Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Dear West Cummington,

A problem for predominantly white churches.

II Background

III Issues include

1)fair compensation for enduring, inspiring art that has reached around the globe and down through the generations

2) Appropriation of words and music written in, for and by one community. Other communities (for example West Cummington) love and sing these songs. But we don’t sing them in the traditional style.

There are other issues and ways to make amends.

For now, let’s consider one song from stevedores working in the Georgia Sea Islands. Those people invented, wrote, sang and loved it. As you can hear, they are asking to be paid for the work they did.

Now it gets complicated. If you Google the song, you’ll be told it is a song by Bruce Springsteen, a contemporary white singer from New Jersey (who doesn’t need the money.) Springsteen recorded an album of songs "by" Pete Seeger, including "Pay Me My Money Down."

Seeger sings it like Seeger.

Springsteen sings it like Springsteen.

The anonymous creators remain anonymous and unpaid.

Other songs on the album include "O Mary Don’t You Weep" "John Henry" "Eyes On The Prize" and "We Shall Overcome."

They are great songs. Bruce Springsteen sings them well.

We are moved. He is well compensated.

As you’ve figured out by now, I have a great love for the blues, for spirituals and gospel music.

They have comforted me and guided my spiritual growth.

I don’t believe this is a zero-sum game. Either/or

People should sing great songs. Artists should be recognized, celebrated, supported and paid for their work.

Let’s find a way. More info will follow in coming weeks

Meanwhile, you’ll hear "Pay Me" by Bruce Springsteen in a minute. And then Bob Moses -- yes, that Bob Moses --singing "keep Your Eyes On The Prize." You can literally hear the context:1964, at a meeting in the movement to register black voters, Mississippi, Freedom Summer. Hear him change the lyrics to suit the time and the town. He works Ross Barnett’s name in. Barnett was the governor of Mississippi.

I’m really urging us to remember the different stakes, the different dangers, the different settings and traditions out of which these performances - and ours at church - grow.

And when sing these songs AND acknowledge them, we continue to grow in love and truth.

Peace. Stay warm. Stay Sane. stay in touch. We’ll be hearing more on this subject soon.

Love, Steve