The Bourgeois Blues

Musician:

Leadbelly

 

Social Issue being protested:

Racism, conditions of blacks in the Southern USA

 

Lyrics Sample:

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

 

Relevance of words/ phrases:

Shows the feelings of futility the struggle against institutionalized racism often brought. Also showcases the feeling of fighting “the man”.

 

Event, Person, place at issue:

Leadbelly takes issue with the deplorable conditions blacks faced in the US in the early and mid 20th century, particularly the South around this time, with discrimination and racism the norm.

 

Approximate date:

1938 re-recorded 1939

 

Location:

New York City for the Library of Congress

 

SIgnificance of song in history:

This song represents the struggles that African-Americans faced through most of the 20th Century. It also shows how they reacted to them.

 

Contemporary Connections:

To this day, there is still a measure of inequality in the United States. While no longer law, the spirit of racism and discrimination still lives on in the hearts of some people.

 

Trivia:

This song was inspired by Leadbelly’s own experiences with racism and discriminatory practices, such as being refused a hotel room based on his race.

 

Reason for Selection:

While simple in its rhythm and words, it carries a powerful message that despite its age, remains relevant into the present day.

 

Link:

https://genius.com/Lead-belly-the-bourgeois-blues-1939-lyrics