Monroe's "In the Pines"

Bill Monroe’s version of “In the Pines” seems to be a better depiction of a folk song, than a pop song in its early stages. The melody sounds as if it comes from the deep South, and never falters throughout the entire song. With a static melody, the tone in which Monroe sings doesn’t change either, but the ideas presented throughout the story do. This version of “In the Pines” evokes the story of a hard working man in a 19th century America. These lyrics differ greatly from Leadbelly’s version.

Leadbelly’s version of the song is more melancholy, and the message of the lyrics is much more haunting than Monroe’s. Monroe’s version of the song lacks the lines “His head was found in a driving wheel/But his body never ever be found,” which I find to change the entire mood of his song. Because of the lacking lyrics, Bill Monroe’s version of the song seems to be on a more positive note. His melody sounds happier, and his lyrics are not as depressing. Perhaps the sharp contrast between the melody and the lyrics, like in a good folk song, does not allow for the listener to really correctly interpret the lyrics, leaving it up to interpretation.

Comments

[AmyMayper]

In your posts, many of you considered the effect Lead Belly’s spoken interjections had on the authenticity or lack thereof in his version of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” Christopher Yoshonis made an interesting point when he noted the Jazz influence in Lead Belly’s interjections, implying that they detracted authenticity. Check out Christopher’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/10/lead-bellys-in-the-pines.html). Hannah Sherman, on the other hand, felt that these interjections increased authenticity as they reflected what Lead Belly “felt and experienced.” Take a look at Hannah’s post here: (http://benleedscarson.com/by-banks-in-pines/2009/10/9/where-did-you-sleep-last-night-by-leadbelly.html). Using these examples as a springboard, what effect do you think Lead Belly’s spoken interjections have on the song’s authenticity and on the song in general? Why do you think Lead Belly chose to speak the specific lines that he did, as opposed to any other lines? And looking at the topic in broader terms, what effect do you think spoken interjections have on songs today? Feel free to post youtube links to examples of present-day songs featuring spoken interjections and to discuss these examples with your classmates!