Poetry by Langston Hughes - The Weary Blues
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- Опубликовано: 19 янв 2007
- The Weary Blues
In this classic poem by Langston Hughes we feel the pride he had in his people juxtaposed with the sadness he felt in the hardships they faced and endured. The footage overlaying his powerful words harkens back to the Harlem Renaissance - the point in time when black America was beginning to find its voice and identity within the complex landscape that was the American experiment; a point in time when even white America could no longer deny the depth, complexity and beauty of its culture.
Langston Hughes descended from a most impossible family tree; both of his paternal great-grandmothers were enslaved African Americans while both of his paternal great-grandfathers were white slave owners. As his mother and father would drift in and out of his life, it would be his grandmother, who would become the driving force in his life. One of the first African American women to graduate college in the United States she who would instill in him a strong sense of racial pride and a responsibility to help his people.
Hughes poetry portrays the struggles and joys of working-class blacks in America. He would become one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance - an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion in the 20’s. And he would succeed in one of the movements primary goals - the realization of purely African-American forms of expression such as his groundbreaking “Jazz Poetry”.
The Weary Blues
Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
He did a lazy sway. . . .
He did a lazy sway. . . .
To the tune o’ those Weary Blues.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key
He made that poor piano moan with melody.
O Blues!
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
Sweet Blues!
Coming from a black man’s soul.
O Blues!
In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan-
“Ain’t got nobody in all this world,
Ain’t got nobody but ma self.
I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’
And put ma troubles on the shelf.”
Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
He played a few chords then he sang some more-
“I got the Weary Blues
And I can’t be satisfied.
Got the Weary Blues
And can’t be satisfied-
I ain’t happy no mo’
And I wish that I had died.”
And far into the night he crooned that tune.
The stars went out and so did the moon.
The singer stopped playing and went to bed
While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.
Recited by: Allen Dwight Callahan
Footage:
Moon Over Harlem / Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer
Rhythm & Blues Revue / Directed by Joseph Kohn, Leonard Reed
Music:
Groovy Drums / Composer: Pagnini, Umberto
ST James Infirmary / Composers: Lenart, Paul; Novick, Bill
A Four Seasons Production - www.4spFilm.com
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This is not the same music - it's actually a fusion of several different tracks and artists from a recording library. My favorite part of these short films is making the music come together. Glad you liked it.
My favorite poet! Langston Hughes!!!
So smooth. Langston Hughes is really outstanding and so is this version of The Weary Blues. I'd never heard the poem bleed so much jazz when I read it to myself. Great stuff.
I wish someone would make a biopic of Langston Hughes and the whole Harlem Renaissance era.
What a fascinating time...
Wow. Incredibly beautiful. A perfect marriage of poem, film and music.
Listen to this. It might help your soul.
This recitation by Dr. Callahan actually deepens the powerful words of The great Langston Hughes. Bravo Four Seasons and all involved with the production of these works
its funny how the best songs are often sad
What an amazing orality ! Congrats to Dr. Allen Dwight Callahan for keeping this wonderful poem alive. "I got the weary blues and can't be satisfied"
3:14" I ain't happy no more, and I wish I had died!" *audience applauds.* What a cold crowd haha
Never get tired of watching or listening to this. Wonderful.
Years ago, when I was a novice member of my HS Speech Team, Langston Hughes' poetry helped me advance to State Finals!
His words even more evocative today
Beautifully done. Thank you!
Spider-Man brought me here. Thanks, Miles...
And thanks, Mister Hughes!
One of the greats from the Harlem Renaissance !
Thank You sweetie!
You know who you are!
Tasty, soulful, musical. Really captured the feeling of the blues and conveyed in words its rhythm, melody, and cry, its depths and heights. The blues is about life and death, and this film/poem gives us both.
havent been able to forget it since i was in grad school ... changed my life ...
When Malindy sings
You must not be familiar with Langston Hughes' body of work - Here is one of the most outstanding Poets I've ever perchance to read. He did indeed go much deeper in to the subject with his stories about Semple. If you know about him - you'd realize he was one of the most prolific of the Harlem Renassaince Poets that ever hit the scene. The use of the word Negro in this poem is actually a positive appellation - no negative connotation.
Callahan has the best recitation I've ever heard of this poem, and the video translation itself is superb.
WOW! This is the BEST version I have heard of this. I like it better than the clip of even when Hughes recited it himself. I thought the other clip was ironic that the band behind him was all white! That seemed pretty odd to me. But this here version is so smooth and powerful. This dude knows how to bring some poetry to life.
He is fantastic! The music makes it sound even better! It sounds so good, the words in the tune of the music!
Sad and beautiful.
Amazing American voice - a treasure.
So so so so beautiful. Thanks.
This is BEAUTIFUL! I love seeing Langstons words come to life!
this is gorgeous, dark and deep.
Wow, Unimaginably Beautiful.I watch this over and over. It endorces one's passion, longing for more. 'There is not a weary moment.' "Chapeau"
you are so lucky to have this guy! black men-women! great !!!
The blues off when the poetry on!
Langston Hughes lectured at Outlines gallery and recited his poetry in the early 1940's in Pittsburgh , Pa - will be featured in this new documentary 'Tracing Outlines'
@leavitttrumpet The song in the background at the beginning is St James' Infirmary Blues and the Poem being read is "Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes
Breathtaking
Humblingly beautiful
A Great poem with an incredible delivery...
You've done a great service posting what the music is, a grrrreaaat service.
This is beautiful. Wow!!! I never really listen to this until now and I love it
Thank you!
I wasn't familiar with Carl Sandburg until putting together this series of shorts and felt convinced he also must have been a strong influence on Kerouac. One of the short poems posted called "Skyscrapers" sounds like it could have been written by him. They also had some similar experiences and interests. All great jazz musicians learn the licks of the greats before them and then make them their own. Seems very similar with poetry - especially Kerouac who was also heavily influenced by jazz.
love it
thank you
Happy Birthday Langston
this is great
This is beautiful
I Love it..... Love it......
my all time favorite poet!!
You know, and if you have been reading some of the writings of the beats from the 1950s you should know, that clearly they are (Keroauc, Ginsberg, Corso, et. al), as I am not, the only ones in the universe who has gone out searching for that be-bop, blue-pink great American night, or the high white note either. Thanks, Brother Hughes.
Wow what a great reading!
Thanks this has been added to our playlists here, and on facebook...
Oh, blues... What a poetry...!
I love this.
Outstanding, deeply felt!
Birth of Rap so good so so good.
really terrific video. thank you
Thanks for posting...I will share with some of Pomona's youth! The poem sets an AWESOME tone to the video!!!
so amazing ...piece of work
this is phenomenal.
Amazing...
beautiful and beautifully done.
So poétique and yet so real.
Amazing video , he was a great poet
wow..that was tight..i felt it for real for real
Beautiful
that was excellent i loved that will do more research into this poet , incredible
@boriqua8993 "St. James Infirmary" and a riff on Ellington's "Come Sunday" from Black Brown and Beige Suite. Beautifully done...
Cool sweet jazz, cool sweet jazz
my favorite LH poem. ahhh
who else is here for a school project??🙋
Rutendo Mafura chasing inspiration brought me here
Me lol
Yessss from Mumbai, India. We have this in our BA English Literature course.
me
HaHa Here!
My dear Langston
This is so smooth.
Awesome video
Thank you for this video dear one, you know who u are!
Transported!!
Thanks!
nice poem
absolutely fantastic :) I'm not a big fan of poetry, I prefer prose, but this really made me shiver....
I’m here from Spider-Man 2 of the museum side mission and gotta say this is interesting 😃
wooow!
i'm so ignorant i never heard of this Langston until today.
He told me like a poet what to do☺
They were applauding out of appreciation...
I am both & more. HE DID.
v. good
I'm reciting this one for English! Hopefully I could do it justice :O
I (in fact) use the word Negro all the time. I'm 32 years old and for me the word has a certain character and strength that the often used "Nigga" has never had. Um - If you're interested in learning more about Langston Hughes though - you might consider googling JPiC Forum For Writers aka Poetry in Color Forum - I'm the Administrator and I've posted quite a few posts about Hughes, as he's one of my all-time favorite Writers.
Jacquii.
awesome. i just saw danny glover sing this haha
What is the music in this short film, may I ask?...it's incredible.
Can you believe this poem is actually written in 1928 (I believe...) Of course we've made incredible strides towards bettering society and making equality a reality for all races. Wonderfully incredible strides... Of course Langston Hughes though, was speaking on the racially charged climate of his era.
Jacquii.
First comment in 3 months. Amazing
Anyone know the name of the jazz composition in the background as the poem is being read? It's beautiful.
What is the song played in the background?
waaaaaaaaaaaw
O Blues
does anyone know the name of the song thats playing behind this? i need it for a project.by the way...love this!
Ignore TheTubularT s. (Trust me, I'm a playwright and can tell you that this video is soo relevant... for any time.) What came before is necessary. It helps you evaluate the time and feel great appreciation for the present.
I don't know what The TubularTs was looking for, but obviously this video was not it and instead of down grading it because of his lack of scrutiny, he should have just clicked on something else.... Other people are watching this. His opinion isn't the only value....
Does anybody know what's the beautiful piano tune ?
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THE TUNE AND IF I CAN FIND IT SOMEWHERE? 0:43-1:17? its absolutely soul-piercing.
Dr. Brian Yothers sent me here! xD
I'm working on a podcast on Harlem. Could I use a excerpt of the soundtrack in it? It's really great stuff! Thanks!
wish i could take a few bong rips with crazy cab.
Actually no. I put a thumbs up to all of your comments actually. I guess thats the thanks
I get.
My name is Langston :)
see a Walter Hughes videos? trombone????
beautiful and tasty... BROVO
Just because he wasn't taught in school doesn't mean it's prejudice. You can't just go back to racism.
Me
@chocolytesprynkles YES YES TOUCHE