Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
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"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" (or simply "Sometimes I Feel") is a traditional Negro spiritual. The song dates back to the era of slavery in the United States when it was common practice to sell children of slaves away from their parents. Like many traditional songs, it has many variations and has been recorded widely.
Superficially, the song is clearly an expression of pain and dispair as it conveys the hopelessness of a child who has lost her mother. A subtlety in the lyrics, however, offer a measure of hope. The repetitive singing of the word "sometimes" in the song's melody line suggests that at least "sometimes" I don't feel like a motherless child.[1]
The musical structure of "Sometimes I Feel" was also employed by George Gershwin for "Summertime" the opening piece of the musical, Porgy and Bess.[2]
This song was also sung by Richie Havens when opening for the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
[edit] Choral Arrangements
- A widely acclaimed arrangement was written by Harry T. Burleigh in 1918. [3]
- One recent arrangement was written by Gwyneth Walker for GALA Choruses. [4]
[edit] External links
- Lyrics at negrosprituals.com
[edit] References
- ^ *Sweet Chariot: the story of the spirituals by Arthur C. Jones
- ^ Samuel Floyd, The Power of Black Music, Oxford University Press, 1995
- ^ "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" article from Answers.com
- ^ Gwyneth Walker's description of her arrangement
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