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Blue Spirit Blues

Bessie Smith
Language: English


Bessie Smith

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[1929]
Parole e musica di Bessie Smith
In molte raccolte, a partire da “The Bessie Smith Story - Volume 4”, 1955
Testo trovato in “Strange Fruit: An Experience”, una ricerca di Héctor Martínez su musica nera e segregazionismo.

The Bessie Smith Story - Volume 4

Héctor Martínez ricorda come nel 1927 la risoluta Bessie Smith affrontò coraggiosamente e con successo un gruppetto di incappucciati del KKK che erano intervenuti ad un raduno dove lei si esibiva, con l'intenzione di fare casino.
I demoni con gli occhi iniettati di sangue che tormentano la povera Bessie in sogno non sono altro che lo spettro, l'incubo dei suprematisti del Klan, sempre intenti ad angariare e linciare negri.
Héctor Martínez contribuisce poi l'immagine che segue, una foto di un linciaggio avvenuto in Texas nel 1908 e di cui venne fatta una cartolina, corredata di una minacciosa “poesia”, che venne poi distribuita agli abitanti neri di Center, Shelby County, Texas.

Had a dream last night
That I was dead
Had a dream last night
That I was dead
Evil spirits
All around my bed

The devil came
And grabbed my hand
The devil came
And grabbed my hand
Took me way down
To that red hot land

Mean blues spirits
Stuck their forks in me
Mean blues spirits
Stuck their forks in me
Made me moan
And groan in misery

Fairies and dragons
Spitting out blue flames
Fairies and dragons
Spitting out blue flames
Showing their teeth
For they was glad I came

Demons with their eyelash
Dripping blood
Demons with their eyelash
Dripping blood
Dragging sinners
To their brimstone flood

"This is hell", I cried
Cried with all my might
"This is hell", I cried
Cried with all my might
Oh, my soul
I can't bear the sight

Started running
'Cause it is my cup
Started running
'Cause it is my cup
Run so fast
Till someone woke me up

Contributed by Bernart Bartleby - 2017/6/6 - 12:22




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