Leadbelly was a giant of a Folk Singer/Blues Singer. It was rare for black guys to speak out against the racism they experienced on a daily basis. This was because of the great retribution that would come down on their heads. They could find themselves lynched.
Leadbelly was a brave man
This song highlights the terrible racism that existed even in the Northern American cities.
The Civil Rights struggle is not yet over. Until we have eradicated all prejudice we should be vigilant and speak out.
Bourgeois Blues
Me and my wife went all over town
And everywhere we went people turned us down
Lord, in a bourgeois town
It’s a bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Well, me and my wife we were standing upstairs
We heard the white man say’n I don’t want no niggers up there
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Uhm, bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Home of the brave, land of the free
I don’t wanna be mistreated by no bourgeoisie
Lord, in a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Well, them white folks in Washington they know how
To call a colored man a nigger just to see him bow
Lord, it’s a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
Don’t try to find you no home in Washington, DC
‘Cause it’s a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues
Gonna spread the news all around
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
I love this song. It took guts for a black man to sing this stuff back in those days.