The Great Migration
from the Mississippi Delta to Northern Cities, especially Chicago
From 1910-1970, 7 million Black Americans migrated from the South to the North and West to excape severe racism and seek better working conditions. They brought their music, but in the urban surroundings, the music started to change. Let's listen to two versions of the same song to hear the differences.
I Be's Troubled
Recorded in 1941 by Alan Lomax for the Smithsonian Library.
Recorded on the front porch of Muddy Water's cabin on the plantation he had worked for 17 years.
Lyrics:
Well if I feel tomorrow, like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my suitcase, and make my getaway
Lord I'm troubled, I'm all worried in mind
And I'm never bein' satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Yeah, I know my little ol' baby, she gonna jump and shout
That ol' train be late girl, and I come walkin' out
Lord I'm troubled, I'm all worried in mind
Yeah and I'm never bein' satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Recorded in 1941 by Alan Lomax for the Smithsonian Library.
Recorded on the front porch of Muddy Water's cabin on the plantation he had worked for 17 years.
Lyrics:
Well if I feel tomorrow, like I feel today
I'm gonna pack my suitcase, and make my getaway
Lord I'm troubled, I'm all worried in mind
And I'm never bein' satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Yeah, I know my little ol' baby, she gonna jump and shout
That ol' train be late girl, and I come walkin' out
Lord I'm troubled, I'm all worried in mind
Yeah and I'm never bein' satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
I Can't Be Satisfied
Recorded at Chess Records in Chicago in 1948
Lyrics:
Well I'm goin' away to leave, won't be back no more
Goin' back down south, child don't you want to go?
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I just can't be satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Well I feel like snappin' pistol in your face
I'm gonna let some graveyard Lord be your resting place
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I can never be satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Recorded at Chess Records in Chicago in 1948
Lyrics:
Well I'm goin' away to leave, won't be back no more
Goin' back down south, child don't you want to go?
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I just can't be satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
Well I feel like snappin' pistol in your face
I'm gonna let some graveyard Lord be your resting place
Woman I'm troubled, I be all worried in mind
Well baby I can never be satisfied, and I just can't keep from cryin'
How did the music change?
How did the lyrics change?
How do you think the urban surroundings effected the sound?
How did the lyrics change?
How do you think the urban surroundings effected the sound?