We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions de Bruce Springsteen
Álbum de Bruce Springsteen
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 25 de Abril de 2006
- Compositores: Tradicional (arreglos por Bruce Springsteen)
- Productores: Bruce Springsteen
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions es un álbum de Bruce Springsteen, publicado en 2006. El disco incluye 13 canciones, entre ellas «Old Dan Tucker», «Jesse James», «Mrs. McGrath» y «Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep».
Antecedentes: un homenaje a la música Folk
"We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" es un proyecto único en la discografía de Bruce Springsteen. Es su primer y único álbum compuesto íntegramente por versiones de otras canciones. El disco es un homenaje al legendario cantante de folk y activista Pete Seeger, una figura monumental en la música de protesta estadounidense. El proyecto nació cuando Springsteen fue invitado a grabar una canción para un álbum tributo a Seeger. La experiencia fue tan gratificante que decidió grabar un álbum completo de canciones popularizadas por Seeger.
El álbum es una celebración de la rica tradición de la música folk americana, un cancionero de canciones de protesta, espirituales, góspel y baladas de trabajo que han sido transmitidas de generación en generación. No es un álbum de folk solemne, sino una celebración exuberante y ruidosa del poder de la música para unir a la gente.
Proceso de grabación: una fiesta en el granero
La grabación del álbum fue un proceso orgánico y espontáneo. Springsteen reunió a un gran conjunto de músicos, que más tarde se conocería como The Sessions Band, en el granero de su granja de Nueva Jersey. La banda incluía instrumentos tradicionales como violines, banjos, acordeones, contrabajos y una sección de vientos.
Las canciones se grabaron en vivo en el estudio, sin apenas ensayos y con arreglos que se desarrollaban sobre la marcha. Springsteen quería capturar la sensación de una sesión de música comunitaria, una fiesta improvisada. Este enfoque le da al álbum una energía cruda, alegre y contagiosa. Se puede oír a los músicos reír y gritar de fondo, creando una atmósfera de camaradería y celebración.
Estilo y contenido temático
El álbum es un vibrante recorrido por la música de raíces americanas. Springsteen y la Sessions Band reinterpretan estas canciones tradicionales con una energía de rock and roll y un toque de jazz de Nueva Orleans. Los géneros van desde el folk y el country hasta el góspel, el skiffle y el dixieland.
Temáticamente, el álbum es una celebración del espíritu de resistencia y comunidad. Muchas de las canciones son himnos del movimiento por los derechos civiles y del movimiento obrero, canciones que han sido la banda sonora de la lucha por la justicia social en Estados Unidos. En el contexto de la América post-Katrina y la guerra de Irak, el álbum adquirió una nueva resonancia, convirtiéndose en un llamado a la unidad y a la acción colectiva.
Análisis de las canciones principales
"Old Dan Tucker": Una enérgica canción de folk del siglo XIX que abre el álbum con un espíritu festivo. La versión de Springsteen es una explosión de energía con banjo, violín y una sección de vientos desenfrenada.
"John Henry": La clásica balada folk sobre el héroe popular afroamericano que compitió contra una máquina de vapor. La interpretación de Springsteen es poderosa y dramática, capturando el espíritu épico de la leyenda.
"We Shall Overcome": El himno icónico del movimiento por los derechos civiles. La versión de Springsteen es respetuosa y conmovedora, transformando la canción en un espiritual de góspel que resalta su mensaje de esperanza y perseverancia.
"Pay Me My Money Down": Un cántico de trabajo de los estibadores afroamericanos del siglo XIX, transformado en una ruidosa y caótica celebración de estilo Nueva Orleans. Se convirtió en el momento más festivo de la gira.
Resultados comerciales y gira
"We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" fue un éxito inesperado. Debutó en el número 3 del Billboard 200 y fue aclamado por la crítica por su alegría, su autenticidad y su relevancia. Ganó el premio Grammy al Mejor Álbum de Folk Tradicional.
La gira mundial que lo acompañó con la Sessions Band fue una de las más aclamadas de la carrera de Springsteen. Los conciertos eran celebraciones ruidosas y comunitarias, transformando los teatros y festivales en fiestas de folk-rock. La gira fue documentada en el CD/DVD "Live in Dublin".
Posición en listas:
- Estados Unidos (USA): 3
- Reino Unido (UK): 3
- España: 2
- Alemania: 5
- Suecia: 1
- Noruega: 1
Listado de Canciones
- Old Dan Tucker
Letra
Old Dan Tucker, he's a fine old man, Washed his face in a frying pan Combed his hair with a wagon wheel Died of a toothache in his heel Get out of the way! Old Dan Tucker, You're too late to get your supper Supper's gone, dinner is a cooking Old Dan Tucker just a standing there looking Old Dan Tucker, he'd come to town Riding a billy goat, leading a hound Hound dog barked, billy goat jumped Landed Dan Tucker on the top of a stump! Get out of the way! Old Dan Tucker, You're too late to get your supper Supper's gone, dinner is a cooking Old Dan Tucker just a standing there looking Now old Dan Tucker has come to town Swinging the ladies round and round First to the right and then to the left Then to the girl that he loves best Get out of the way! Old Dan Tucker, You're too late to get your supper Supper's gone, dinner is a cooking Old Dan Tucker just a standing there looking - Jesse James
Letra
Jasse James was a lad That killed many a man He robbed the Glendale train He stole from the rich And he gave to the poor He´d a hand and heart and a brain Well it was Robert Ford That dirty little coward I eonder now how he feels For he ate of Jesse´s bread And he slept in Jesse´s bed And he laid poor Jesse in his grave Well Jesse had a wife To mourn for his life Three children Now they were brave Well that dirty little coward That shot Mr. Howard He laid poor Jesse in his grave Well Jesse was a man A friend to the poor He´d never rob a mother or a child There never qas a man with the law in his hand That could take Jesse James when alive It was on a Saturday night Well the moon was shining bright They robbed the Gelendale train And pelople they did say oér many miles away It was those outlaws Frank and Jesse James Well Jesse had a wife To mourn for his life Three children Now they were brave But that dirty little coward That shot Mr. Howard He laid poor Jasse in his grave Now the people held their breath When they heard of Jesse´s death They wondered how he´d ever como to fall Robert Ford it was a fact He shot Jesse in the back While Jesse hung a picture on the wall Jesse went to rest with his head on his breast The devil upon his knee He was born one day in County Clay And he came from a solitary race Well Jesse had a wife To mourn for his life Three children Now they were brave Well that dirty little coward That shot at Mr. Howard He laid poor Jesse in his grave - Mrs. McGrath
Letra
"Oh, Mrs. McGrath," the sergeant said "Would you like to make a soldier of your son Ted With a scarlet coat and a big cocked hat Now Mrs. McGrath would you like that?" With your too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa, too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa Now Mrs. McGrath lived on the sea shore And after seven years or more She spied a ship coming into the bay With her son from far away "Oh captain dear, where have ye been? You been sailing on the Mediterranean? Have you news of my son Ted? Is he living or is he dead?" With your too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa, too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa Then up came Ted without any legs And in their place two wooden pegs She kissed him a dozen times or two And said "My God Ted is it you"? Now were ye drunk or were ye blind When ye left yer two fine legs behind? Or was it walking upon the sea That wore your two fine legs away?" With your too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa, too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa Now I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind When I left my two fine legs behind A cannonball on the fifth of May Tore my two fine legs away "My, Teddy boy," the widow cried "Yer two fine legs were yer mother's pride Stumps of a tree wouldn't do at all Why didn't ye run from the cannon ball?" With your too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa, too-ri-aa, fol-did-dle-di-aa, too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-aa "All foreign wars I do proclaim Live on blood and a mother's pain I'd rather have my son as he used to be Than the King of America And his whole Navy! - Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep
Letra
Well if I could I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Well Mary wore three links and chains On every link was Jesus' name Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Go! Go! Well one of these nights bout 12 o'clock This old world is gonna rock Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Well Moses stood on the Red Sea shore Smote' the water with a two by four Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Alright! (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't you weep) Well old Mr. Satan he got mad Missed that soul that he thought he had Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Brothers and sisters don't you cry There'll be good times by and by Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Well O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Solo, try it out! (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't you weep) Hey! Drums! God gave Noah the rainbow sign "No more water but fire next time" Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded O Mary don't you weep Everybody! (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't you weep) O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn Pharaoh's army got drownded Oooooooh, Mary don't yoooooou (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (O Mary don't you weep, don't you mourn) (Pharaoh's army got drownded) (O Mary don't you weep) - John Henry
Letra
When John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his daddy's knee Said the big Ben Tuttle of the C &O Road, "The hammer's gonna be the death of thee, lord, lord The hammer's gonna be the death of thee" John Henry said to his captain, "A man ain't nothing' but a man Before I let this steam drill beat me down I'll die with a hammer in my hand, lord, lord, I'll die with a hammer in my hand" Well, the man who invented the steam drill Thought he was mighty fine But John Henry drove about fifteen feet And the steam drill only made nine, lord, lord, The steam drill only made nine John Henry said to his preacher, "Man, why don't you pray, 'cause if I miss with this nine pound hammer Tomorrow be my buryin' day lord, lord, Tomorrow be my buryin' day John Henry swung the hammer over his head He brought the hammer down to the ground A man in Chantanooga two hundred miles away Said, "Listen to the rumblin' sound, lord, lord, Listen to that rumblin' sound" They took John Henry to the graveyard, Buried him in the hot sand Now every locomotive comes rollin' by says, "There lies a steel-drivin' man, lord, lord, There lies a steel drivin' man! " - Erie Canal
Letra
I've got a mule, and her name is Sal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She's a good ol' worker an' a good ol' pal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. We've hauled some barges in our day, Filled with lumber, coal, and hay, And we know every inch of the way From Albany to Buffalo. Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, for we're comin' through a town! And you'll always know your neighbor, You'll always know your pal, If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal. We'd better look around for a job, ol' gal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal! 'Cause you bet your life I'd never part with Sal, Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal! Git up there, mule, here comes a lock, We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock, One more trip and back we'll go Right back home to Buffalo. - Jacob's Ladder
Letra
We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder Brothers, sisters, all Every rung goes higher and higher Every rung goes higher and higher Every rung goes higher and higher Brothers, sisters, all We are dancing Sarah's circle We are dancing Sarah's circle We are dancing Sarah's circle Sisters, brothers, all Every round a generation Every round a generation Every round a generation Sisters, brothers, all We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder We are climbing Jacob's ladder Brothers, sisters, all - My Oklahoma Home
Letra
When they opened up the strip I was young and full of zip, I wanted a place to call my own. And so I made the race, and staked me out a place, And settled down along the Cimarron. It blowed away, it blowed away, My Oklahoma home, it blowed away. It looked so green and fair when I built my shanty there, But my Oklahoma home, it blowed away. I planted wheat and oats, got some chickens and some shoats, Aimed to have some ham and eggs to feed my face. Got a mule to pull the plow, got an old red muley cow And got a fancy mortgage on the place. It blowed away, it blowed away, All the crops I planted blowed away. You can't grow any grain if there isn't any rain; All except the mortgage blowed away. It blowed away my rooster and it blowed away my hens; The pigs and cattle went astray. All the crops that I sowed went a-foggin' down the road. My Oklahoma farm, it blowed away. It blowed away, it blowed away, Everything I owned blowed away. I hollered and I cussed when my land went up in dust, When my Oklahoma farm, it blowed away. It looked so green and fair, when I built my shanty there, I figured I was all set for life. I put on my Sunday best with my fancy scalloped vest And went to town and picked me out a wife. She blowed away, she blowed away My Oklahoma woman blowed away. Just as I bent and kissed her, she was picked up by a twister; My Oklahoma woman blowed away. Then I was left alone a-listenin' to the moan Of the wind around the corners of my shack; So I took off down the road when the south wind blowed, A-travelin' with the wind at my back. I blowed away, I blowed away Chasin' a dust cloud up ahead. Once it looked so green and fair, now it's up there in the air; My Oklahoma farm is overhead. Now I'm always close to home no matter where I roam, For Oklahoma dust is everywhere. Makes no difference where I'm walkin', I can hear my chickens squawkin' I can hear my wife a-talkin' in the air. It blowed away, it blowed away, My Oklahoma home blowed away. But my home is always near; it's in the atmosphere, My Oklahoma home that blowed away. I'm a roamin' Oklahoman, but I'm always close to home And I'll never get homesick 'til I die. No matter where I'm found, my home is all around; My Oklahoma home is in the sky. It blowed away, it blowed away, My farm down upon the Cimarron. But all around the world, wherever dust is whirled, Some is from my Oklahoma home. It blowed away, it blowed away, My Oklahoma home blowed away. Oh it's up there in the sky in that dust cloud rolling by, My Oklahoma home is in the sky. - Eyes On The Prize
Letra
Paul and Silas were bound in jail Had no Money for to go their bail Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Keep your Eyes on the Prize Hold on! Hold on! Keep your Eyes on the Prize, hold on! Paul and Silas began to shout Doors popped open, and they walked out Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on Hold on! Hold on! Keep your Eyes on the Prize, hold on! Well, the only chains that we can stand Are the chains of hand in hand Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on! Hold on! Keep your Eyes on the Prize, hold on! Got my hand on the freedom plow Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now Keep your eyes on the prize Hold on! Hold on! Keep your Eyes on the Prize, hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on - Shenandoah
Letra
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter Way-aye, you rolling river I'll take her 'cross yon rolling water A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! The Chief disdained the trader's dollars, Way-aye, you rolling river My daughter you shall never follow A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! For seven years I courted Sally, Way-aye, you rolling river For seven more I longed to have her A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! She said she would not be my lover Way-aye, you rolling river Because I was a tarry sailor A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! At last there came a Yankee skipper Way-aye, you rolling river He winked his eye, and he tipped his flipper A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! He sold the Chief that fire-water Way-aye, you rolling river And 'cross the river he stole his daughter A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter Way-aye, you rolling river I'll take her 'cross yon rolling water A way - we're bound away 'Cross the wide Missouri! - Pay Me My Money Down
Letra
Pay me, you owe me Pay me my money down Pay me or go to jail Pay me my money down I thought I heard the captain say Pay me my money down Tomorrow is our sailing day Pay me my money down Pay me, you owe me Pay me my money down Pay me or go to jail Pay me my money down Late last night we went into a bar Pay me money down They knocked us down with the end of a spar Pay me my money down Pay me, you owe me Pay me my money down Pay me or go to jail Pay me my money down I wish I was Mr. Howard's son Pay me my money down Sit in the house and watch the work getting down Pay me my money down Pay me, you owe me - We Shall Overcome
Letra
Hey we shall overcome, we shall overcome We shall overcome someday Darlin' here in my heart, yeah I do believe We shall overcome someday Well we'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand someday Darlin' here in my heart, yeah I do believe We'll walk hand in hand someday Well we shall live in peace, we shall live in peace We shall live in peace someday Darlin' here in my heart, yeah I do believe We shall live in peace someday Well we are not afraid, we are not afraid We shall overcome someday Yeah here in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome someday Hey we shall overcome, we shall overcome We shall overcome someday Darlin' here in my heart, I do believe We shall overcome someday We shall overcome someday - Froggie Went A-Courtin'
Letra
Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride, uh-huh (uh-huh) Froggy went a -courtin' and he did ride Sword and pistol by his side, uh- huh, uh-huh, uh-huh Well, he went down to Miss Mousie's door, uh-huh (uh-huh) He went down to Miss Mousie's door Where he had often been before, uh huh, uh-huh, uh-huh And he took Miss Mousie on his knee, uh-huh (uh-huh) He took Miss Mousie on his knee, and he said, "Miss Mousie, will you marry me?" uh huh, uh-huh, uh-huh "Not without my Uncle Rat's consent uh-huh (uh-huh) Not without my Uncle Rat's consent I would not marry the President, uh huh, uh-huh, uh-huh Where will the wedding supper be? Uh-huh (uh-huh) Where will the wedding supper be? Way down yonder in a hollow tree, uh huh, uh-huh, uh-huh First to come were the two little ants, uh-huh, uh-huh Fixin' around to have a dance, uh-huh, uh-huh Next to come was a bumblebee Bouncing a fiddle on his knee, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh