Loss of Innocence in "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" by Waylon Jennings

Hank Williams should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because he changed the face of country music at a young age, he is one of the most iconic country artists in history, and has many songs that are timeless; a lot of which are about relationship problems that he had. Hiram “Hank” Williams was born in September 17th, 1923 in Mount Olive, Alabama with a spinal problem called spina bifida; causing him to start drinking alcohol and taking drugs to relieve the pain when he’s older. Hank Williams’ parents are Lon and Lillie Williams. His father was a logger and entered the Veterans Administration hospital when Hank was six, he didn’t see his father much over

When songwriters begin to pen the lyrics of a song, I believe their ultimate goal is to transcend time in hopes of reaching listeners for generations to come. J.R. Cash, professionally known as Johnny Cash, wrote a song that did just that. “Ragged Old Flag” is a patriotic song that speaks to every generation. Written in 1974, “Ragged Old Flag” was meant to tell the story of our country. Johnny Cash recorded “Ragged Old Flag” live at the House of Cash. Cash wanted the song to be recorded live because it was raw, untouched, and unapologetically real. The basis of this analysis is to show how patriotism spans generations, but also why a song such as, “Ragged Old Flag” is an important part of patriotism in the United States of America.

In the beginning, there is very little light. It is almost dusk, and the speaker describes the smell as “dark” (7). Towards the middle and end there are various lights: lanterns, lamplight, fireflies, lamp (9, 11, 13, 20). This change over time depicts the storyteller’s significance to the speaker, because she brought enlightenment to his life. In this poem, light is a metaphor for knowledge, while darkness is a metaphor for ignorance. At the end, the old wise storyteller, who is the embodiment of wisdom, “was the lamplight” (20). In contrast, the two boys, who are young and ignorant, are “in one shadow” (21). The juxtaposition of light with darkness shows that the speaker and storyteller are opposites in their insight. Additionally, it is strange that she is a light before them, yet they are still shadowed. What is blocking the light from them? This metaphor illustrates that it takes time for people to become sage like their elders. As the speaker says, adulthood is “childhood’s aftermath,” which means that the knowledge people gain in childhood will lead them to be wise adults such as the storyteller

Song of the South is a movie based off of “Uncle Remus” a book about the stories of Br’er Rabbit. In the book, Brer Rabbit has many encounters with Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. The stories about Brer Rabbit include The Tar Baby, Brer Rabbit Earns a dollar per minute, and Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin Place.Then in 1946 Walt Disney made a movie based on the book. The movie has many songs that have an uplifting feeling to them like Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, Everyone’s got a Laughin Place, and How Do You Do. Some songs were forgotten but Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah remained a classic Disney Song. But when The movie was then re-released into theater weeks after the release because of the racist comments it made. Many people thought it was not necessary but others did

Hank Williams Jr. was born on May 26, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father was country music star Hank Williams, now known as Hank Williams Sr., who unfortunately died when Hank was merely three years old. In his youth, Hank was expected to live up to his father’s legacy, which put a lot of pressure on him. His mother tried to mold him into a younger version of his father, but though he wanted to be in the country music business he did not like his father’s style and sound. Hank wanted to have his own style and music, for some this was difficult, they preferred for him to continue the legacy of his father by playing Hank Sr’s music. For twenty three years he endured the pressure of being just like his father until he attempted suicide,

Hank Williams was the most significant figure to emerge in country music during the immediate post World War II period.(Starr Pg. 237) Country music is a genre that came from the United states in the 1920s from the southeastern area. Most of it’s origin comes from folk music and many of the instruments that were used to play country music back in the day were a banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, or an auto harp. Country music also happened to be one of the first genres of modern American popular music. Hank Williams also known as Hiram King Willams was born in Mount Olive, Alabama on September 17, 1923. When Hank was around eight years old he was given his first guitar and started to take music lessons from blues singer Rugus Payne also known as Tee Tot. After learning how to write his own songs and play the guitar

Day night, ragtime musicdanced out of the neighborhood honky-tonks. At night, Little Louis fell asleep to the sad songs of the local blues singers. Those sorrowful songs sounded like they were full of all the pain in the world.

Many country music artists looked up to Johnny Cash such as, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Johnny cash took on the toughest gigs in town. He even played at the prison where he definitely left an imprint. Johnny Cash recorded many of his songs at “Columbia Records”. Kris

     Another popular song was “Dixie’s Land”. It was a northern minstrel song, which caught on in the south. The writer of

Being in a light you’ve never seen scares you. Life is a real mystery that you can never solve, but can always learn from

In the story Scout has many experiences. A few of these experiences consist of sneaking around with her brother to get a peek at the infamous Arthur (Boo) Radley, a man who was constantly locked away in his home during the day, who the children feared, but also found curiosity in. Another experience would be when she watched the court trial of Tom Robinson, an African- American man who was put on trial of raping a woman, a man who her father was defending. One other would be when an insane man, Robert Ewell made an attempt on her life and her brother’s, however

Scout begins as a child who isn’t really aware of the situations surrounding her environment. As most kids do she uses her imagination to suffice for much more important topics. For example, her neighbor who they refer to as “Boo Radley” is seen as a crazy murdering psychopath who roams the streets at night looking for food. Scouts interpretation of Boo Radley is nothing more but a clear instance of a young child settling for their own imaginations. Another instance of immaturity

Though traces of darkness remain, a bright new day has just begun. I am ready to enter its awaiting

The music often features elements such as a twang or yodel. Also heard are elements of some of the musical forms that are the roots of the country style, including folk ballads, Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, and European immigrant musical traditions. Common themes in country music are present in the lyrics of many of the songs performed, such as cowboy songs, prison and outlaw laments (Doin’ my Time by Earle Scruggs, Foggy Mountain Boys, Lester Flatt), heartbreak (Sea of Heartbreak, By Don Gibson), wanderlust (Waiting for a Train, by Jimmie Rodgers), loneliness, (I wonder where you are tonight by Hank Snow), drinking, and the hard life of the working class people (Down in the Old Coal Mine, by Larry Sparks).

“This land is made for you and me.” That famous song was brought into the world by folk singer Woody Guthrie on day in 1944. He is famous also for being poor when he was young and having both parents leave him at 14 with no money or home. He became a hobo traveling town to town and that’s when he picked up his first guitar. He taught himself to play and eventually was a songwriter inspiring people everywhere. He has also voiced a famous quote that says “I hate a song that makes you think you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim. Too ugly or too this or too that. I'm out to fight those songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood. I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to