mining town (Morten's Gap outside of Madisonville), and only recently, I have found out what it was like for them growing up. My grandparents (both farmers and prison workers) took in the children of families who no longer could afford having children due the the poverty that flourished their area during this time. Although I do not agree with many of my families ideologies, this, along with a trip I made over winter break, reminded me of the hardships they had to face and how they still deal with the aftermath today. Her voice reminded me of the music my dad grew up listening to and learning, even within his parent's church, a painful reminder of grief and hardship.
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