Abstract
The song “In the pines” has several titles, such as “My girl”, “Where did you sleep last night”, and “Black Girl”. “In the Pines” is the representation of the folk song corresponding to many American long-standing traditions. The authorship of this famous song is unknown, but it has many covers and interpretations of artists who wanted to manifest something sacred and precious that existed in their hearts.
Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys – In the Pines (1952)
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys’ recording is considered to be extensively influential in terms of creating further bluegrass. This is the version of country singing which highly gay and exciting. The form of folk singing is observed in this version as it is full of trembling timber accomplished by the guitar tune. It seems that the singers were full of cheerful emotions and sensations that they wanted to be absorbed by their listeners (MonroeJr, 2021).
Bill Monroe, coupled with the Bluegrass Boys (Bill Monroe’s band), used yodeling and fiddles to portray the image of the train featured in this song. Bill Monroe was a resident of America, Kentucky state where the beheading of power was the current agenda. Bill Monroe tried to convert this song projecting harsh American times into a cheerful piece of music; he minimized connections to the decapitations.
Joan Baez – In The Pines (1961)
In comparison with Bill Monroe, Joan Baez’s version is rather sad than gay. Obviously, all insignias of folk music are traced here, as Baez sang in the pitch trembling voice that descended from the high tones to the low ones. This form of singing is the telling example of folk-country music accompanied by guitar playing. Joan Baez is famous for gospel and country music which elements she resorted to skillfully. Being an ardent American socialist fighting for justice and a fair attitude towards all Americans in the 1960s, she used art to convey social meanings. Her version was full of sorrow and alertness to raise Americans’ awareness of people’s rights and prospects.
Reference
MonroeJr, B. L. (2021). The birds of Kentucky. University Press of Kentucky.