“I had ridden the trains a little bit in the past for a day or two but I had never done it for weeks at a time,” Stokes says. “I discovered an America that I knew was out there but had limited experience with. There's all kinds of people out on the rails: people simply trying to get from point A to B, people running from whatever they left behind, people with nowhere else to go. You get to see a part of America that only the trains go through -- remote stretches without any sign of mankind." It was out on these long isolated stretches and in the inner city train yards that Stokes found the inspiration for his solo debut, titled SIMMERKANE II.
At a time when the term Indie-rock refers more to a guitar sound than doing anything truly independent, Stokes is an artist who has genuinely lived the credo. Unassisted by a major label, his band Dispatch arose from the college circuit to become an international musical phenomenon. With only a celebrated live show and a series of self-released albums the band was not only able to sell out Madison Square Garden several times but attract 110,000+ fans to a Boston concert.
While riding the rails, Stokes made a designated stop so his band, State Radio, could play an anti-war concert at the Denver Coliseum with Rage Against The Machine. It is a DIY social consciousness that Stokes came to early in life - growing up as a pacifist, working in Zimbabwe after high school and eventually co-founding the Elias Fund, the Dispatch Foundation, and now Calling All Crows. In 2008, Stokes was honored as Humanitarian of the Year at the Boston Music Awards.
Simmerkane II, a proper follow-up to the State Radio EP (Simmerkane I), is a marked evolution in the musician-songwriter’s creative journey. Produced by John Dragonetti (of The Submarines), the album features background vocals from Carly Simon, Matt Embree (Rx Bandits), The White Buffalo, Blake Hazard (The Submarines), and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. The sound is an engaging mix of Americana, country, folk and rock in the service of some undeniably evocative lyrics. The songs tell a loose narrative of travel, love and loss, like some re-imagined rock-n-roll odyssey.
The journey begins with “Adelaide,” a fuzzed-out melodic folk rocker containing the prophetic line, “We left Worcester with our boots and our bags - and America undressed herself in front of our eyes.” Next, listeners venture into the “Crowbar Hotel” to discover an underground world populated by hard luck outsiders: “We are sold to the highest bidder, we are down to our very last crumb - May we invite ourselves to dinner, ‘cause we might just have to make a run.” The song “Back To The Races,” has Stokes reflecting on past mistakes and longing for the childhood farm while still seduced by the excitement of the journey and a new love. The symphonic rock-n-roll charges ahead before dropping down for the intimate lyrical refrain “Back to the races - and on with the day.”
The two-disc deluxe package includes three bonus tracks with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, a musical ensemble of refugees from Sierra Leone’s 1991 civil war. Stokes, who did humanitarian work in Zimbabwe as a youth, has been a longtime fan of the All Stars. The tracks include a lilting African-tinged folk song called “Coffee And Wine,” a reflective reggae track titled, “All My Possessions (Ode To Troy)” and “Don’t Have You” – a heartfelt ballad that eventually erupts in celebration with the All Stars’ backing vocals and percussions carrying the weight of their troubled history and eventual transcendence. “It was such an honor to work with the All Stars,” Stokes explains. “The songs we did were kind of folk songs and one reggae song, so they were a bit out of their element trying to adapt to the folky farm kid and his songs. But you can hear their history in their singing and playing and it adds this amazing power to the songs.”
Simmerkane II is an ambitious album about discovery, loss and moving on. What begun as a journey across an unseen America becomes a moving musical tribute to the resilience of the human heart. “The album was initially inspired by the freight train trip with my brother and that vast underworld that exists out there,” Stokes explains. “But then it’s also about growing up on the farm and losing loved ones; a young man learning about life.” In his spare time, Stokes can still be found hopping trains with his beloved travel companion, Lefty.
Sweet Black Angel
Chadwick Stokes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a pin up girl
Got a sweet black angel
Up upon my wall
Well, she ain't no singer
And she ain't no star
But she sure talk good
And she move so fast
Yeah, de gal in chains
But she keep on pushin'
Would ya take her place?
She countin' up de minutes
She countin' up de days
She's a sweet black angel, whoa
Not a sweet black slave
Ten little niggers
Sittin' on de wall
Her brothers been a fallin'
Fallin' one by one
For a judge they murdered
And a judge they stole
Now de judge he gonna judge her
For all dat he's a worth
Well de gal in danger
De gal in chains
But she keep on pushin'
Would you do the same?
She countin' up de minutes
She countin' up de days
She's a sweet black angel
Not a gun toting teacher
Not a Red lovin' school mom
Ain't someone gonna free her
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
The song "Sweet Black Angel" by Chadwick Stokes tells the story of a Black woman who finds herself in danger and in chains. Stokes expresses his admiration for her strength and determination as she continues to push forward despite the hardships she faces. He compares her to a pin-up girl he has on his wall, emphasizing the difference between the typical societal view of women - particularly Black women - as objects to be admired from a distance, versus the reality of their struggle for freedom and equality.
The woman in question is being persecuted by the law for potentially being involved in the murder of a judge and theft. Her brothers have been falling one by one, and now she's the one facing the judge, who is determined to make an example of her. Stokes urges the listener to imagine themselves in her situation and asks whether they would be brave enough to continue fighting for their survival. He acknowledges that while the image of a pin-up girl may be alluring, it pales in comparison to the strength and resilience of this woman.
The lyrics of "Sweet Black Angel" are a poignant commentary on the struggles of Black women throughout history, who have faced persecution and discrimination at every turn. Stokes uses his platform to shed light on the often-overlooked experiences of Black women, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding in the face of such injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a sweet black angel
I have a portrait of a beautiful black woman on my wall
Got a pin up girl
She is a model who has been photographed for public display
Got a sweet black angel
I cherish that portrait of the black woman on my wall
Up upon my wall
That portrait is specifically hanging on my wall
Well, she ain't no singer
That black woman is not known for being talented in music
And she ain't no star
She is not a celebrity or popular figure
But she sure talk good
She is eloquent and persuasive in her words
And she move so fast
She is quick and dexterous in her actions
But the gal in danger
The black woman in that portrait is in peril
Yeah, de gal in chains
She is bound and restrained
But she keep on pushin'
Despite the adversity, she continues to fight
Would ya take her place?
Would you be willing to endure what she's going through?
She countin' up de minutes
She's keeping track of time
She countin' up de days
She's waiting and hoping for rescue
She's a sweet black angel, whoa
She's an innocent and virtuous woman despite her predicament
Not a sweet black slave
She should not be subjected to bondage and servitude
Ten little niggers
A reference to an offensive and outdated children's rhyme
Sittin' on de wall
The black men in this story are idle and inactive
Her brothers been a fallin'
Her male relatives have suffered and died
Fallin' one by one
They are losing their lives sequentially
For a judge they murdered
They killed a judge for justice
And a judge they stole
They robbed a corrupt judge
Now de judge he gonna judge her
That judge will preside over her own case
For all dat he's a worth
He will use his position and authority to punish her unfairly
Not a gun toting teacher
She is not a violent revolutionary
Not a Red lovin' school mom
She is not a communist-sympathizing educator
Ain't someone gonna free her
Is anyone coming to her rescue?
Free de sweet black slave
We must liberate black people from bondage and oppression
Free de sweet black slave
We must be proactive in advocating for black people's rights
Free de sweet black slave
We must ensure that black people are treated with dignity and respect
Free de sweet black slave
We cannot tolerate mistreatment or injustice towards black people
Writer(s): Jagger Michael Phillip, Richards Keith
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.