I do not remember a time when there was not music in my home it just seems to always be there. We children were called into the living room to listen to some new records my dad had bought. This was the time of Vinyl records. We kids looked at each other thinking to ourselves oh lord here we go again, we could be outside playing. My dad did this every few weeks. We would have to listen to some long story about the artist, how this song was for dancing, or we needed to learn this song for church. This song was recorded in 1964, A Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
This haunting, painful, soulful voice like something I had never heard before came out of the record player; we all sat there not a sound coming from anybody listening to Sam Cooke singing A Change Gone Come. I know my daddy played that four or five times straight. Nobody realized at the time but my daddy was crying. Nobody understood why. It must have been something really bad to make my daddy cry.
So later when we (my sisters) asked my momma why did that song make daddy cry. She explained to us about the message the song had. Of course being young children, we did not really understand. At the time, I had no knowledge of the struggles African Americans were going through. This song became popular during the Civil Rights Movement. However, the song has stayed with me all these years.
As an adult, this song still brings tears to my eyes and joy to my soul. It gives me the type of joy makes me look forward to another day, another challenge or whatever the world has to offer. My tears are not from sadness but from somewhere in my soul. It hits the heart where there are no limitations; it discretely, yet directly addresses the ills of today’s society.
Sam Cooke today would be impressed by the various artist that have recorded this song. I feel men give the better rendition. I do not know if it has to do with the struggles men go through or just something they feel. Do not misunderstand there are woman who blow this song out of the water. Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Lauryn Hill and Tina Turner, each makes it her own. As far as the men go, there is a lot but my favorites are of course the original Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, James Taylor, Al Green, Bob Dylan, and Seal. Three Dog Night has even done it and it is amazingly wonderful. All these voices touch me deep inside.
Here are a few different renditions of the song. Enjoy
http://www.imeem.com/marie12/music/SS9Qap4K/sam_cooke_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/people/J5sJ5zP/music/5sXMUU8s/tina_turner_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.imeem.com/t44j21h/music/YRQggk1x/three_dog_night_a_change_is_gonna_come/
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1y82c_luther-vandross-a-change-gonna-come_music
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I do not remember hearing the song. But the way you put it, its insightful very personal and I can understand why it would mean so much to you. I think when I get home I am going to download the song and listen to the original and then the covers. Great Blog.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this song before, or even of Sam Cooke but I now feel as though I have got a good interpretation of what his message in this song was. You really pulled me into your heart and emotions when I read this blog. It is interesting how the words of the song affected people in the 60’s and still do now 45 years later. The way this song keeps you going is moving.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of the song” A Change Gonna Come”, It makes me think of my own childhood. How the struggle of growing up can either make you are break you, not only my childhood, but as an adult also so I can relate to you when you say it makes you cry from your soul. So as we go along in this life let’s keep this song alive within us. Keep believing and keep singing for change is coming.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard this song, in my head I could just see a montage of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, the March on Washington, the Sit-ins, and all the mile stones for the Civil Rights Movement. It’s beautiful, powerful, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of “A Change Gonna Come”. I can really hear the struggle in Cooke’s soul through his voice. I am so glad you shared this memory and this wonderful song with all of us, thank you.
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