Level 1 of analyzing work songs is to connect the rhythm of poetry with the rhythm of work. The poem's function is social control.

But if organizing work rhythm were the only function, then the log choppers could simply simply count: "One-two-three, CHOP! One-two-three, CHOP!" And soldiers could run and chant only meaningless words like "HUP-two-HUP-two-HUP-two..."

Level 2 is listening to the words. And the words can lead deep into traumatic worlds and complex worldviews. In poetry, people say things that may be too painful for regular conversations. And they can say things that mean many different things at the same time.

This lecture engages two examples: (1) Black American prisoners singing while they do hard labor at the Mississippi State Penitentary; and (2) American soldiers chanting cadences while they prepare to fight, and if needed, to die. **Please note that some cadence texts are obscene and offensive. If you do not wish to read these painful texts, you may skip this chapter. The recorded lecture summarizes the main points.**

Reading

Estimated time to read: ~30 minutes

Claire Anderson, “All in a Day’s Work: Rhythm and Work,” lesson plan published by The Association for Cultural Equity. | [Read before Lecture 12: Part 1]

External Link : All in a Day’s Work: Rhythm and Work

Richard Burns, (2012), “Where is Jody Now,” pages 79-98. in Warrior Ways | [Read before Lecture 12: Part 2]

UW Library : Permalink to Warrior Ways

Rationale: Experiencing rhythmic work songs is a path to analyzing how they function, and what they mean. Try it yourself. The rhythm keeps people moving together. And the poetry connects to worldviews.

Lectures

Part 1: In September of 1959, folklorist Alan Lomax went to the Mississippi State Penitentiary to collect audio recordings of folksongs. He interviewed Ed Lewis, and recorded Mr. Lewis singing with unidentified men.

Before jumping into the lecture,

Please listen to some recordings: "I'll be so glad" External Link ; "John Henry" solo variant, External Link ; "John Henry" group variant External Link ; "Interview with Ed Lewis" External Link . (You'll hear some excerpts again during the lecture - please don't skim, listen again)
...and consider how the story about Alan Lomax's fieldwork adds additional meanings beyond the song texts?
Do these songs and singers speak to American culture and society today? How?

Part 2: Soldiers' cadences ("Jodies"), are an improvised oral poetry tradition in the American armed forces. Core meanings come into sharp focus when you study the entire repertoire.

Step one is ethnography: Observing, collecting and analyzing the folklore;
Step two: If you were in charge, would you order them to change the tradition? and if yes, then how would this be done?

Optional Expansion

You'll find updates to this chapter in recent books about songs in the American military: Pieslak, J. (2009). Sound targets: American soldiers and music in the Iraq war; Daughtry, J. (2015). Listening to war : Sound, music, trauma and survival in wartime Iraq.
And recordings of some recent soldiers songs: Live from Iraq (2005).

Have some thoughts or questions? Why not join the conversation... Oral Poetry forum