AAM: First Notes

This will be the blog for the African American Musical Tradition.

Here are the first notes (some basic information on African Americans).

Enjoy!

Class Stuff for February 03-04, 2026

UPDATE: Here are the most important things to know for the test.

Okay, this week.

Tuesday (which is... Tuesday).

There will be a Class Review (and preparation for the test).

I will also give a preview of my elective class next semester.

Wednesday (which apparently will also be Tuesday).

The test!

The test will be made up of fill-in-the-blank and short answers. 

It is open book (you may have notes from the class, mine or yours) but only in printed paper form, no digital devices will be allowed.

You will have (but probably won't need) 90 minutes for the test. If someone needs more time I'll probably give it to them....

After grading the test I will calculate grades based on the test and attendance and enter them, mostly likely by Friday or Saturday.

If you're satisfied with the grad I enter, then.... course over!

if you want a higher grade (up to 1 1/2 points) I will give you essay assignments followed by an in person meeting with me (more info on this in class)

If someone needs an exam then I can do that but it will be essay assignments (and an in person meeting with me).

See y'all in class! 

More (Last) Notes! UPDATED!

I have put all the notes you'll need for the test in one document (with convenient table of contents!).

Here it is!

Enjoy

More Notes (Country Lyrics and Train Songs)

Here are the notes for Country Lyrics.

Here are the notes for Train Songs.

I may post a few more notes (the last ones) tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Lyrics for January 27, 2026 (and more notes)

Here are the lyrics for train songs.

Here are the notes for Book Musicals.

See y'all in class!

Listening List for Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Here is the listening list for class on January 27, 2026.
Some recurrent themes of train songs are:
building railroad lines,
specific trains,
trains as a symbol of loss and/or alienation
trains as a metaphor for a person's life
There's more that we'll talk about on Tuesday.

Songs here are in (rough) chronological order (when they were written, not necessarily the particular performance).

JOHN HENRY
performed by Sing an American Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF-3t8Id6mA

ROCK ISLAND LINE
performed Kelly Pace and Prisoners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NTa7ps6sNU

FREIGHT TRAIN
performed by Elizabeth Cotten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2DCWfBkMSI

CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO
performed by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTwy8ruyY40

TAKE THE A-TRAIN
peformed by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra, Betty Roche
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY

THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE
performed by Judy Garland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRTMnvQYHUI

ROCK ISLAND
perfomed by ensemble (from the Music Man, 1962)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ9U4Cbb4wg

BLUE TRAIN
perfomed by John D. Loudermilk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_KFjUDLpmA

THE L & N DON'T STOP HERE ANYMORE
performed by Johnny Cash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj8_ZOqo5Bs

LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
performed by the Monkees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-nyqMyEjRQ

CANADIAN RAILROAD TRILOGY
performed by Gordon Lightfoot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXzauTuRG78

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
performed by Arlo Guthrie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvMS_ykiLiQ

MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA
performed by Gladys Knight & the Pips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVAxJB3DkDE

JUST LIKE THIS TRAIN
performed by Joni Mitchell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLIArmiG0wY

TULSA QUEEN
performed by Emmylou Harris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjrvXvGM-PI

DRIVER 8
performed by R.E.M.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im8SCqUwIZE

DOWNTOWN TRAIN
performed by Tom Waits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWDJIwqCXi4

RUNAWAY TRAIN
performed by Roseanne Cash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvcdrXwAxAk

RUNAWAY TRAIN (different song)
peformed by Soul Asylum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzzKBxlIiEQ

BLUE TRAIN (different song)
performed by Linda Ronstadt, with Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CeLJuLp3mQ

See y'all in class!

 

Lyrics for Janaury 20, 2026 (and more notes!)

Here are the lyrics for January 20, 2026.

Here are the notes for Song Structure.

Here is an appendix (for things that didn't fit in the notes).

Enjoy!

Listening List for January 20, 2026

Here is a provisional listening list for class, January 20, 2026. At present this is in alphabetical order (that will probably change for class, and some songs may change as well).

For each song:
TITLE OF THE SONG
(ASPECT OF COUNTRY LYRICS)
performed by (artist name)

18 WHEELS AND A DOZEN ROSES
(TRUCKERS)
perfomed by Kathy Mattea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElCpHuiWkA

A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE
(COUNTRY FOLKS, SELF-RELIANCE, PATRIOTISM)
performed by Hank Williams Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cQNkIrg-Tk

BLOOD RED AND GOIN' DOWN
(STORYTELLING: SOUTHERN GOTHIC)
performed by Tanya Tucker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebgGN9U3sf0

COCA-COLA COWBOY
(HUMOR, FOLK POETRY)
performed by Mel Tillis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyj2MJ8JflI

DEEPER THAN THE HOLLOW
(COUNTRY FOLKS)
perfomed by Randy Travis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCgSbb_hJA0

GOODBYE EARL
(STORYTELLING, SOUTHERN GOTHIC, ANGRY WOMEN)
performed by the Dixie Chicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7gNf_9njs

GRANDPA, TELL ME 'BOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS
(NOSTALGIA)
performed by the Judds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmzd_Xa_2Cc

HE THINKS HE'LL KEEP HER
(LOSS OF LOVE, ANGRY WOMEN)
performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ajB0lkKZM

IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, WHEN TIMES WERE BAD
(NOSTALGIA, NOBLE POOR FOLKS)
performed by Dolly Parton)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTuv8qxfOCM

KILLING TIME
(DRINKIN' SONG, SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR)
performed by Clint Black
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAm4nHFOir0

MARIE LAVEAU
(STORYTELLING: SUPERNATURAL, HUMOR)
performed by Bobby Bare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK2pEaep0KQ

SHE'S ACTING SINGLE (I'M DRINKING DOUBLES)
(CHEATIN' SONG, DRINKIN' SONG, SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR)
performed by Gary Stewart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh-KEYAN9dg

TWO STOREY HOUSE
(UNHAPPY RICH FOLKS, HUMOR)
performed by George Jones and Tammy Wynette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBTpMHCKXRw

WHEN THE TINGLE BECOMES A CHILL
(ADULT PROBLEMS, LOSS OF DESIRE)
performed by Loretta Lynn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMM42ILPkRA

YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY MY NAME
(META-HUMOR)
performed by David Allen Coe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZbso7sNqv0

Class Notes and Lyrics for January 13, 2026

Here are some bonus lyrics for January 13, 2026!

Here are the lyrics for this week's class.

Here are the class notes (for the test) on:

Early American Music and Stephen Foster

Roots and Routes of Country Music

Broadway (part one)

Enjoy!