I’ve Got the BluesI’ve Got the Blues

What are “the Blues”?What are “the Blues”?

Musical style developed post-slaveryMusical style developed post-slavery

Depicted work, love, poverty, and the Depicted work, love, poverty, and the hardships that freedmen facedhardships that freedmen faced

Lyrics used an AAB formLyrics used an AAB form

Used the Blues scaleUsed the Blues scale

Special thanks to the Library of Congress American Memory Collection for the use of the following Special thanks to the Library of Congress American Memory Collection for the use of the following photographs.photographs.

Economic conditions made Economic conditions made life hard for African-life hard for African-Americans after the Americans after the Reconstruction period Reconstruction period ended.ended.

Conditions became even Conditions became even harder after the stock harder after the stock market crash of 1929.market crash of 1929.

Travel was difficultTravel was difficult

Ferries carried people Ferries carried people over riversover rivers

Wagons were the main Wagons were the main source of source of transportation.transportation.

Everyday life had many Everyday life had many difficulties. difficulties.

For example, cooking For example, cooking was done on a wood was done on a wood stove.stove.

Having food to eat Having food to eat meant spending long meant spending long hours in the fields.hours in the fields.

Once grown, the food Once grown, the food had to be preserved had to be preserved for the winter.for the winter.

Milk didn’t come from the grocery store!Milk didn’t come from the grocery store!

Most homes did not Most homes did not have indoor plumbing have indoor plumbing and water had to be and water had to be carried inside.carried inside.

School was an School was an important way young important way young people could rise people could rise above poverty.above poverty.

““(Blues) come from (Blues) come from slavery time, holler slavery time, holler songs in the field and songs in the field and things like that. They things like that. They don’t know nothing to don’t know nothing to do but sing, and they do but sing, and they called it the blues.”called it the blues.”

- Honeyboy Edwards- Honeyboy Edwards

Got the blues, can’t be satisfied.Got the blues, can’t be satisfied.

Got the blues, can’t be satisfied.Got the blues, can’t be satisfied.

[If I] keep the blues, I’ll catch the train and [If I] keep the blues, I’ll catch the train and ride.ride.

-Mississippi John Hurt (1928)-Mississippi John Hurt (1928)

Milk Cow Blues Milk Cow Blues courtesy of the American Memory Collection at the courtesy of the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress website.Library of Congress website.

Quotes taken from Quotes taken from American Roots MusicAmerican Roots Music based on the PBS television based on the PBS television series edited by Santelli, George-Warren, and Brownseries edited by Santelli, George-Warren, and Brown

Visit this site to listen to more blues Visit this site to listen to more blues music:music:

American Memory Collection: "Now What a Time" Blues, Gospel