An Introduction to America’s Music

CHAPTER 4 | REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN ANTEBELLUM BLACK MUSIC MAKING 91

date: unknown

performers: John Davis and seven other

singers, St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, recorded

1959

genre: traditional African American work

song

meter: duple

form: verse and chorus

Listening Guide 4.1 “Carrie Belle” ANONYMOUS

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• call and response


• rhythmic coordination of rope pulls

timing section text comments

0:00 verse 1 Carrie Belle, don’t weep

Carrie Belle, don’t mourn

Don’t you hang your head and cry.

The leader sings the fi rst line, then the others

join in on the second line. The sound of the rope

pulls (“huh”) marks the third beat of each bar.

0:23 chorus Ain’t gonna hurt nobody, oh no!

Ain’t gonna hurt nobody, oh no!

I’m going to carry to the Alamo.

A very short signal from the leader cues in the

other singers.

0:45 verse 2 Ever since I lay

in the barroom door

I said I’ll never get drunk no more.

The music of verse 1 repeats, with new words.

1:07 chorus Ain’t gonna hurt nobody... Both words and music are the same for each

repetition of the chorus.

1:28 verse 3 Well, I pawn my watch

and I pawn my chain

then I pawn my diamond ring.

1:50 chorus Ain’t gonna hurt nobody...

2:11 verse 4 Carrie Belle, don’t weep... A repeat of verse 1.

2:32 chorus Ain’t gonna hurt nobody...

2:53 verse 5 Ever since I lay... A repeat of verse 2.

3:13 chorus Ain’t gonna hurt nobody...

Listen & Refl ect

1. What features of this music appear to be relatively fi xed, and which seem to be more
   improvisatory? How can you tell?


2. Judging by what you hear, what can you say about the relationship between the leader
   and the rest of the group?


3. What does the tempo suggest about the nature of stevedores’ work?

CD 1.12

172028_04_086-105_r2_vs.indd 91 23/01/13 10:07 AM