Lecture 6: Gospel, Spirituals Rock, Blues and Civil Right Movements

1
Lecture 6 Gospel, SpiritualsRock, Bluesand
Civil Right Movements

• Vesa Matteo Piludu
• Helsinki

Department of Comparative Religion University of
Helsinki
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Demonizations

• In the previous lecture we have seen
• That the Devils or Blues appearing in the blues
  and rock lyrics are always metaphors of something
  negative (bad social behaviors, violence against
  the women, warlords or weapon builders, internal
  psychological struggles) the Devil figures fit
  well in their traditional evil role and in the
  Christian dualistic world view
• That the legends about the supposed Satanism or
  Devil possession of rock stars are completely
  inconsistent and often generated by confused
  argumentations of fanatic TV preachers that
  doesnt know nothing about the culture of their
  countries

3
Rockin the Gospel many influences

• Many rock stars, by the contrary, have done
  gospel or hymns LP or songs
• Bob Dylan
• Elvis Presley
• Jonny Cash
• Many bluesmen sing the blues in a night club on
  Saturday and gospel in the church on Sundays
• Many bluesmen became priests and preachers
• Spirituals, Gospel, Blues, Country, Rock are
  all Afro-American music is not strange that all
  this styles often mixed and fused and sometimes
  the borders are thin

4
Johnny Cash It Was Jesus (1958)LP Hymns by
Jonny Cash

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vaFwK_ZTCfLcfeature
  related
• Well a man walked down by Galilee so the Holy
  Book does sayAnd a great multitude was gathered
  there
• without a thing to eat for days
• Up stepped a little boy with the basket
• Please take it Lord he said And with just
  a five loaves and two little fishes
• five thousand had fish and bread
• Who was it everybody (it was Jesus)
• who was it everybody (it was Jesus)Who was
  it everybody (it was Jesus)
• it was Jesus Christ our Lord
• .

5
Johnny Cash It Was Jesus (1958)

• Now pay close attention little children
• it's somebody you ought to knowIt's all
  about a man that walked on earth
• nearly two thousand years ago
• Well he healed the sick and afflicted it
• and he raised 'em from the dead
• Then they nailed him on an old rugged cross
• and put thorns on his head
• Who was it everybody...
• Well they took him down and they buried him and
  after the third dayWhen they came to his tomb
  where they knew he was goneCause the stone was
  rolled away
• Who was it everybody...

6
Johnny Cash Gospel Road (1958)

• Gospel Road Movie of Jesus
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v5XzCu0nOGMIfeature
  related

7
Jonnhy Cash Redemption

• Redemption
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v-xZwhX1eiOgfeature
  related
• A teardrop fell In the deep crimson dew The tree
  of life grewAnd the blood gave life To the
  branches of the tree
• And the blood was the price That set the
  captives free And the numbers that came Through
  the fire and the flood Clung to the tree And
  were redeemed by the blood

8
Jonnhy Cash Redemption

• From the tree streamed a light That started the
  fight 'Round the tree grew a vine On whose fruit
  I could dine My old friend Lucifer came Fought
  to keep me in chains But I saw through the
  tricks Of six-sixty-six
• ()
• And a small inner voice Said "You do have a
  choice." The vine engrafted me And I clung to
  the tree

9
Johnny Cash Ghost Riders in the sky

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v6HxZ1jwqF6Ifea
  turerelated
• An old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy
  day Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his
  wayWhen all at once a mighty herd of red eyed
  cows he saw A-plowing through the ragged sky and
  up the cloudy draw Their brands were still on
  fire and their hooves were made of steel Their
  horns were black and shiny and their hot breath
  he could feel A bolt of fear went through him as
  they thundered through the sky For he saw the
  Riders coming hard and he heard their mournful
  cryYippie yi Ohhhhh Yippie yi yaaaaay Ghost
  Riders in the sky

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Johnny Cash Ghost Riders in the sky

• Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred,
• their shirts all soaked with sweatHe's
  riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't
  caught 'em yet
• 'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range
  up in the sky On horses snorting fireAs they
  ride on hear their cry As the riders loped on
  by him he heard one call his name
• If you want to save your soul from Hell a-riding
  on our rangeThen cowboy change your ways today
  or with us you will ride Trying to catch the
  Devil's herd, across these endless skies

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Social, Politic and Religious Double Meaning in
Afro-American Gospel and Spirituals

• The Gospel Song of Cash are mostly only religious
  or moral
• They refer often to something personal Cash used
  drugs, was unfaithful as many stars and his
  first wife left him
• But later Cash abandoned the use of drugs and
  found a new wife, the singer
• He considered himself saved by the Grace and
  often in his songs he talks about redemption from
  sins

12
Myths in popular music stars life

• Type 1 the Damned as Robert Johnson, Jimi
  Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Mercury and many
  others they live a short life, full of excess
  drugs, alcohol, free sex the type fit in the
  Christian world view, celebrated in popular books
  and films
• Type 2 the Saved as Johnny Cash and Ray Charles
  they used drugs, alcohol and are unfaithful at
  most evident level but they decided to abandon
  the excesses, they lived a long and respectful
  life and became an example of how it is possible
  to save itself from sin the type fit very well
  in the Christian world view, celebrated in recent
  popular books and films
• Type 3 the curious Survivors in Sin as Ozzy
  Osbourne and many rappers they continue to use
  drugs or alcohol even if they have family and
  children but they have an extraordinary
  resistance the type didnt fit in the Christian
  world view, but it works perfectly for TV and
  trash reality show

13
Social, Politic and Religious Double Meaning in
Afro-American Gospel and Spirituals

• Analyzing the Spiritual and Gospel songs we
  shift from the personal to the collective, social
• Many Spiritual songs have a double meaning and
  are really the USAs first protest song
• During Slavery, churches were the only places in
  which the Afro-American were free to express
  themselves
• The Afro-Americans linked Bibles themes with
  their slave conditions and to their hopes for
  freedom
• For them, the Christian Faith was incompatible
  with slavery
• Jesus and Moses were suffering as the slaves, and
  finally Jesus twill free the slaves Jesus was
  seen as a friend and first of all as a Liberator
  from the injustice of slavery

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After Slavery

• After the end of the Slavery the themes of the
  Spirituals fit well for other situations the
  liberation was meant as the racist and separation
  laws and for the achievement of civil rights
• In recent times, the liberation is meant also
  from drugs and gangsters
• For this reason Spiritual, Gospel and Soul music
  became the real soundtrack of many civil rights
  movements in the 60 and 70 and its relevant
  even today
• Its not a surprise if a Soul and Gospel diva as
  Aretha Franklin sung in the Obamas inauguration
  day
• An Afro-American president is an event of
  enormous importance in whole North and South
  America

15
Mahalia Jackson Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vgPZuWzZvoYQ
• Joshua fit de battle of Jericho, Jericho,
  Jericho,Joshua fit de battle of Jericho,and the
  walls came a tumbalin' down, down, down,
  down.You may talk about your men of Gideon,you
  may talk about your men of Saul,but there's none
  like good old Josh-a-ua,at the battle of
  Jericho, that morningJoshua rose early in the
  morning,that is when the trumpets blew,they
  marched around the city,at the battle of
  JerichoRight up to the walls of Jericho,he
  marched with spear in hand,Joshua commanded the
  children to SHOUT,and the walls came a tumbalin'
  down, down, down, down

16
Go Down Moses - Sullivan's Travels (1941)

• When Israel was in Egypts land,Let My people
  go!Oppressed so hard they could not stand,Let
  My people go!
• RefrainGo down, Moses,Way down in Egypts
  landTell old PharaohTo let My people go
• No more shall they in bondage toil,Let My people
  go!Let them come out with Egypts spoil,Let My
  people go!
• Jess Lee Brooks performing the classic
  spiritual. From the 1941 Preston Sturges movie
  "Sullivan's Travels", starring Joel McCrea and
  Veronica Lake.

• Oh, let us all from bondage flee,Let My people
  go!And let us all in Christ be free,Let My
  people go!
• You need not always weep and mourn,Let My people
  go!And wear these slavry chains forlorn,Let My
  people go!
• Your foes shall not before you stand,Let My
  people go!And youll possess fair Canaans
  land,Let My people go!
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vu0CRAavN4EI

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Aretha Franklin Climbing Higher MountainsCD
Amazing Grace

• I'm climbing higher mountains (Shadow on the 3rd
  7th time)trying to get home (repeat 8x's)I'm
  carrying heavy burdens (Shadow on the 3rd)trying
  to get home (repeat 4x's)My road gets a little
  rocky (shadow on the 3rd)trying to get home
  (repeat 8x's)I'm climbing higher mountains
  (Shadow on the 3rd and 7th) trying to get home
  (repeat 8x's)

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Aretha Franklin How I got over (1) CD Amazing
Grace

• How I got overHow did I make it overYou know my
  soul look back and wonderHow did I make it
  over(2 times)Tell Me how we got over 'LORD'Had
  a mighty hard time coming on overYou know my
  soul look back and wonderHow did we make it over
• But, soon as I can see JESUS The man that died
  for meMan that bled and sufferedand he hung on
  CalvaryAnd I want to thank him for how he
  brought meAnd I want to thank GOD for how he
  taught meOh thank my GOD how he kept me I'm
  gonna thank him 'cause he never left me

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Aretha Franklin How I got over (2) CD Amazing
Grace

• Then I'm gonna thank GOD for 'ole time
  religionand I'm gonna thank GOD for giving me a
  vision
• One day I'm gonna join the heavenly choirI'm
  gonna sing and never get tiredAnd then I'm
  gonna sing somewhere 'round GODS alterAnd I'm
  gonna shout all my troubles overYou know I've
  gotta thank GOD and thank him for beingso good
  to me. 'LORD YEAH'How I made it over 'LORD' I
  had to cry in the midnight hourcoming on over,
  but you know my soul look back and wonderHow did
  I make it over
• Tell me how I made it over 'LORD GOD
  LORD'Falling and rising all these yearsyou know
  my soul look back and wonder How did I make it
  over

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Aretha Franklin How I got over (3)

• I'm gonna wear a diamond garmentIn that new
  Jerusalem, I'm gonna walk the streets of
  goldIt's the homeland of the soulI'm gonna view
  the host in whiteThey've been traveling day and
  nightComing up from every nationThey're on
  their way to the great CognationComing from the
  north, south, east, and westOn their way to a
  land of restand their gonna join the heavenly
  choir
• You know we're gonna sing and never get
  tiredand then we're gonna sing somewere 'round
  GODS alterand then we're gonna shout all our
  troubles overYou know we gotta thank GOD and
  thank him for beingso good to me

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Aretha Franklin How I got over (3) CD Amazing
Grace

• You know I come to thank GOD this evening, I come
  tothank him this evening, You know all night
  longGOD kept his angels watching over meand
  early this morning, early this morning GOD told
  his angel GOD said 'touch her in my name'God
  said 'touch her in my name
• I 'rose this morning, I 'rose this morningI
  'rose this morning, I feel like shoutingI feel
  like shouting, I feel like shoutingI feel like
  shouting, I feel like shoutingI feel like
  shouting, I feel like shoutingI just gotta thank
  GOD, I just gotta thank GODI just gotta thank
  GOD, I just gotta thank himThank GOD for being
  so good, GODS been good to me

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Amazing Grace Lyrics by John Newton (1725-1807)
Aretha Francklin CD Amazing Grace

• Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a
  wretch like me.I once was lost but now am
  found,Was blind, but now I see.
• T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.And
  Grace, my fears relieved.How precious did that
  Grace appearThe hour I first believed.
• Through many dangers, toils and snaresI have
  already come'Tis Grace that brought me safe
  thus farand Grace will lead me home.

• The Lord has promised good to me.His word my
  hope secures.He will my shield and portion
  be,As long as life endures.
• Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,And
  mortal life shall cease,I shall possess within
  the veil,A life of joy and peace.
• When we've been here ten thousand yearsBright
  shining as the sun.We've no less days to sing
  God's praiseThan when we've first begun.

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WhiteWater Amazing Grace - House Of The Rising
Sun

• There is a house in New Orleans They call the
  Rising Sun And it's been the ruin of many a poor
  boy And God I know I'm one My mother was a
  tailor She sewed my new blue jeans My father
  was a gamblin' man Down in New Orleans Now the
  only thing a gambler needs Is a suitcase and
  trunk And the only time he's satisfied Is when
  he's on a drunk

• Oh mother tell your children Not to do what I
  have done Spend your lives in sin and misery In
  the House of the Rising Sun
• Well, I got one foot on the platform The other
  foot on the train I'm goin' back to New Orleans
  To wear that ball and chain Well, there is a
  house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun
  And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy And
  God I know I'm one

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Aretha Franklin and Mavis StaplesO Happy Day -
LP One Lord One Faith One Baptism

• Oh happy day Oh happy day Oh happy happy day
  Oh happy day When Jesus washed Oh when he washed
  When Jesus washed He washed my sins away!
• Oh happy day Oh happy day He taught me how He
  taught me Taught me how to watch
• He taught me how to watch and fight and pray
• fight and pray yes, fight and pray

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Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples (1987)We need
power - LP One Lord One Faith One Baptism

• by one side the Power of the tests is the
  social and political one

• By the other side the power is the spiritual one,
  of the Holy Ghost or Spirit, able to possess
  people in the rituals of the Shakers and in some
  Baptist Churches
• In many Shakers churches the possession by the
  Holy Spirit is extremely similar to the one of
  Vodouns and Orixas, even in the religion here is
  clearly the Christian one a voluntary possession
  of the believers by a positive, pure spirit,
  obtained by music and song
• Track 14 You Got to Move
• CD Been in the Storm so Long
• Early 60
• Johns Island, South Carolina

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Aretha Franklin and Joe Ligon (1987)Ive been in
the Storm so longLP One Lord One Faith One
Baptism

• Ive been in the Storm so long
• Original Gospel Blues version
• CD Been in the Storm so Long
• Early 60
• Johns Island South Carolina
• I been in de storm so long,I been in de storm so
  long, chillun,I been in de storm so long,Oh,
  gimme little time to pray.
• Oh, let me tell you, Mother, hown I come 'long,
  Oh, gimme little time to pray,With a hung down
  head and an achin' heart,Oh, gimme little time
  to pray.

• 'Cause I been in de storm so long,I been in de
  storm so long, chillun,I been in de storm so
  long,Oh, gimme little time to pray.
• Now when I get to Heaven I'll take my seat,Oh,
  gimme little time to pray,An-a cast my crown at
  my Jesus' feet, Oh, gimme little time to pray
• I been in de storm so long,I been in de storm so
  long, chillun,I been in de storm so long,Oh,
  gimme little time to pray.