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There's an old bluegrass song called "I'll Fly Away," the music is very happy and upbeat. When you listen to the lyrics, you realize it's a slave song about how
by Clubber 5y ago
There's an old bluegrass song called "I'll Fly Away," the music is very happy and upbeat. When you listen to the lyrics, you realize it's a slave song about how the narrator is looking forward to death so they can escape the horrible life they are living. The point of that is just because we live longer doesn't mean we live better.
- all2 5y agoFor more on the song: http://www.trialanderrorcollective.com/collective-collab-blogs--playlists/ill-fly-away-a-brief-history-of-the-quintessential-gospel-song-and-ten-great-renditions http://www.trialanderrorcollective.com/collective-collab-blo...
- germinalphrase 5y agoRelevant African American Folktale: “The People Could Fly” https://www.wheelcouncil.org/stories/the-people-could-fly/ https://www.wheelcouncil.org/stories/the-people-could-fly/
- NateEag 5y agoA few point out that 1) A ton of bluegrass sets grim, sad lyrics to bouncy major music - it's pretty much how the genre works 2) I'll Fly Away is a Christian song, so it's not exactly "looking forward to death" so much as "looking forward to heaven and communion with God". Granted, those two things are closely linked in the religion.