This song is about a black slave girl in America in the 1950s who has run away from her master and spent the night sleeping under a pine tree. Her master finds her (supposedly dehydrated and weak) and tells her to give up running because she will not make it more than a mile and a half before dying.
@hazoid246 - That seems unlikely, since the song dates back to the late 1800's. From what I've read, It's original version seems to have only included four lines. Although, it's gone through hundreds of variations with differing story lines. I think your interpretation of the song can easily be related to the original meaning, since the song originated in southern Appalachia, and in the earliest versions that reference a "Black Girl", definitely have a sympathetic feel to me. I think what's really cool about this song is how you can change the lyrics to play with the meaning while keeping...
@hazoid246 - That seems unlikely, since the song dates back to the late 1800's. From what I've read, It's original version seems to have only included four lines. Although, it's gone through hundreds of variations with differing story lines. I think your interpretation of the song can easily be related to the original meaning, since the song originated in southern Appalachia, and in the earliest versions that reference a "Black Girl", definitely have a sympathetic feel to me. I think what's really cool about this song is how you can change the lyrics to play with the meaning while keeping some of the traditional symbolism that's developed over time. Great song!
This song is about a black slave girl in America in the 1950s who has run away from her master and spent the night sleeping under a pine tree. Her master finds her (supposedly dehydrated and weak) and tells her to give up running because she will not make it more than a mile and a half before dying.
@hazoid246 - That seems unlikely, since the song dates back to the late 1800's. From what I've read, It's original version seems to have only included four lines. Although, it's gone through hundreds of variations with differing story lines. I think your interpretation of the song can easily be related to the original meaning, since the song originated in southern Appalachia, and in the earliest versions that reference a "Black Girl", definitely have a sympathetic feel to me. I think what's really cool about this song is how you can change the lyrics to play with the meaning while keeping...
@hazoid246 - That seems unlikely, since the song dates back to the late 1800's. From what I've read, It's original version seems to have only included four lines. Although, it's gone through hundreds of variations with differing story lines. I think your interpretation of the song can easily be related to the original meaning, since the song originated in southern Appalachia, and in the earliest versions that reference a "Black Girl", definitely have a sympathetic feel to me. I think what's really cool about this song is how you can change the lyrics to play with the meaning while keeping some of the traditional symbolism that's developed over time. Great song!
@hazoid246 1850 maybe. No slaves in USA 1950. Amendment abolishing slavery passed in 1865.
@hazoid246 1850 maybe. No slaves in USA 1950. Amendment abolishing slavery passed in 1865.