This week I have decided to base my article on a topic not usually looked at for learning history, Music. Music can be very relaxing or even a great motivator, but did you know that you can also learn from it? As I researched these topics this week I learned many things. Most of the songs I researched involved historical events not usually mentioned in the books. This week began with a list of songs almost a page long.
1. Wreck of The Old '97
Performing Artist: Johnny Cash
The '97 was a mail train that made deliveries on the "Fast Mail" route going from Monroe, Virginia to Spencer, Virginia. On September 23, 1903, the crew was attempting to make a delivery time without delay.
After crossing a mountain valley near Danville, Virginia the train was using excessive speed and derailed, killing 11 workers on board. Although this is not usually taught in school it can remind us of a time before computers, before automobile delivery, and most of all before cell phones.
Trains regularly delivered mail from city to city, but little is known about the stress of appointments that these drivers were required to make. As you send an email today, be thankful for our technological advancements.
2. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning (That September Day)
Artist: Alan Jackson
September 11, 2001. Just as the song states, "Where were you when the world stopped turning" The most recent of all the songs listed here, this song captures an event that most of the population remembers.
As this song plays think of all the victims, the survivors, and their families. This song has captured and memorialized the greatest terrorist attack on American soil.
3. The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freight ship that carried a type of iron ore to foundries in Detroit and Toledo. Put into service on June 8, 1958, the ship made many trips including 748 round trips on the lake or 1 million miles also equivalent to 44 round trips around the globe.
On the evening of November 9, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a storm that caused massive amounts of water to crash over the ship. The large amounts of water later caused the radar systems and the deck railings to collapse.
The last communication with the ship, the captain replied, "We are holding our own" On the morning of November 10, 1975, the ship went under with 29 crew members.
4. The Battle of New Orleans
Artist: Johnny Horton
4,732 Americans against 14,450 British Soldiers, outnumbered over 3 to 1 the Americans forced the British off the field and forced them to evacuate the State of Louisiana.
Although this Battle began after the Treaty of Ghent had been written the President had not yet ratified it rendering it useless. This was a major ground seize for the Americans reclaiming the Louisiana Purchase.
5. The Boy In The Bubble
Artist: Paul Simon
For inspiration and political movement, Simon traveled to South Africa. While in South Africa he met with many artists and bands most of which are included on the Album. One specific lyric mentioned in this song "The way the camera follows him in slo-mo, the way he looks at us all" is the only lyric Simon actually wrote himself in South Africa.
The lyric shows up earlier in the song, but it's meant to draw attention to the recent events of the time such as; John F. Kennedy's Assassination and Ronald Reagan's attempted Assisnation. This entire album was meant to draw world attention to the issue of Apartheid in South Africa and hopefully, bring an end to the issue.
