Before i saw the movie, i had a mental picture of what was happening during this song. (this is just my personal interaptation, don't hate me!)
I always saw an elderly black slave woman in the pre-Civil war south rocking a newborn baby (because its mother had died during child-birth) and she was singing this lullyabye to the baby. It was her way of saying that she would "adopt" the baby and take the place of the mother, and that life was going to be okay because she would watch out for the baby. (imagine my shock when i saw the movie and saw what was really going on!! :)
Your personal interaptation was correct. This song is an African American slave song, which was remade by Emmylou Harris. If Emmylou Harris truly understood the nature or meaning of song. She would have never rewrittten the lyrics. The oringinal song does not mention red shoes, bones nor the devil. As slaves sang and played, they used hand-clapping and foot-stamping to create rhythmic beats in the tradition of African music.
Your personal interaptation was correct. This song is an African American slave song, which was remade by Emmylou Harris. If Emmylou Harris truly understood the nature or meaning of song. She would have never rewrittten the lyrics. The oringinal song does not mention red shoes, bones nor the devil. As slaves sang and played, they used hand-clapping and foot-stamping to create rhythmic beats in the tradition of African music.
Oringinal Lyrics:
Oringinal Lyrics:
>
Go to sleep (2)
Go to sleep, little baby
Mama gone away
An' papa gone, too.
Go to sleep, little baby.
>
Go to sleep (2)
Go to sleep, little baby
Mama gone away
An' papa gone, too.
Go to sleep, little baby.
Go to sleep (2)
Go to sleep, little baby
Mama gone...
i>
Go to sleep (2)
Go to sleep, little baby
Mama gone away
An' daddy, too.
Go to sleep, little baby
i>
Slaves would sang this lullaby to babies or small children as their parents were sent away to work the cotton fields.
Before i saw the movie, i had a mental picture of what was happening during this song. (this is just my personal interaptation, don't hate me!)
I always saw an elderly black slave woman in the pre-Civil war south rocking a newborn baby (because its mother had died during child-birth) and she was singing this lullyabye to the baby. It was her way of saying that she would "adopt" the baby and take the place of the mother, and that life was going to be okay because she would watch out for the baby. (imagine my shock when i saw the movie and saw what was really going on!! :)
Anyway you interprate it, its a beautiful song.
Your personal interaptation was correct. This song is an African American slave song, which was remade by Emmylou Harris. If Emmylou Harris truly understood the nature or meaning of song. She would have never rewrittten the lyrics. The oringinal song does not mention red shoes, bones nor the devil. As slaves sang and played, they used hand-clapping and foot-stamping to create rhythmic beats in the tradition of African music.
Your personal interaptation was correct. This song is an African American slave song, which was remade by Emmylou Harris. If Emmylou Harris truly understood the nature or meaning of song. She would have never rewrittten the lyrics. The oringinal song does not mention red shoes, bones nor the devil. As slaves sang and played, they used hand-clapping and foot-stamping to create rhythmic beats in the tradition of African music.
Oringinal Lyrics:
Oringinal Lyrics:
>
Go to sleep (2) Go to sleep, little baby Mama gone away An' papa gone, too. Go to sleep, little baby.
>
Go to sleep (2) Go to sleep, little baby Mama gone away An' papa gone, too. Go to sleep, little baby.
Go to sleep (2) Go to sleep, little baby Mama gone...
i>
Go to sleep (2) Go to sleep, little baby Mama gone away An' daddy, too. Go to sleep, little baby
i>
Slaves would sang this lullaby to babies or small children as their parents were sent away to work the cotton fields.