1) Death of Emmett Till, by Bob Dylan (1962)
Twas down in Mississippi not so long ago,
When a young boy from Chicago walked through a Southern door.
This boy's fateful tragedy you should all remember well,
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till.
Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up.
They said they had a reason, but I disremember what.
They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat.
There was screaming sounds inside the barn, there was
laughing sounds out on the street.
Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a blood-red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain.
The reason that they killed him there, and I'm sure it was no lie,
Was just for the fun of killin' him and to watch him slowly die. ('cause he was born a black skinned boy, he was born to die)
And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial,
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till.
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this awful crime,
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind.
I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin' down the courthouse stairs.
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free,
While Emmett's body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea.
If you can't speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that's so unjust,
Your eyes are filled with dead men's dirt, your mind is filled with dust.
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood it must refuse to flow,
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!
This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan.
But if all us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give,
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live.
2) My Name is Emmett Till, by Emmylou Harris (2011)
I was born a black boy
My name is Emmett Till
I walked this earth for 14 years
And one night I was killed
For speaking to a woman
Whose skin was white as dough
That's a sin in Mississippi
But how was I to know?
I'd come down from Chicago
To visit with my kin
Up there I was a cheeky kid
I guess I'd always been
But the harm they put upon me
Was too hard for what I'd done
For I was just a black boy
And never hurt no one
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
They took me from my uncle's house
Mose Wright was his name.
He'd later stand and, without hesitation,
Point the blame
At the ones who beat and cut me
And shot me with a gun
And threw me in the river
Like I was trash when they were done
I was sent back to my mother,
At least what was left of me,
She kept my casket open
For the whole wide world to see
The awful desecration
And the evidence of hate
You could not recognize me
The mutilation was so great
There came a cry for justice
To be finally fulfilled
All because of me, a black boy
My name is Emmett Till
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh, but I'd have rather lived
’Till I was too old to die young
Not miss all I left behind
And all that might have come
Summer clouds above my head
The grass beneath my feet
The warmth of a good woman
Her kisses soft and sweet
Perhaps to be a father
With a black boy of my own
Watch him grow into a kinder world
Than I had known
Where no child would be murdered
For the colour of his skin
And love would be the only thing
Inside the hearts of men
They say the horror of that night
Is haunting Heaven still
Where I am one more black boy
My name is Emmett Till
I prefer Bob Dylan's song more, but I do like Emmylou Harris because she has played with one of my favorite singers Dolly Parton. I liked Dylan's version more because the chord progressions illustrated the feeling of the song which was reflective and sorrowful. I like how he use Emmet Till's Death to challenge the listener to take action. Dylan also contrasts what is happening to what people's beliefs are about it.
ReplyDeleteBoth versions of Emmet Till's story are incredibly tragic, but moves the listener so much. In my personal opinion, I liked Bob Dylan's telling of his unfortunate story better. I honestly believe it is because I listened to this version first and first learning about Emmet Till's heartbreaking demise moved me and made me think more than the second. The progression of the lyrics also definitely touched me. How the discriptive words told a story that filled the mind with horrific images was truly heartbreaking. I believe the images the lyrics painted moved the listeners so much, which is why, in my opinion, Dylan's approach to telling this story is better.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs about Emmet Till were very good and told his story well. Though I do like the song by Bob Dylan more. I think I like it more simply because the song read more like a story, which is what this song should be like to me. I also listened to this song during class right after watching the video about Emmet Till, so I was still thinking so closely about his story. I did like both songs, but I did like Bob Dylan's more because it wasn't as poetic, it straight up told Emmet Tills story.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the one by Bob Dylan better because it describes the brutal murder of the child in graphic detail, while as the other song was more rythmic and poetic. It also described the court trial and how it was so biased and unfair. I feel like it tells the story of the child better.
ReplyDeleteEmmett Till, an African-American, died a horrible, gruesome, completely unjust and unprovoked death at the hands of white, racist men in Mississippi. I think that the song lyrics by Bob Dylan do a better job of capturing what happened, and tell the story of Emmett Till better than the lyrics by Emmylou Harris. Unfortunately, Emmett Till's fate wasn't unique in the very segregated United States, especially in the south. The lynchings and burnings that took place in the south reflected this segregation, and the violent murder of Emmett Till is just another example of the injustice and racism present less than a hundred years ago in the United States.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Bob Dylan version because I believe that he told the whole story in a rhythmic way that really moved you. Not only that, but he talked about how these kinds of things still happen today, and we can stop it.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the song by Bob Dylan the most because it tells the story of the crime and what happened after. Also I like it more because I simply like the chordes he is playing. Also, Bob Dylan's song was more moving to me than Emmylou Harris's song because Bob Dylan's described how brutal it was.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Bob Dylan's song over Emmylou Harris's, because it comes more from the heart, and felt much more emotional. Bob Dylan seemed more focused on giving an accurate description of what happened, and the unjust trial that followed, while Emmylou Harris seemed more focused on rhythm and poetry.
ReplyDeleteI think that both of the songs were very well written and did a great job explaining Emmett Till’s life and how it ended. I like the second song by Emmylou Harris better. I thought that one was more moving than Bob Dylan’s song and I think better explained the tragedy that happened in Emmett Till’s life. Emmylou Harris’s version also explained what happened after Emmett Till died, like Till’s funeral and the open casket, and Bob Dylan’s song didn’t have that information in the song.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Emmylou Harris's song over Bob Dylan's song primarily because it is from the first person point of view. Her song is also more creative lyrically and the lines fit together better. While an argument can be made that Bob Dylan's song is more personal, I feel like the first person view made me feel more in touch with what happened, even though there is less vivid imagery.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song. His lyrics told a more in-depth story then Emmylou Harris' and the melody of his song was more appealing. I feel that if someone were to hear both songs without knowing what they were about, they would pick Bob Dylan's. However, due to the more somber rhythm of the second song I feel more sad about the story when I hear Emmylou Harris' song.
ReplyDeletePersonally I prefer Bob Dylan's song over the Emmylou Harris song. I find this to be the case because Bob Dylan's song did a better job of getting the depressing feeling straight into your body. Even though the Emmylou Harris song had more rhythm and change throughout the song than this one did, Mr. Dylan's song did a better job of getting the message of despair across.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song because it gives just enough time for the message to sink in. Emmylou Harris' song is more lyrical and I think it somewhat takes away from the story as because of this she does not disclose as much information about the story. However both songs do have the solemn mournful tune about them that suits the topic.
ReplyDeleteI think that Emmylou Harris' song is more moving. She goes into detail abshe it what they took from him. She sang about a life that he would've had, and I think that it makes a greater impact. Bob Dylan's song goes into deeper detail about what happens, but Emmylou Harris really captures what effect this lynching made on what Emmett could have had.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the song by Bob Dylan was better. It effectively captured the series of events that occurred. Although I did like the first person perspective and beat of the other song, I thought the sentiment of Bob Dylan stuck with me more. He told a detailed story in the form of a song, and I appreciated that. As soon as the song started and he began singing, the mood sunk into you. The feeling of sadness was conveyed and so were all the details of what happened in this sorrowful event.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's because the he depicted Emmett's life and murder in a unique way. I liked how he used these words to describe Emmett's story, "They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat. There was screaming sounds inside the barn, there was
ReplyDeletelaughing sounds out on the street." These words made me even more impacted than I was before I listened to this song. I was astonished that the racial difference back then was that extreme. I also liked Emmylou Harris' song. However, her song did not describe the brutal and hostile treatment that poor Emmett Till went through. Her song also did not focus on Emmett as much as it did on what would have happened if he wasn't murdered. I think that the song should have been more directed to memorialize the life of the young Emmett Till.
I prefer Bob Dylan's song more because it seemed to fit the mood better, and I liked the song better. I do though think that Emmylou Harris' version was more meaningful, because she wrote it years and years after the event. It refreshes people's memory of the hardships that blacks faced in the Civil Rights movement. It also showed that people still care and are still aware of these events and they have not just been forgotten overtime, as so many have.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song about Emmett Till. I think it's because first, the difference between the year that the song was performed influenced my decision. Bob Dylan performed this song at the time of the Civil Rights Movement even when organizations like the KKK intimidated people to protest because they opposed the civil right movement. Emmylou Harris' performance was about 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement. Also, the descriptive lyrics of each song influenced my decision. I felt like even though Bob Dylan's song was in third person, and he captured Emmett Till's lynch much better than Emmylou Harris. Also, he even influences people to protest because he argues that it is moral to do so for such a crime.
ReplyDeleteThough Emmylou Harris sung a melodic and powerful song, I feel that Bob Dylan better encapsulated Emmet Till's cruel and horrible death. Bob Dylan used profound imagery to describe Till's murder. For example, in paragraph three, the lines "blood-red rain" and "his screaming pain" gave the listener vivid images of the storyline at play. Most importantly, Bob Dylan's song was written with an incredible purpose; the song was intended to persuade people to take a stand against the racism, prejudice, and discrimination present in the country, as it could potentially become a "greater place to live". I can only assume that many people were impacted by this song's release, and it continues to have an effect on people today, as shown through this blog.
ReplyDeleteMy personal preference was Emmylou Harris's song, because I felt that it provided a more personal account through the eyes of Emmett Till. Harris told the listeners about the wonderful life that this boy would have had, and I feel like that humanises Till in a way that Dylan's song didn't. Here in America, we feel like everyone has the opportunity to have the life depicted in the song, and to hear that Till was so cruelly robbed of that causes a viceral reaction in the average American listener.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song over Emmylou Harris's song. I feel this way because Bob Dylan's song was written around the time of the lynching and during Civil rights movement. This made it more important to me because their were people who might want to hurt the author of the song because he wrote it while in 2011 their are not as many people who would publicly assault Emmylou Harris. I also felt bob Dylan's song was more descriptive and detailed in the lynching then Emmylou Harris's. Bob Dylan's was also shorter than hers and I believe that this added to the song because more people would hear his rather than a longer version. This is why I preferred Bob Dylan's song over Emmylou Harris's.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs were deeply moving and were good retelling of the story that took place. Bob Dylan's song gives lots of detail into what happened both before, during and after the events that took place with lots of vivid and descriptive language to describe the story better. Bob Dylan also explains more about what Emmet Till may have been feeling, however I liked Emmylou's song better. It combined, rythem, passion and the recounting of what happened, all of those are necessary to have a good song. It gave a sufficient description of what happened. It also was written in first person which gave the sense that it was Emmet Till talking to me instead of Emmylou Harris or Bob Dylan. Lastly, I found it interesting that Emmylou's song was written in modern times, after this event may have been forgotten by many, and some may never have lived when this took place. I think that adds another level of complexity to Emmylou's song over Bob Dylan's. Both songs were incredibly moving and told the story of Emmet Till very well.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the more contemporary song of Emmett Till by Emmylou Harris because it combined a good rhythm and a wise choice of lyrics to make an emotionally compelling song. Where as Bob Dylan's song is more about sending a literal and accurate description of Emmett Till's murder. Both set an appropriate mood for his death and portrayed Emmett as a defenseless boy. But Emmylou Harris's song, to me, is more appealing and less repetitive in terms of the lyrics/rhythm.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song on Emmett Till's death over Emmylou Harris' for two reasons; it provided a more heartfelt and detailed encapsulation of the murder, and the implications of writing a song in protest such as this during it's time. I believe that Dylan was able to convey the cruelty of both the murder and the horrid trial that ensued. Also for a high profile artist such as Dylan to jeprodize not only his name but his life by speaking out against injustices and against a very powerful terrorist group, which I find very admirable. And I believe that Dylan has truly held great character throughout his life, even to this day.
ReplyDeleteThe story of Emmett Till is a tragic and horrifying story about the dark history of our nation. Racism, particullary in the Southern states, spread and caused segregation to spread, which led to lynchings of men and women only because of the color of their skin. Once Emmett Till was returned to his mother lifeless, she had great courage to have his coffin open to allow the world to see what had been done to her precious boy, only because of the color of his skin. I believe Bob Dylan's song captures the story of Emmett Till better because Bob Dylan sung his lyrics in the perfect tone and rhythm to have a greater impact on the audience.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song over Emmylou Harris' because to me it seemed more real, and portrayed how he felt about what happened when Emmylou seemed to just tell us what happened rather than give us a perspective to what she was feeling. Dylan was also able to personally get me emotional, while Harris' tune and lyrics were sad but not very emotional to me.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I preferred the song by Bob Dylan because I felt it had more of an impact on me. I say this because I feel that because this is such a devastating event, the music should have a melancholy sound to it, which I felt Bob Dylan did better. Also Dylan talked more about what happened and what was the end result. For example, Dylan sang that the men who murdered Emmett were acquitted. Not only did Dylan describe the murder but also talked about segregation in general with more power and eloquence then Emmylou Harris.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the Bob Dylan song because it told the story in a manor that I feel would affect the public more than the Emmylou Harris song. I feel that the Bob Dylan song not only described what happened, but also gave a reminder that we can make our world a better place to live in. By saying that, people all over the country listening to the song can recognize that they have a voice and that they should use it. I also feel like the Bob Dylan song says the facts as they were, without sugarcoating. With this delicate of a topic, artists may tend to sugarcoat things to make tragedies seem not as awful as they truly are. I feel that the Bob Dylan song really told the horrors of the event (in a respectful manor), but also provided a source of hope that our world can get better with our help.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song more because I felt that if gave more of a clear account of what happened. Also, because it was written several years after Emmett Till was murdered, it seemed like a musical news broadcast, which I liked. I enjoyed the folksy tune and country twang of both songs, though the second was much slower and more rhythmic and had a prominent bass part. The second song was more poetic, but to me, made Emmett sound more like an object than a person, which I thought detracted from the powerful message of the actual murder of Emmett Till.
ReplyDeleteI preferred the Bob Dylan song more, partly because of the guitar that accompanied the lyrics. However in all seriousness, his song described the event so in more detail and he explained that the actions were wrong. If you were to listen to his sing without any previous knowledge, you would be able to understand what had happened. Also, the last two verses are talking to the listeners, and how they can I prive themselves so we can prevent these problems in the future. I think this was a very creative and noble thing to do, because he called out the people who were just bystanders that didn't do anything.
ReplyDeleteI did not prefer one or the other. They were both meaningful and filled with emotion. I did like in Emmylou Harris' song she talked about what his life could have been. He had such a great life ahead of him, but those two men took that away from him. Bob Dylan did have a song that told the story from a different perspective other than Emmett Till. In Emmylou Harris' song it was from Emmett's perspective. I thought the two perspectives made them really different, and I do not prefer one more than another.
ReplyDeleteI liked both songs and found them both equal in their singing and guitar parts however I have cose Bob Dylan's son as my prefered song for a couple reasons. I feel that Bob Dylan's song showed the horrific event a lot more than Emmylou Harris's and I feel that the main tragedy is not only that he lost his life but that he was tortured, mutilated, and thrown in a river. Those are the facts that stuck with me the most and I feel Bob Dylan was really able to portray that and sets his song about this tragic killing apart from the other millions of songs about death. Emmylou Harris's song wasn't special and focused on what he could've had which is still sad but the torture was more sad than anything. It's terrible to kill someone but if you kill someone then disrespect their dead body then it's like you killed two people. My favorite song was Bob Dylan's.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy both songs and I thought they were both written very well. But I did however liked Bob Dylan's song better. The first reason is because he really said how horrid of a thing this was to do to someone just because of their skin color. The second reason was I think it was more poetic then Emmylou Harris's song. Hers told more of a story. But I did like how she sang about how the mother decided to leave an open casket. Also he added in more details about Emmit being tortured and I think that really showed people how awful and serious this was.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, both songs told the story of Emmett Till beautifully, however I did enjoy he song by Bob Dylan a little more. Bob Dylan captured the imagery of the murder well, even though it was so gruesome. Although, I did like how Emmylou Harris captured the story through the perspective of Emmett Till, and described what his life could have been like if he wasn't brutally murdered.
ReplyDeleteI thought both songs about Emmet Till really expressed his story and how he was treated terribly at the hands of white men. I do think Bob Dylan's song wraps up the significance of Emmet's death better, it brings back the reason and result of the lynching. The ending of Dylan's song expresses how the people have to fight for justice in order to restore equality, and it showed how Emmet's death made people realize what was still happening to blacks, which made the death so important.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Emmylou Harris's song. I feel that it made the tragic story of Emmett Till come alive with the powerful lyrics, and slower pace. She sang about how he wasn't just beat up but also shot before being thrown in the lake. She also brings to light the fact the Emmett's mother wanted his mangled body in an open casket so the world could see the terrible things done to her son. Lastly she sings about the life Emmett could've had to really show how young he was when he died. All of these things made the story and Harris's song more tragic and moving.
ReplyDeleteI thought that both songs about Emmet Till were very moving. I enjoyed the Bob Dylan song more. I thought his song was more moving. It really expressed how wrongly Emmet Till was treated. "They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat." This line really showed how the white men did not only kill Emmet, but they tortured him as well. I also believe this song was more moving because the lyrics were so much more descriptive, which made people realize how important Emmet Till's death was.
ReplyDeleteI thought that both songs powerfully captured of his story, but in different ways. Bob Dylan described everything that happened to Emmett Till, as it did, and in detail that made it seem very real. He also ended his song by talking about what should be taken away from the horrible happening, and by describing how mutilated in in human the people who carried out the crime must have been. The fact that he wrote and performed this song during the time when it happened adds more depth to his word.
ReplyDeleteEmmylou Harris portrayed the story through Emmett Till's eyes, which I found to be very powerful. Emmylou also goes through all the things that happened, but talks about the fact that Emmett's mother had the courage to present his body to the world. The way Emmylou wrapped up the song by describing the furture Emmett could have had helped bring out more meaning from her words.
Both Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris used very fitting chords that set a somber mood. In terms of musical value, Emmylou's version seems more refined, but both portray the true meaning of what happened very well.
I prefer Bob Dylan's rendition of the Emmett Till story because I feel it fully grasps the situation better. I think Dylan's song thouroughly talks about what happened while Emmylou Harris' talks about the legacy more. I think both of the aspects are important, but I feel that Dylan's makes it seem more real. I also think though writing the lyrics in the perspective of Emmett Till can be moving, I think showing the outside view that Dylan's song provides makes it extremely powerful.
ReplyDeleteI thought both songs were very moving although Bob Dylan's song resonated more with me. The reason Bob Dylan's song was so powerful was because it was very realistic and showed the horror they had done to Emmet Till. The song is also more powerful because it connects more with the reader and saying how it could be a "greater place to live." Lastly, I liked how real it was and how he said that both men ended up acquitted as a result of the jury not being fair. In summation, both songs were eloquent however Bob Dylan's song resonated with me easily because of the realness.
ReplyDeleteI personally prefer the second song because I felt that having in first person made the song more meaningful. Although the perspectives of both of them were very heart wrenching and emotional. I thought they both had a big impact and got the point across that what happened to Emmet Till was a very terible and disturbing thing.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the first song because of the lyrics are much more meaningful and personal. I also prefer it because of its proximity to the setting and time. There was more awareness for the event at the moment which probably meant he has more first hand experience with emotions about the event.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the song by Bob Dylan due to the large quantity of historical content. I also prefered that it was in proximity to the event that the song is based upon. I also enjoyed how the rhythm of the music went along with the facts.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the song by Bob Dylan, because the chords were nice, and I'm a fan of his music. It was written closer to the event, which made it more powerful. I liked his message as well.
ReplyDeleteI think both Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan's convey the tragedy in Emmett Till's death, but I prefer the song by Bob Dylan. I think that his song really goes through the story and recalls details that are uncomfortable to think about, but must be heard. It uses descriptive imagery and metaphors to explain these events. I also like that this song said that these kind of events are not obselete and that to overcome this racism, everyone must work together.
ReplyDeleteI like the Emmaylou Harris song because I like the way she told the wtory of Emmet Till
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's rendition of Emmett Till's story. This was mainly because it told a more detailed story, and it talked more about the repercussions (or lack thereof) that came to those responsible. Emmylou Harris' song was more about Emmett Till himself instead of the historical significance. By talking about the trials, and what happened to those responsible, you could get a lot more meaning out of the song. Dylan's also possessed far more detail about Till's torture and eventual murder, making the song just a little more intense. The song sounded better as well.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs tell the tragic story of Emmett Till's death, however, I prefer the Emmaylou Harris song mainly because of the tune. The lyrics were, although simpler when stating the events regarding his death, very meaningful. Also the intrumental accompaniment conveyed a sad feeling so it added to the emotion of the story and song. Also, the manner in which she sang the song made the lyrics more intense. I felt that the lyrics were geared towards discribing Emmett's recollection of the events, while the other song described the events from a 3rd person's perspective. Lastly, Harris' song repeated the fact that Emmett was only a child, which continued to remind the listener of the extreme segregation rules of Mississippi in 1855.
ReplyDeleteI think that both songs have a interesting way they portray Emmet Till's story, but I will have to say I like Bob Dylan's song more. I feel like his was very detailed and I am also more of a fan of the music style.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Emmaylou Harris song because I think with such a sad event the slower tune fit the song better. With the Bob Dylan song I think the song almost had a happier tune which was kind of strange way to portray the song.
ReplyDeleteI thought the bob dylan song was better because it was more alive and spoke more strongly to me about the extent of lynching
ReplyDeleteIhink that the Bob Dylan song was better because it made me feel like lynching is a horrible thing and that it should be stopped.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bob Dylan's song was better because it was more real and brought it to the present. He was very deliberate and was honest with the facts. He understood what had happened with the trial and their motives and told the truth. He focused more on the actual issue of segregation instead of the actual story and ended with a goal for everyone to live up to.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Emmaylou Harris song was better because it was more touching and didn't just tell his story like the Bob Dylan song did, it was told from his perspective. This made it more real and made you feel more empathetic towards Emmet Till. Lastly, I believe it was better because it described what his life could have been like if he wasn't killed, which was very touching.
ReplyDeleteI liked Emmaylou Harris's song better because it explained the whole story and what happened afterwards. I liked how it said what could become of him instead of actually what happened. The song also sounded sad compared to Bob Dylan's song which sounded happier which wasn't appropriate for this kind of subject. It told the story about his mother opening the casket for the whole world to see which was an important action instead of just telling what happened like in the Bob Dylan song. It also told some of his background like where he was from and that he wouldn't understand the Mississippi ways. I liked her song better because it explained more about the whole entire story instead of a small portion.
ReplyDeletei think that Bob Dylan's song was better because it told the story more in detail it seemed even if it was a gruesome story. i also liked how towards the end it posed a warning to the audience saying that you mustn't contribute to this because if you do in any way, you could become as bad as the murderers of this poor boy. it says to the audience that we must do something to fix this so people aren't killed because of the color of their skin. it is good that this song inspires anger and hate towards the laws that let this happen and let these horrible men go free because this boy was black and they were white. finally, it raises awareness about whats happening in the south to the north which if done earlier possibly could've prevented Emmet's death.
ReplyDeleteBob Dylan's rendition of the Emmett Till story was the one that I liked better, for I think that it the situation better. I believe Bob Dylan's song talks more about what occurred, while Emmylou Harris' is more about the legacy. I think both sides are important but I feel that Dylan's makes it seem more real. I also believe that writing from the first person perspective of Emmet is a good technique, showing the third person view that Dylan's song provides makes it extremely powerful.
ReplyDeleteI really thought both songs were very intriguing and gave insight into different parts of Emmet Till. Bob Dylan's sing explained more about what actually happened and Emmylou Harris sang about the significance of Till and how it affected the Civil Right Movement. If I had to pick one, I would pick Emmylou's song because it covered more than Dylan's. it told the story of Till and how his life changed the cause for the movement against segregation and violence against African Americans
ReplyDeleteI believe that Emmaylou Harris's song of Emmett Till's story was the one I preferred. They both were great songs that captured the unfairness of what happened to a black boy for speaking to a white woman. Emmaylou Harris's version was more tragic, and it felt like she fell more into the words of here music. I also enjoyed her lyrics more, because it really focused on the boy's life. It really showcased how innocent he was and it gave emotion to the the listener.
ReplyDeleteI thought both songs were really well sung, but I like the song by Emmylou Harris more. I like it more because I think when she sings it it tells a story and is a song as well. Bob Dylan's is more just him telling a story and playing a guitar with the same melody over and over again. Emmylou Harris also I think has a beautiful voice which fit the song.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bob Dylan's version of the song was much more of a story, and it gave the details about the corruptness of the government, while the newer version of the song seemed to be made as more of a song, and had more song components. The first one described in much more detail the situation that the song was about, and the second one is still a good song, but doesn't describe it as well.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song more than Emmylou Harris' version. In my opinion, his song did a better job of replicating the feel of the events at that time. The latter half of both songs went into more detail about the importance of Emmett's death. The message of Dylan's song was a lot more powerful to me, as it stated how Till's death is a reminder of the ongoing Civil Rights issue regarding segregation of African Americans in our country.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Emmylou's song. I think she really made a connection to us as the audience by talking about what could've happened in the future for Till. In our lives, we take the fact that we get to grow up and live a full life for granted. But, this song shows that even a child our age can be brutally murdered for completely unrealistic reasons. It also makes us sad to hear that such a fun-loving and happy person's life can get turned around in an instant, with a bad even such as this happening. It makes a difference also, because it reminds us that even though we have made many steps to overcome boundaries such as these, we still have a long way to go, both in the law and in people. It also reminds us to never let something like this happen again. In conclusion, I preferred the song by Emmylou, because it made good connections, and it talked about what could've been if Till hadn't been murdered.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Bob Dylan's song because it was more of a call for change. While he was singing he sounded angry about what had happened to Emmett Till, while Emmylou just sounded mournful. Both are appropriate, especially seeing the times that the songs were written in. However, I think Bob Dylan's song was a lot more important to the time period. I also think, seeing the time of segregation he was in, how brave it was for him to speak up about the issue because, sadly, people would listen to him more. However, both songs are moving ways to remember the injustice of Emmett Till's murder.
ReplyDeleteI preferred Bob Dylan's song. In my opinion he really made the story of Emmet till stand out and make you feel sorry for what happened to poor Emmet. In Dylan's song he told the story of how the event happened, and in the order that the events happened in. He also sung the song in third person, compared to Emmylou's song who was sung in first person. I felt Dylan's song was more meaningful to me, and explained the story of Emmet Till so he would not be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Bob Dylan's song about Emmet Till was much more impactful towards the story of what happened. Bob Dylan did a great job at describing the significance of what actually happened to Emmet. Although he did do a better job at telling the actual story of Emmet Till, Emmylou Harris did a good job at telling his legacy and what could've happened if things were different. Even though both songs were great, I feel like Bob Dylan did a better job executing it through both the lyrics and the music itself.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Emmylou Harris song was more impactful because it told the story about what Emmett could have done in the future. It really connected with me and made me feel bad about what happened. She also explained the importance of his murder and told the whole story. Both songs were very inspirational, but Bob Dylan's lyrics and rhyming schemes did not properly tell the story.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Bob Dylan’s rendition of the telling of Emmett Tlil’s passing because of the story progression, the lyricism and fluidity of the song and I prefer the way his voice sounds more. The song sounds very clean and as a narration, and the description of the events make it seem much more real to me. The lyricism and syllable changes I can also appreciate. The guitar part with his vocals to me sound much cleaner and smoother than the ambient synths and “ohs” of the other song. I saved my favorite part for last however - I strongly like the call to action at the end. The reminder made this song much more meaningful and stronger to me.
ReplyDeleteAlthough both songs are very powerful, Emmylou Harris' song impacted me the most. Her song was at a slower tempo so you could really hear all the words that she sang. She told the story of Emmit Till from how she thought he would tell it. Singing the song in the first person really helped to portray how it felt to be treated differently based on the color of your skin. This version of the story also was about what life would be like for Emmit Till if he had lived passed fourteen. It also included lines about the strength that his mother showed by having an open casket. This is such a sad subject and I felt that even though both songs remembered this moment well, Emmylou Harris' fit this tragic mood better.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Emmylou Harris' song. Although Bob Dylan's sone was very powerful, Harris was able to connect with Emmet Till better by singing the song and writing the lyrics from his perspective. I liked the melody and how it started light in the beginning, and got heavier and heavier as she told Emmet's story. I also think that Bob Dylan did a very good job of creating a very powerful and deep song, I just think that Harris was able to connect with Emmet and the tragedy that was our history.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs were so interesting. I liked the Emmylou's one better. Emmylou Harris's song I felt it was at a slower pace and it was easier to understand. From me understanding the song I enjoyed it more. The song that Bob Dylan sang was in third person while Emmylou's was first person. Hearing Emmylou talking in fist person it made me think more of how brutal life was for Emmit Till. It was crazy that Emmit Till only lived 14 years. Both songs really made me think. It is crazy of how cruel blacks were treated.
ReplyDeleteI think that both of the songs are very different, and they each cover different aspects of the story. While both songs moved me, I feel that Emmylou Harris' song impacted me the most. The song was much slower and had a sad and mournful feel to it. The lyrics were written in Emmett Till's perspective, which made this song more powerful to me, because I heard the story from the perspective of the victim. Though Bob Dylan's song goes more into detail from the event, I feel that Emmylou Harris' song moved me more.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Emmylou Harris's song because it also talkes a bit about how he was sent back to his mother and how his casket was open for the whole world to see what happend to him. I feel the sond by Emmylou Harris also did a bit of a better job of making someone understand the event more.
ReplyDeleteAlthough both songs were very good, I thought that Bob Dylan's song was much more powerful in the sense that it talked about the injustice in the United States court system at the time. He told the story as if he was a bystander, watching the injustice and racial crime if it was right infant of him, which is very powerful. Bob Dylan's song all talked bout how the murderers faces and how they were smiling when they left the court house, showing how racist our court system was.
ReplyDeleteI felt that Bob Dylan's lyrics captured the horrific tragedy of Emmett Tills death well. His lyrics were heartfelt and truly captured the tragedy and heart brake most of the nation felt when they heard about Emmett Till. When I saw the horrific image of his body in his casket, Bob Dylan's song emulated my emotions.
ReplyDeleteI think both Bob Dylan's and Emmylou Harris's song's both captured the tragedy that was the death of Emmett Till. Both songs also told the series events leading up to and after the Death of Emmett Till. However I prefer Bob Dylan's song more not only because it had a catchy tune but also because it pointed out Americas flaws. Bob Dylan also explained how America still has this problem of racial injustice through groups like the KKK. After listening to Bob Dylan's song I had a burning anger to do something about the death of Emmett Till, but after listening to Emmylou Harris's song I just wanted to give up on humanity and cry.
ReplyDeleteI don't really like one song better than the other because I think that they are both very powerful. I really enjoy the lyrics and the folk song like tune to Bob Dylan's. But, I also really like how Emmylou's song is in Emmett's point of view and how the song is really about the affect of the song after his death.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs were very empowering and emotional, and they made the listener get a very image of exactly what happened to Emmet Till. They both use very descriptive words to describe the attack, and it was almost as if I was there watching the murder. In my opinion, I think Emmylou Harris' song was better, because she wrote it in his perspective and we the audience were able to hear and feel what Emmet Till was thinking before the attack, during the attack, and after the attqckl
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed both songs a lot. They were very emotional, and powerful. I liked Emmylou Harris' because it was written just recently. It shows to me that this issue is still prominent today and something that we will never forget. However, I liked Bob Dylan's song better. I liked his better, because he talked about the evil that filled the hearts of these men that did this to Emmit Till. He compared them to modern day villains like those in the KKK. I also liked how he said that what they did to him was too evil to tell. (Obviously I'm not trying to say that I'm glad it was too evil to tell, I'm saying that it is a very powerful lyric that really shines a light on what really happened.)
ReplyDeleteBoth songs brought out the true emotion of this event, but in different ways. Bob Dylan's song sounded better to me, but Emmylou's had more emotion. Bob Dylan's had me comforted and relaxed, while feeling the sandess of what it was about. Dylans's talked about the corruption and flaws of American society and government and how big of an issue racism is. It reminded me of someone screaming in sadness. Emmylou's forced the picture of the event into my eyes the whole time, and made it seem as if they were greiving right next to me. It brought more reflection on Emmit Till, his life, and what happened, rather than talking about the true meaning behind what happened, and whats going on.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs were very emotional and powerful. I think that Bob Dylan's song had more detail about what Emmit Till's death looked like, which made it a lot more understandable, and straight forward. But I felt that Emmylou Harris's song was more powerful, since she described what Emmit's life could have been like, if he hadn't been killed. She also showed that Emmit's death is still something we should remember today, since the song was written recently. For these reasons, I think that Emmylou's song brought me more emotion, and was therefore my personal favorite of the two.
ReplyDeleteI thought both songs did a very good job of telling the story of this tragic event, even though they were very different. Both artists used their art as a way to spread a message in a beautiful way. I like how Bob Dylan’s song clearly connects the event to events happening at the time it was written. I also thought it was powerful how Emmylou Harris wrote her song from the perspective of Emmett Till, and also included the life the young boy could have lived and the things he never got to do. I think the Emmylou Harris version had a stronger impact on me. It was done so much later, but still really captures the mood of the time and of the event. It also had beautiful lyrics and a beautiful tune. “Not miss all I left behind/And all that might have come. /Summer clouds above my head/The grass beneath my feet”
ReplyDeleteBoth of the songs express the sadness and shock that came during the time of Emmett Till's death. Bob Dylan's song gave a more descriptive and in-depth detail of his death. He wrote with more passion, and expression to help the reader understand the tragedy and horror that people went through at the time. This song showed the effect Emmett's death had on people and how grief struck them in the worst way. Emmylou Harris's song is more recent, and demonstrates how Emmett's death is still remembered today and that such actions that took place decades ago still have an impact on people today. I personally though that Bob Dylan's song brought more emotions because he wrote the song both literally and metaphorically to emphasize his message - the tragedy of Emmett Till's death.
ReplyDeleteI think that Bob Dylan's song is better because it is more passionate. It also sounds more from the soul than Emmylou's version because of the way the lyrics seem almost unwritten. It sounds as though Bob Dylan was just talking about this from his heart. He also paints a better image in the listener's head by using more poetic language. This brings home the feeling of unjust that goes with this song. Also, while Emmylou's song sounds mournful and sad, Bob Dylan's song sounds angry and like a call for action among his fellow citizens. Emmylou's song also sounds much more fake, in part because Emmylou does not sound like she should be singing this song; her voice sounds too innocent. Finally, the background track for each song is very different and I think the simple acoustic guitar complements the lyrics and draws less attention from the poetic style of singing. While both songs are very meaningful and touching, Bob Dylan's resonated more with me because of the more soulful lyrics and singing style.
ReplyDeleteBoth songs did a good job of describing what happened aswell as conveying the importance of this event but I prefer the Bob Dylan song more. I thought that it was interesting to have the song be in the perspective of Emmet Till, in the Emmylou Harris song. But I felt like the Bob Dylan song was more impactful Because of how it talked about the court case and gave an reminder at the end of the song on how important it is to not forget about this. He says that there are things like the Ku Klux Klan that are still around and we must try and do what we can to stop discrimination and segregation to make the U.S. better. That is why I think that the Bob Dylan song was better because it gave a valuable message at the end.
ReplyDeleteBob Dylan's song and Emmylou's bring out what happened during the event. Emmylou's song was very emotional. Bob Dylan's song was comforting, but Emmylou's talked about the flaws of American society as well as government. Emmylou's song was written much later, but shows how Emmit Till is still remembered today. She said in her song, if he had not been killed what his life would have been like today. This begins to show that even though her song was written much later, the impact that Emmit Till had on society. Both of the songs were very emotional and very insightful, but I do think that Bob Dylan's song is better because he say both literally and metaphorically about the event. Bob Dylan described the faces of the killers and how they were smiling, this was very powerful for me. That is why I think Bob Dylan's song is better.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Bob Dylan song more because the song was created during the time Emmet Till was killed, and it had an affect on people. I also liked Bob Dylan's voice more and the story of Emmets death was more powerful. Both songs told the story of Emmet in a different tone, but Bob Dylan's song told people that they needed to accept that everybody has equal rights.
ReplyDeleteI liked Bob Dylan's song more. I liked it more because I feel it captured the emotions of the time better. I also felt the guitar accompanied his voice well. It was also better because it was made during the civil rights movement.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of the two songs was the Bob Dylan song about Emmett TIll’s tragic story. I really thought it was effective to describe how horrific the story really was by being graphic about the lynch. It also shows the reactions of the white people, which were faking the trial to prove the men innocent, and knowing about it and watching like it was television (“There was screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds out on the street.”) (“But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this awful crime, And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind.”). I especially liked how he says more about how in the future we need to stand up in tragedies like these, and take a stand against discrimination in Emmett Till’s case, or whatever might appear in the future. (“But if all us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give, We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live.”).
ReplyDeleteI liked Bob Dylan's song more because I feel like it captured Emmit Till's story more. I feel like his song felt more real because it was written closer to the time Emmit Till was murdered. I also liked Bob Dylan's voice more than Emmylou Harris'.
ReplyDeleteI liked the first song by Bob Dylan more because I feel like it was made closer to its time. I like the upbeat tempo of the song. Also I believe since this song was made during segregation it probably had more of an impact coming from a white. I also felt the connection to kkk had a powerful effect at the end of the song.
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