Alan Lomax is a folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He began making field rec… Read Full Bio ↴Alan Lomax is a folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He began making field recordings with his father, a fellow folklorist, John Lomax, of American folk music for the Library of Congress' Archive of American Folk Song. Throughout his six decades of pivotal work, Lomax travelled all over the United States, as well as to the Carribean, Ireland, Great Britain, Spain (where he was hounded by Franco's fascist police), and Italy. Aside from turning the Archive of American Folk Song into one of the most important music resources in the world, Lomax wrote numerous books on music, hosted radio shows in the United States (CBS) and Britain (BBC), and even brought a concert series to New York called The Midnight Special.

Alan Lomax has played an incredibly important role in the preservation of classic folk music, and helped introduce such artists as Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, and Jelly Roll Morton to the world.

Berta Berta
Alan Lomax Field Recordings Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Berta Berta' by these artists:

Betty Bonifassi ""Be my woman gal i'll Be your man (3 fois) Everydays…
Branford Marsalis I go free I go free hell nah mmmmm oh…
Negro Prison Blues and Songs Uomo, guardati dentro, cosa ti scuote E ti fa sentire un…
Thomas Vent O Lord. Berta. Berta... O Lord gal oh-ah O Lord. Berta.…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@dela9658

2y↑12

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah
O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well

Go 'head marry don't you wait on me oh-ah
Go 'head marry don't you wait on me well now
Might not want you when I go free oh-ah
Might not want you when I go free well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah
O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well now

Raise them up higher, let them drop on down oh-ah
Raise them up higher, let them drop on down well now
Don't know the difference when the sun go down oh-ah
Don't know the difference when the sun go down well now

Berta in Meridian and she living at ease oh-ah
Berta in Meridian and she living at ease well now
I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave oh-ah
I'm on old Parchman, got to work or leave well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah
O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well now

When you marry, don't marry no farming man oh-ah
When you marry, don't marry no farming man well now
Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand oh-ah
Everyday Monday, hoe handle in your hand well now

When you marry, marry a railroad man oh-ah
When you marry, marry a railroad man well now
Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand oh-ah
Everyday Sunday, dollar in your hand well now

O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal oh-ah
O Lord Berta Berta O Lord gal well

@anthony81860

8y↑112

BERTA, BERTA

O Lord, Berta, Berta, O Lord gal, oh-hooo
O Lord, Berta, Berta, O Lord gal, well now

Go 'head and marry don't cha, wait on me, oh-ah
Go 'head and marry don't cha, wait on me, well now
Might not want cha when na I go free, oh-ah
Might not want cha when na I go free, well now

O Lord gal, oh-ah

O Lord, Berta Berta, O Lord gal, raise em up

Raise em up higher, let em, drop on down, oh-ah
Raise em up higher, let em, drop on down, well now
Don't know the difference when the, sun go down, oh-ah
Don't know the difference when the, sun go down, well now

Berta in Meridian and she, living at ease, oh-ah
Berta in Meridian and she, living at ease, well now
I'm on old Parchman, got ta, work or leave, oh-ah
I'm on old Parchman, got ta, work or leave, well now

O Alberta Berta, O Lord gal, oh-ah
O Alberta Berta, O Lord gal, well now

When you marry, don't cha marry a, farmin man, oh-ah
When you marry, don't cha marry a, farmin man, well now
Everyday Monday, hoe handle! in your hand, oh-ah
Everyday Monday, hoe handle! in your hand, well now

When you marry, marry a, railroad man, oh-ah
When you marry, marry a, railroad man, well now
Everyday Sunday dollar, in your hand, oh-ah
Everyday Sunday dollar, in your hand, well now

O Alberta Berta, O Lord gal, oh-ah
O Alberta Berta, O Lord gal, oh-ah

All comments from YouTube:

@Lalo_plays

3y↑411

Listening to J. Cole G.M.O.D and had to know where that sample was from.

@7kudos

3y↑12

Piano Lesson as well. Although J. Cole sampled this, the history isn't for show. What's more uplifting than J. Cole's song is this newer addition to the sample which does it better Justice.
Thomas Vent - Berta Berta

@isaacashirvad

3y↑1

I got to know about this in the ig thejcolebible

@robertkrantz5004

3y↑4

Heard this recording on a Branford Marsalis album years ago. Profound.

@Rawdiswar

3y↑3

That's why I'm here.

@JordieMotive97

2y↑1

Me too bro, straight facts

4 More Replies...

@NasirusPrimal

7y↑652

When that first hammer dropped it became so real.

@billbeck7791

6y↑38

Powerful, isn't it.

@kaypickens3906

6y↑16

Passionate 💯 I felt every word

@MikieTenMillyLIVE

5y↑8

U right

@NinaSeleneRossi

5y↑14

I felt that too! Really powerful stuff! I’ve watched “The Piano Lesson” twice in high school, and performed this song as part of a project I did during Black History Month

@FRENCHIZE420

5y↑24

Bro.. I started to get a little anxiety attack cause it feels like you're there with them. Then when the guy starts to grunt after every hit, i had to pause it for a bit. That was fkn intense.

6 More Replies...

@diamondbanks2685

4y↑679

The pain I used to hear in my dad's voice when he used to sing this . Rest in peace all the ancestors .tears are rolling down my face 🖤

@msm686

4y↑11

Oh god I’m so sorry!

@diamondbanks2685

4y↑33

@@msm686 the song hit me the hardest because my father was born in the south , he seen and experience allot of things ,I'm happy he told me stories about the dark days and the bright days he had there. This song he always remembered . Rest in peace dad and all the ancestors ❤️.

@msm686

4y↑4

Jada Banks rip💕

@trinity1075

4y↑13

no way. girl your dad was a warrior, rip to him

@ronweasly4215

3y↑5

I’m so sorry :( but from what I can tell just here he raised an amazing daughter. I’m so happy he kept you tied to your roots you don’t see that a lot where I’m from❤️✊🏽

14 More Replies...

@Bailark

9y↑533

It is over five and a half years since I made this video. I continue to be amazed at the conversation taking place over this. A music professor in New Mexico was using this video in his history of music class several years ago. I'm pleased that the vast majority of comments are being civil with one another about some very difficult history. Thank you, all.

@tessalee6161

9y↑6

Yep, taking that class now.

@CallousCarter

8y↑9

+William Beck It's not just history, the for profit prison system is just sophisticated slavery. Chain gangs never went away. The US "criminal" system is a system of injustice (ironic given the naming).

@Bailark

+Chalky White It has been my pleasure to see so much interest. Thanks for sharing your involvement.

@cabreramirna1568

8y↑1

+William Beck I use this in my class too (Music Appreciation). Thank you for this beautiful/poignant rendition.

@Bailark

8y↑6

+Mirna Y Cabrera Correction: The photo with my Grandparents, Aunt, and cousins is at 4: 03 of the video. There is a tiny newspaper clip attached by my Grandmother. That announced that my David was a Presidential scholar. He was awarded by President Carter, and a guest at the White House.

40 More Replies...

@TouchedByTruth

3y↑208

My grandfather born in 1906 worked on the railroad and I remember him singing like this a time or two. It really touched my soul then, but especially now. It is beautiful and sad at the same time. What our ancestors had to endure is saddening, but we MUST ALWAYS remember we are standing on their shoulders and they would not want us to give up because the never did. They would want us to reflect, carry on, and to be the shoulders for generations to come.

@mrmarcuswatson

2y↑4

Today's black n brown community in America are broken. We've long forgotten this pain are back tracking......... so sad.

@TouchedByTruth

2y↑1

@@mrmarcuswatson I agree that many of our people are broken. Many are tired, uninformed, and lack knowledge. They don’t want to learn or understand what are ancestors went through. But not ALL of us, some of are woke and more are waking up.

@zenithchan1646

I’m not american what is the lyrics? I dont understand

@mrmarcuswatson

@@zenithchan1646 Its a song made by slaves and laborers of African descnet stuck in America. They are laying down rail roads. In my comment I was saying how what the descendant of these people have what they wanted but are misguided. Which is the communities that most of us black Americans and minorities grow up in.

@zenithchan1646

2y↑1

@@mrmarcuswatson oh didnt care

5 More Replies...

@cjfrench5401

5y↑87

Soon as that hammer drops, chills all over my body

@alyssascoggins2388

8y↑470

Slavery didn't end just because Lincoln abolished it. It kept going on for decades, just in different forms than before. Such as these prison camps.

@Lauren-cv6ky

8y↑21

And sadly it still goes on in other countries.

@LeWiS2K9SMUDGEMOONED

7y↑17

Its still going on in the States. Just look at the 13th Amendment.

@givemeabreak658

7y↑11

TØP //Pvris// the 13th Amendment created slavery ie the prison industrial complex!

@martialart2

6y↑5

The only that stands in the way... Is Mental Slavery.

@g.o.m.d7676

5y↑4

He didn’t even abolish it fully

15 More Replies...

@crescentmoondesigns7515

5y↑145

Black men don't even know how deep and thier souls are this song is so haunting!!!

@damon19751

4y↑7

I promise, I know

@rodrickhatton8636

3y↑4

Oh, we know better than you'd think

@becomingliberty

3y↑2

@@harounlee208 youtube dr phil valentine. black men lead that conversation lol

@backtoafrika

7y↑133

This is real SOUL music. That's why we are here. This movie portrays the years of the late 40's early 50's. But in 1963 or 1964 in the state of TN, there were Black Men in black and white suits working on the chain gang.I never saw any White men............ FREE LABOR

@1218reyes

3y↑74

The only thing holding these men together is their Spirits. It's all they had left. Respects to these Men.

@stevepickford3004

1y↑2

I don't think we should respect criminals because they sang a song

@ebraheemfredericks5736

1y↑4

@@stevepickford3004 Ooh so edgy. Why are you even here?

@stevepickford3004

1y↑2

@@ebraheemfredericks5736 it's not edgy. This song was recorded in a prison in the 40s. Everyone had a great day by all accounts. Edgy is making out they are hero's for some unknown reason

@shambamz7476

44w↑3

@@stevepickford3004you make the conscious decision to be ignorant.

@mattcouch2965

4y↑41

That first hammer fall gives me cold chills. the pain in these guys voices is chilling. But I love how at the start they are still able to joke. "You sound like shit" "like an old hound dog"

@luvinniall1392

9y↑185

I cry just listening to the song, I don't even have to watch the video. Every time I think of slavery or the oppression of the human race period it hurts my entire being, I truley have pride in my black ancestry

@smithyman33

8y↑2

I'll be honest, and I'm not trying to troll... I get a warm fuzzy feeling thinking of slavery, oppression, and war. One group must suffer for the advancement of another, for someone to win, another must lose...

@luvinniall1392

Thats a valid point and I respect your opinion thank you for sharing and doing it in a way that was not over the top or rude

@luvinniall1392

8y↑5

***** I know nor do I agree with it however it's his opinion and even though I had a couple of things to say to that I don't want a YouTube fight with someone I don't know so I just nipped it in the bud

@eloimassana3002

5y↑1

Amen

@Misto1510

3y↑10

Remember, despite repeated attempts at oppression and deliberate sabotage we still survive. Let this be a testament to our resilience and the fact that our oppressors are weak. This song is powerful.

2 More Replies...

@bananas.in.pyjamas

4y↑25

You can hear the pain💔
The coughing
The grunting
The struggle

@u-n-isurvive3030

1y↑15

Our ancestors went through so much. They were playing life on hard mode, and still found a way to make it through. Rest well warriors.

@dela9658

2y↑12

@Bailark

8y↑325

Tell your class that the family in the middle of the vid, is my family. My paternal grandparents. (My Grandfather's Father was born in slavery and emancipated as a small child.) My Aunt, and her three children. The youngest (boy) eventually earned a Philosophy degree from Harvard. All in the photo are now deceased except for the youngest girl, wearing glasses. She is now 60. The photo was from 1966 or 1967.

Thank you for sharing my vid with your class. It is an honor. Incidentally, that home is in Talladega Alabama. Not far from the college.

@theabryan7212

8y↑2

+William Beck I am doing a PowerPoint on slavery for a class, is there anywhere I can access some of these photos?

@Bailark

8y↑6

+Thea Bryan These photos are all taken from the internet, except for one. One is a photo of my paternal grandparents, and an aunt, and three cousins. I have long since forgotten how they were accessed, but I am sure a simple description will present a thread of them. Good luck with your presentation.

@dkhary1010

8y↑11

you honor us

@jio-lito

8y↑1

@02:25?

@trisix99

6y↑2

I have a question I know it may be dumb but... Many old western songs, tracing from spirituals and black blues, have this chain sound as percussion. Does this have roots in actual chains that slaves were bound in?

5 More Replies...

@Beardman29

10y↑57

This is such an amazing expression of African-America culture and historical music traditions. Beautiful!

@frederickwebb1850

5y↑14

To be a timid man. In 2019. Too hear the voices of yesterday. Singing about oppression or singing about triumph. You got to feel the spirit. One day.

@Bailark

5y↑1

Why so many periods around sentence fragments?

@scarlitisbustedhaslessteet4007

One day, what? Lol y'all lost now get to work.....

@lawwoman

10y↑29

As hard as it is, as painful as it is - we must NEVER forget! Teach your children the truth!! Dick and Jane can see Spot run off to Oz, Teach them where it all began, Teach them what the school system does NOT want them to know!

@Bailark

11y↑58

When I first heard it, it surprised the hell out of me with regard to how moving it was. I was in a classroom full og graduate students, and we were spellbound.

@captainaryan26

3y↑2

Have you heard j Cole's GOMD ?!!?

@nither5331

@@captainaryan26 I don't think a lot in the comments have lol

@bobtr4

7y↑37

This was a very moving song, When i first found this song i listened to it with one ear bud, With this you can hear a prominent voice leading the song, next time i listened with my left ear bud in, and you hear this deeper voiced man, giving the song this accent. All these voices in union to the sound of picks. I especially liked the slideshow, the quiet determination on these people's faces moved me, I felt genuinely upset at the oppression they faced, how they faced more brutal conditions than any human should have. Thank you for this.

@centerfold8

8y↑92

Piano Lesson brought me here

@vansnyder4895

Erin Threlkeld Same

@nightwolf7256

Same 🖤🖤🖤🖤

@binaryprofessor5013

5y↑1

Smae

@AfiScruggsplaysbass

I love the way they work it into the play.

@jellyno1946

me 2

2 More Replies...

@imitchell6663

1y↑2

As a british man i find American history the hardest to swallow. The fact we wiped out entire races in the Caribbean and the native indian tribes is so tragic.

@slickhbb1

9y↑146

i felt the pain of those men while listening to this song..black people are.amazing they can't stop us..we will always rise

@pogopope4761

9y↑6

exactly. ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿.

@kamahariameero5386

9y↑4

+slickhbb1
Damn Straight!!

@wiseman862

8y↑3

✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

@klinkerkk

8y↑10

+slickhbb1 I'm not black (mexican) but I do really like and respect black people. They invented music. Simply.

@Commune-n-tea

8y↑1

+Santo Cristo you are black you just speak spanish✊

17 More Replies...

@Commune-n-tea

2y↑3

Listen to the grunts and pain of those men. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this country ppl know today as America. Be grateful!

@stamatis123

8y↑42

Feel sad, I am happy, I am fortunate to be able to hear this
masterpiece!

@samstevens8012

4y↑159

This country has so much to repent for

@centerfold8

3y↑3

Very much

@chiarawaddy8293

3y↑9

Yes, and practically the whole world.

@jedininja3603

3y↑1

Critical Race Theory

@LarryL3g3nd

3y↑1

Reparations have been paid already in blood

@adz9211

3y↑8

i never comment, but bud u need to pick up a history book. US is a baby.

22 More Replies...

@clarissabrooks2502

2y↑5

Our ancestors are rising through us! Hotep! Thank you for sharing the voices of the ancestors This music inspires me and gives me strength power. The power from the ancestors is manifesting in me l. Peace love light Ase

@joejett5084

🔥🦁👑🦁🔥

@Mrmann-zs3jr

2y↑4

I'll never forget the scene for the piano lesson with this song.

@ProbablyHanzo420

What movie?

@reinapiratayquepaha

3y↑67

I'm not even a gringo and I doubt I'll ever feel the pain that black people have experienced both before and now, but I can't help to feel a shiver run down my spine every time I listen to this. It's difficult to explain for me, like listening to fury mixed with sadness. In latin america we also have experienced oppression and pain, maybe not the same as our black brothers and sisters, but definitely a history loaded with death, injustice and revolution. I hope I'm not sounding too pretentious or disrespectful saying this: from Chile to you, I hope that justice is made, cause there's still a long way to go before equality and peace can be found, in both our continents and the whole world. This song belongs to the struggle of black Americans, but it also carries the weight and the voices of the unheard all over the world. That's my opinion at least. Thank you for this video

@mateoprive2343

You are gringo tho

@reinapiratayquepaha

1y↑2

@@mateoprive2343 uuuuuuh I'm not? I'm pretty sure I was born in Chile, and I'm pretty sure I'm still living there.

@stevepickford3004

1y↑1

@@reinapiratayquepaha FYI, not slavery related. Did you find the images misleading? This is a song from a maximum security prison in around the 1940s.

@aceboogie1376

47w↑4

Thank you for your words. There's nothing we haven't literally fought nor died for without others in mind.

@unrulybxite

38w

2 years later but just wanted to say, beautifully said!

2 More Replies...

@shaniceferguson3803

9y↑40

This is so powerful and I am truly amazed at this song! Absolutely touching almost had me in tears knowing this actually happened!

@missgaiamotherearf2386

4y↑16

this the sound from G.O.M.D BY J.COLE ...I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY THE VIDEO .BUT NOW I GET IT

@captainaryan26

3y↑1

Me too

@joeshmo1062

2y↑38

This song and video should be mandatory to watch in high school to really show the atrocities of slavery so we never forget and never let it happen again. I'm white but this made my heart hurt and I cried.

@tony7237

2y↑3

Glad to tell you that we listened to this in class and that's why I'm back to this video. It was used in a play and my teacher played us this song instead of having someone just read the lyrics

@stevepickford3004

1y↑2

What's it got to do with slavery? This is prisoners in the 40s lol

@somebonehead

2y↑2

My English professor had us read the play & watch The Piano Lesson, such a wonderful performance that's stuck with me all these years.

@joohnnykuz5327

9y↑62

I wish coles song was grimier like this, shit's amazing.

@joohnnykuz5327

9y↑9

jojo kyle Wish the sample had a deeper tone, and the lyics where more profound on j.cole gomd.

@wiseman862

+jojo kyle what's the song called by jcole

@wiseman862

+jojo kyle thanks

@beejohn1016

6y↑2

This is so deep ....my ancestors are Caribbean so we didn't go through such oppressive conditions after slavery like American blacks but hearing this ....this is pan African ...this is brotherhood through extreme conditions ....this is sacrifice....

@gallanonim3328

5y↑1

Africans who stayed in Africa had it worse.

@porothashawarma2339

@@gallanonim3328 not really , if you were a chief or from one of those larger families you'd technically be living better than some white people in Europe .

@anthony81860

8y↑112

@nikkireed2889

5y↑1

anthony81860 Thank you for posting the words to this.

@kevinj.k9466

Best song

@ninja19

7y↑2

Thank you for having posted this. I came across it from having heard it in The Piano Lesson. Then, on the sidebar, I saw yours. Thanks again.

@sarahstacy81

4y↑1

I first heard this back in 1995. When a Hallmark Movie called The Piano Lesson premiered on Network TV. This is where music got its start. This is the foundation of Blues, Soul Gospel,Rock and Roll and Country Music.

@joepalmer436

4y↑6

I felt it in my spine when the hammers first dropped, but I lost it when I heard that first cough... 😓

@powermiller855

2y↑2

💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾 thank you for strengthening us always ❤

@S550STANG

2y↑2

I work for the Railroad and we still have the chain gang mentality. Even get a hum in now and then.

@mistresskixen6142

1y↑8

As tragic as this song is it shows the self determination and spirit the people who originally sang this song had back then.

@stevepickford3004

1y↑1

Railroad workers and prisoners?

@joeluiz456

10y↑8

As a young man from nyc you never hear these stories...but as a black grown man now...i live the torment of know I am never truely free

@jam1148

8y↑2

+smithyman33 your dumbass can't even spell properly. Go back to metapedia and stormfront and read some white nationalist pseudoscience and hair brained Eurocentric quasi-history.

Idiots like you give us whites a bad name. White people aren't special or superior. The evidence is solid.

@itisonlyme1

9y↑31

LOVE the music, HEARTBROKEN by the history.

@MagusNine

9y↑11

Thanks for uploading these songs, Bill. I teach courses on America's Drug War (which has surprising intersectionality with the old Reconstruction-era convict leasing system, implemented as a post-slavery free-labor workaround. The one-handed drill sledges weighed as much as six lbs, working a "can't see in the morning 'til can't see at night" shift. The two-handed heavy sledges weight between 9 to as much as 14 lbs. Working a 14–16 hour day swinging these sledges in the hot sun is unimaginably exhausting work, to say nothing of the blisters in store for new convicts on the work gang.

If you've ever see Disney's "Dumbo," listen closely to the "Song of the Roustabouts," and you'll know what you're really hearing.

@RXmusic4YOU

+Rashied Sharrieff-Al-Bey "America's Drug War (which has surprising intersectionality with the old Reconstruction-era convict leasing system".....please explain... thx and peace...

@everettduncan7543

4y↑2

@@RXmusic4YOU trumped up charges or laws designed to attack Blacks

@pipsqueakeasy

2y↑1

Wow, I didn't think of that song from Dumbo until you mentioned it - As controversial as this movie is because of the way the crows are portrayed (just like Speedy Gonzalez is in Looney Tunes cartoons - some Mexican-Americans and Mexicans favor him and some don't), it happens to be my favorite Disney movie to this day but for different reasons (Dumbo being the most adorable Disney character ever made but also serious aspects of the story involving unfair incarceration of the mom, being discriminated against for looking different, having faith in oneself, etc.) To its credit, the movie shows some historical-cultural truth about the way that African-Americans were viewed during that era in the U.S. but because of the influence and popularity of their contribution to the music industry from as early as the 19th century (I'm thinking of even Dvorak's spiritual theme "Going Home" in New World Symphony, for example, when this Czech composer visited the U.S.): https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/history-black-music. Also to its credit, it contains content that promotes African-American culture to the white mainstream who would otherwise not understand nor even care. Now thinking about it, the movie portraying African-American men undergoing the brutal hard labor of erecting a circus stand every stop it made throughout the U.S. was portentous of what was in store for Dumbo who would undergo the same system of oppression and discrimination he faced everywhere he went, whether among his own kind or human.

I stumbled across this site on blaxploitation in the music industry. An outrage and now makes me think of what happened to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. (I read somewhere that drugs are regularly and freely promoted and pushed on famous artists so that they could get hooked and then be rendered helpless.) https://globalnews.ca/news/4321150/black-music-whitewashing-classic-rock/. They happened to be one of the most famous African-American artists of all time. Anyone know the REAL truth of what happened to them, I'd like to know.

@JrMata15

9y↑73

Really powerful pictures, really powerful music. It's crazy to think all this took place at some point in time.

@MagusNine

9y↑4

+JrMata15 Still taking place. Think Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana; there are others.

@wiseman862

8y↑3

+Rashied Sharrieff-Al-Bey its MSP Mississippi state prison Parchman farm. That's where this was recorded at peace brother

@MagusNine

8y↑2

Yes, Jay Wase; I'm aware of that. I was speaking to JrMata15's comment about all of this taking place at some point in time, explaining that it still goes on; e.g., Angola State Penitentiary. I wasn't saying that Angola is where this particular recording was done.

@CallousCarter

8y↑3

+JrMata15 Took? ITS STILL TAKING PLACE WAKE UP! aghhhh so frustrating how naieve the majority of people are. We will never be free while you all remain so ignorant.

@davisworth5114

4y↑1

The Crucifixion took place too, we just don't have a video.

1 More Replies...

@kofiford

5y↑5

I first heard this song in Music class in 1992 or 1993 while at Morehouse College. It was brought in as part of someone's presentation. It was so moving that I went out and bought the album that day! Even without the images uploaded here, simply knowing the history of how the Chain Gangs were used to further legally oppress people within our society and continue the free labor which brought America to a superpower allows this song by Branford Marsalis to MOVE you!

@Bailark

11y↑34

There were many indentured servants brought from Ireland, and other places in Europe. That was significantly different from slavery as most are familiar with it. They should not be mentioned in the same context.

@stevepickford3004

2y↑2

Sorta like how songs from 1940s prisons should not be mentioned in the same context as slavery?

@michaelbarber5633

@@stevepickford3004 good point. If you’ve read “Before The Mayflower” those indentured servant women were forced to breed with African men to make a “smarter” slave. But, that doesn’t fit the narrative does it?

@huntedbreed3602

@@stevepickford3004 lol right

@joshuawashington481

@@stevepickford3004 No because it's all tied together whether you believe it or not.

@stevepickford3004

@@joshuawashington481 not really.

@gjwmsu

5y↑2

If I'm not mistaken this is a recording of Parchman inmates in Mississippi

@kylevillagomez9475

You sir are correct. Lomax recorded alot more songs not just this one.

@kalonjikala9887

3y↑3

The mighty Black man giving depth of spirit to oppression

@george13394

6y↑2

Built the entire f,n railroad and sung while doing it honor to my ancestors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@naimogluu

10y↑3

This song really makes you feel something.. So sad and beatiful..

@coolguy23able1

11y↑3

i remember this song from when i was little helping my grandpa at his farm there was a older black gentelman whos grandad used to sing this and he sang this when he was in the feilds helping us

@jiraiya7408

3y↑3

Cole used this and made one of the greatest rap song , classic

@nicolasmarinus

3y↑4

When you treat living beings like property, you have foregone all morality.

@Nderitunderit

1y↑1

this touched the deepest parts of my soul.Damn .May God gift us all the gift of peace,his perfect peace that surpasses all human understanding ❤

@chillbill1616

7y↑6

I was brought here by the movie "The Paino Lesson" at the 30:00-minute mark they will sing this song. Powerful song.

@lifestories3456

7y↑1

Chill Bill lol me too, I was looking for someone who came here from the movie.. I had to read the book my freshman year of college last year and I watched the movie too

@djphantom1823

2y↑2

J cole sample brought me here dude is next level

@wildfireatm3

12y↑1

Thanks for the visual and audio imagery. The world is much different today and this History is to not be repeated ever again. We all need to do our part to assure this.

@ericwatler23

This some how took me back!! Even though I was not there lawd lawd have mercy. One Love to everyone One Love.

@antoniowakefield7477

3y↑1

Chills all over my body....Hard times back then 💯

@w3stsidej4yotftv66

9y↑3

This song is so beautiful 😍 Berta!

@afroditee31

8y↑30

I wonder if the poor soul coughing had black lung. Weird thing to think about, but his coughing made me concerned.

@forrestcalkins93

afroditee31 have no idea. If they worked in the coal mines they possible

@obfuscated3090

6y↑5

More likely tuberculosis, which was very, very common. The old TB hospitals and sanitariums have almost all passed into history, but they were common in every state.

@hamaraholt8896

6y↑3

It's amazing the beauty that we have the ability to create from our pain, and the level of humanity we have been able to retain in the face of it.

@mariecochran527

11y↑2

Excruciatingly sorrowful and beautiful. The reality of their pain; yet the creative power of this haunting song!

@ernesto5317

2y↑1

Who realized that this is where J cole samples GOMD🤯🤯real creativity

@michaelbarber5633

2y↑5

My granddaddy knew this song. He was a white sharecropper and worked the fields with black and white together. Poor don’t know color. But Lord knows, the black man had it much worse. May God bless them all and give them rest out of Egypt land.

@sgr1888

47w

Amen

@kymanifebo2807

5y↑1

I can't believe our ancestors had to go through this painful, painful act this is heartbreaking and the words are very powerful I don't even have to watch the video.

@coravisser727

8y↑3

This was real a very hard life and painfull but i have so much respect for them singing and working.How is it possible but more then respect.

@ashleyedwards7344

4y↑4

This brings peace to my soul for some reason

@davisworth5114

Listen to Blind Willie Johnson and Rev. Gary Davis, check out Skip James and Fred McDowell.

@scarlitisbustedhaslessteet4007

3y↑1

Bc you realize nakers love the struggle. Even sing about it. 🎶

@CINDERELLIE555

@@scarlitisbustedhaslessteet4007 whadya mean

@sabrinamariechase

3y↑1

The vocals are taken from the 1995 Hallmark TV version of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson". Nice editing to add the sounds of tools. The play's song takes place around a kitchen table.

@marahollow1214

3y↑6

God this is absolutely horrifying. It's one thing to learn about it in Literature, strictly another to hear it, see it. You can see the pain in their eyes, and in their pinched cheeks. You can hear the struggle in their voices.

@RankingRobert

13y↑1

great upload - wisdom, truth and love are bringing this babylonian system in this century to an end - but absolutely powerful vibes from this hard working brave men

@Paulorwpj

11y↑1

I loved how this song builds up!

@alquimista5988

9y↑6

this is just amazing

@makauumaka9420

4y↑3

Here in 2020 re experiencing rail hymns and solid soul music both this and j coles sample go haaaaarrrrrrrd

@scarlitisbustedhaslessteet4007

Yes bm love the struggle.

@phreakyphred06

I remember watching the piano lesson movie 4th-6th grade, I didn't understand it back then, but I understand it now....must watch it again now

@QuintinPenola

11y

this song is so beautiful nothing compares!!

@onijaradu

4y↑1

I find it so interesting how the greatest artistic creations made by man, whether they are songs, poems, books, whatever, all come from such a dark place. I feel like it shows the nature of mankind in such a haunting way.

@Trey2024GrindTime

2y↑1

This makes me miss my English teacher now i hated high school but I enjoyed these movies they made us watch

@victorgrauer5834

1y↑2

This great song was NOT written by Branford Marsalis. How that story came out is a mystery to me. It was recorded some years ago by Alan Lomax -- as put together by a group of prisoners at Parchman penitentiary.

@garageboy2012

12y↑2

WHAT POWER THIS MUSIC PROJECTS TO THE SOUL!!!!!!

@porkfrog2785

fascinating song --3x in a row listening

@disclose_beauty

its like the entire afternoon that i listen to this

@StinkRiot

11y

Great video, Mr. Beck. And, that this is a response to a comment you received adds to its power. Smartly put. Words can't capture what the song and images illustrate.

@emmanuellaboahen9

This hurts so much hearing... terrible history... they were strong! Actually no words for this. The pain they were going through is heard so clearly it makes my heart ache.. the coughing of some men really shows how they were suffering back then.

@whatwouldmalcolmdo5570

5y↑1

I WILL NEVER FORGIVE. I will NEVER forget.

@pdescham496

8y↑12

I remember this recording when I was a teenager. It struck a cord with me long ago. What eludes me now is where did I get a copy of this? This version is the exact version that I listened to. What album was it on?

@mrplayalisticvision

8y↑7

+Paul Deschamps the singing is from the film version of August Wilson's play "The Piano Lesson" the sounds of the chain gang are a combination of sounds from different chain gangs. You want to hear real black chain gangs working just search you'll find many.

@jalenp64

3y↑2

The hammer hits gave me goosebumps all down my body, this is a powerful song

@johnmorgan4124

3y↑4

✊🏴🇨🇮🇵🇸🇦🇴🇨🇺❤️One day freedom for all.

@ArmandoBlue

9y↑65

J Cole brought me here. great song

@gortrobot578

same...

@Bailark

11y↑7

Blueflame, this is not a video about slavery. This is a video about oppression in general. Some images are from well after slavery. Some just happen to be slaves and former slaves. One snapshot in the middle is a picture of my grandparents, and aunt, and ome cousins, taken in the 1960's. The title is "playstation." The game console has nothing to do with slavery. It is a reference to something someone once said to me about black men. This video is a response to that.

@guitarfrk121

11y↑1

you can feel the rage in every swing.

@tiffanydame2488

6y↑4

history is beautiful and amazing, yet heartbreaking all in one breath.

@marahollow1214

Also the slight shuddering of the pictures somehow gives the impression of movement.

@ratty_islandr2

When they started hammering tho… phew I got the chills or tingles or whatever this is.

@johnburt7074

well, that just brought tears

@radedimitrov8701

11y↑1

this what ears hear is more beautiful from what eyes see !

@babo85

13y

@BillEyeWill man ... I was allready shocked by the pictures ... but now I have to turn the screen off when listening to this song... and it has been stuck in my head for days now. I even creeped out the guy next to me on the bus because I was humming it without realizing :P but seriously , thank you for answering the question :)

Load More Comments...

More Comments

just now