About the song
Background
- Original Composition: “Summertime” is an aria composed by George Gershwin in 1935 for the opera Porgy and Bess. The opera is set within a poor African-American community in South Carolina.
- Joplin’s Version: Joplin recorded her iconic version of “Summertime” with Big Brother and the Holding Company for their 1968 album Cheap Thrills. Her take transformed the lullaby into a gritty blues-rock anthem.
- Cultural Significance: Joplin’s “Summertime” challenged the traditional interpretation and became a symbol of the turbulent social changes of the 1960s.
Themes
- Hardship and Oppression: Despite the lullaby tone, the original lyrics hint at the harsh realities of life for the characters of Porgy and Bess: poverty, addiction, and racial oppression. Joplin’s version infuses the song with an even greater sense of struggle.
- Resilience and Hope: There’s also a sense of enduring hope woven into the original lyrics. The lullaby is a mother’s promise of better times despite present troubles. Joplin brings a defiant edge to this hope.
- Social Commentary: Joplin’s “Summertime” can be seen as a powerful comment on the ongoing civil rights struggles of the time. Her passionate, anguished performance mirrors the pain and longing for a more equal world.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at a crucial verse and its possible interpretations:
“Summertime, an’ the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ an’ the cotton is high Oh, your daddy’s rich, and your ma is good-lookin’ So hush little baby, don’t you cry”
- Traditional View: A mother soothes her child, highlighting simple pleasures and the promise of protection.
- Joplin’s Lens: Her powerful vocals infuse the lines with irony and pain. The imagery may highlight the unattainable dreams for many in her time, fueling both sadness and a desire for change.
Video
Lyrics
Summertime, time, timeChild, the living’s easyFish are jumping outAnd the cotton, LordCotton’s high, Lord, so high
Your daddy’s richAnd your ma’s so good-looking, babyShe’s looking good nowHush, baby, baby, baby, baby, babyNo, no, no, no, don’t you cryDon’t you cry
One of these morningsYou’re gonna rise, rise up singingYou’re gonna spread your wingsChild, and take, take to the skyLord, the sky
But ’til that morningHoney, n-n-nothing’s going to harm you nowNo, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, noNo, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, noNo, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, noDon’t you cryOh, ooh