Project 5: Can the Circle Be Unbroken

Lyrics:
(The Carter Family / Clarence Ashley & Doc Watson)

I was standing by my window

On one cold and cloudy day

And I saw the hearse come rolling

For to carry my mother away

Can the circle be unbroken

Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Oh, I told the undertaker

Undertaker, please drive slow

For this body you are hauling

How I hate to see her go

Can the circle be unbroken

Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

I followed close beside her

Tried to hold up and be brave

But I could not hide my sorrow

When they laid her in the grave

Can the circle be unbroken

Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Went back home Lord, my home was lonesome
missed my mother she was gone
all my brothers, sisters cry in'
What a home so sad and lone

Can the circle be unbroken

Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky

I found the Carter Family's version of the song very interesting because it has an upbeat tempo to convey a song about death (and potential rebirth or life in heaven). It almost makes me forget about the content of the song and encourages me to hum along with a happy tune. This reminded me of Adorno's writings about popular music -- popular music distracts listeners from the realities and responsibilities of their own lives and gives them a temporary (and false) sense of happiness or relaxation. It seems the core of the song is showing that despite the death, she will be going to a better place in the sky -- the hope outweighs the sadness.
However, Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson's version slows down the tempo, making the song more emotional. It sounds somewhat like a plea, asking the Lord if the circle will be unbroken and grasping at the idea that "There's a better home a-waiting/in the sky." The careful layering of deeper voices makes the song seem more haunting and dramatic -- sounds like people are personally affected by the death of the mother. In this version, it seems sadness is more prevalent than hope.

For this project, I responded more to Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson's version of the song. I wanted to explore a darker and more illustrative side -- something very Supernatural-esque. I added a woman in white to represent the spirit of the mother, since I've always been intrigued by that myth and it's countless versions.