..recorded with outside's work conditions in Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman in 1947.. ..produced by ALBATROS Records-1977.. ..illustration'paint by Peter-Paul RUBENS (1577-1640)..
this is beautiful. there are times in church where the old folks sound just like this. I don't want this type of soul to die with the older generation. its so beautiful.
I got no business speaking on it really but I just don’t see this type of music being made ever cause that’s a different type of pain these people endured
Old Alabama Old Alabama, j'ines the state of Floridy Old Alabama, j'ines the state of Floridy At Mobile, Lawdy, at Mobile Old Alabama, is a hog killing country (2x) Ev'y fall, Lawdy, ev'y fall Did you hear 'bout that water boy getting' drownded (2x) In Mobile Bay, Lawdy, Mobile Bay Did you hear 'bout the men all gonna leave you (3x) Next pay day, Lawdy, next payday Did you hear 'bout Louella Wallace (3x) Poor gal dead, Lawdy, poor gal dead
This sound makes the hair on the back of neck stand on end, it's so real and raw. I wish all the sound engineers who over produce their recordings would listen to this and get back to some real stuff. I guess not too many of them get the privilege of hearing this quality of feeling and energy in their studios. Wonderful, so glad that someone had the wit to save it for us all to hear.
I love this people who hurt so much and hear this voices so strong very strong,i say bless you all because you was my friend too never seen afcourse but in my heart you are for ever.
Alan Lomax was the greatest collector of original folk and blues ever. He traveled all over the world recording. This is from his stay at Mississippi State Penitentiary also known as Parchman Farm to record the origins of the blues. The original recordings were made in 1947, but many were re-engineered with better audio quality years later. Amazing stuff.
Tripppyyyy. Man, this music is like, a whole art form on its own. Listen to the sincerity in their voices... sounds like. gah i cant describe it. like they knew they were in their for a long time or already have been
When we just had each other and the G-d and ancestors within. Powerful metaphysically, spiritually and all wises. When we had wooden churches and wooden floors and feet and hands that actually stomped and clapped. This is the energy spirit of that time . My grand and great grandparents sang this way in the church and wherever the spirit hit them. Thanks for preserving the time.
This song has so much rage, concession, beauty... so sad. So beautiful. To this day a black man can't be loved simply for being a human. Rising above slavery by singing is simply magnificent... and now that the white folks are likewise being exploited... a much needed example of what love does when it is in chains...
ode2reading Unfortunately white people were and are exploited. Confederate soldiers were drafted, not a volunteer army and many were fighting and dying against their will. The common people were forced to fight for the plantation owners. Also consider the workers prior to unionization. But white privilege usually makes even the worst indignities of the white less than that of the others.
White privilege isn't real it's about class...white or black if you're rich you don't know how the lower class lives. Class privilege is a thing. Blaming the white man for everything is the essence of racism. Why can't we all be seen as human beings in the now so that in the future we can build more bridges between each other in the future. Yes the past is pretty shit, everyone fucked up at somepoint. Love you all god bless. This song is beautiful.
I am from alabama to and I apprecaite one fact ya'll are missing the singing was by these guys for these guys to encourage each other and it is beautiful and soulful for that reason is so enjoy it best way to remember them now
I've lived in SOUTH Mississippi all my life. These old songs go back to gospel foundations & most all the state was,still is poor. I've been in Parchman & had family die in Parchman farm. We use to walk down to the black churches (they always had windows raised & doors open no A/C) listen to them sing. It was an all day event, singing & eating. Made big impression on Lil ol white boy.
The lyrics: Old Alabama j´nes the state of Floridy, Old Alabama j´nes the state of Floridy, At Mobile, Lawdy, at Mobile. Old Alabama is a hog-killing country,(2) E´vy fall, Lawdy, e´vy fall. Did you hear ´bout that water boy gettin´ drownded(2) In Mobile, Lawdy, Mobile Bay. Did you hear ´bout the men all gonna leave you (3) Next pay day, Lawdy, next pay day. Did you hear ´bout Louella Wallace?(3) Poor gal dead, Lawdy, poor gal dead.
@@donovanparker6732 it was Africans that started the slave trade by concurring other black societies and using this to form their empire it fell apart because their society was so dependent on slavery
Thanks for posting this, it has been a great discovery for me, this song and others like it that are post it, are a great contribution to african american roots and american history overall. I wish people will stop making stupid racial comments (like i've seen in other postings like this one), it only reflects their ignorance and disrupts good clean informational comments. Alejandro
@ikilloflo i just wanted you to know that I -the guy who posted this- am a french white guy. i understand your anger but i didn´t post this to have all these racists comments to be written.. beside of that, i don´t want to delete them because i think that a discussion -with better arguments- could change minds and thoughts..i certainly hope so.. PEACE
Yeah, I was going to say the same thing...by the way, if any of you haven't seen "The Green Mile", you have to see it!! It's awesome!! Starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan. And this song, "Old Alabama" is right near the beginning of the film. From WIKI:The Green Mile is a 1999 American drama film directed by Frank Darabont. The film tells the story of Paul's life as a death row corrections officer during the Great Depression in the United States, and the supernatural events he witnessed.
Those guys sing great! I'm glad the chain gang is gone ... or is it?? I think this might be from an Alan Lomax recording. We went all over recording this kind of thing. It is rare though.
As a British white male I can honestly say that the hate will never die as long as black people are still feeling the pain from our forefathers. It wasn't us it wasnt this generation, yet there is still so much hatred. It's 2019 people !!! We are all god's children. And anyone who is racist aren't even worth my breath.
I like the compassion and optimism behind your comment. These songs were definitely for encouragement and to break the boredom. However, prison songs (and the slave work songs that they stem from) were also to keep workers swinging scythes, hammers, etc. at the same pace. Unfortunately the current rate black incarceration today is a direct legacy of slavery (look for the fine-print in the Emancipation Proclamation)
no confusion to feel: the name of the song is "Old Alabama", indeed and, as far as I know, it is not from a Movie. the recorder, Alan Lomax, was a guy who traveled the world in seek of différents sounds from différents cultures: in his travel, i guess he stopped one day in a prison!
Amazing. And the quality is amazing for 1947 too! I'm just wondering what they lyrics are...is this in Gullah/Geechee? If you have the lyrics it would be great if you could print them here. Thanks for up-loading this.
Art History time - The portrait was painted by Sir Peter Paul Ruben several hundred years ago. The Black male was his slave who Ruben did several composites on the same canvas that were later divided and old separately . As for the previous racial slurs, just ignore them. American Black History is mostly verbal and brought down through art, songs and verbal. If anyone is guessing, I'm not black. Ty for your time and please get along.
I don't speak English as a first language and so it's hard for me to understand the lyrics.. I was wondereing if anybody out there could help me with that. That's great music.. there's a humble pie song that goes quite alike. If anyone can help, I'll thank.
this was recorded IN the penitentiary during special recording sessions, and the prisonners re-created outside work conditions and sing as if they were working like every day.
Jesus this is so dope.I love it, I wish I knew the words. I'd be singing this while workin at school. ha, na but in all honesty this is reallllly amazing.
I remember seeing chain gangs alongside the roads in and around Graceville, Florida, about 12 miles from the Alabama state line. Long time ago. I heard songs like this.
70s......it was recorded in the 40s, it was compiled into a record in the 70s. And these songs were passed down over decades, going all the way back to slavery. In the 30s and 40s Alan Lomax recognized that society was changing and the sounds and songs of the Antebellum south were going to be lost forever. So he went down to document and record the sounds. A larger part of that were the field songs and work songs of the blacks
The second verse, second line is "Heavy fog, Lawday, heavy fog" if I remember correctly. I don't have the lyric booklet in front of my, but I thought I remembered it was that. Is that right? Oh, you forgot the end... "Mud!" : D
Well, I copied the lyrics one to one from the booklet of my CD. I listen it twice after your comment and I guess they sing it like I wrote it, but I can be wrong - English is not my native language. And yes I agree with you: I forgot the end.
@littlelouie10 - Look up "Alan Lomax" on Amazon. He did a lot of fantastic recordings of African American songs from the south. There is a series of albums released called "Southern Journeys" or chain gang songs, camp calls, and various other folk music and interviews. This song is included on one of the albums, I can't remember which off hand. Lomax also did extensive recording in the rural areas of Europe recording Italian, Irish, etc. folk music. He was certainly way beyond his time.
in some of these somgs that were actually sung by slaves, you can hear the pain in their voices. and in some slavery pictures you can see the pain in their eyes
Please listen everyone. It's not about whites vs blacks or black vs brown or all 3 fighting each other. All this is about is what someone told you and you believed them cause you cant think for yourselves. Racism is taught and not bred. I like for each and everyone of you to make a commitment and make you own choices. Don't be influence by tv or the media. You judge each person by they character, regardless of the color of their skin.
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