I Say Me For A Parable - Softcover

Lipscomb, Marice

Softcover

ISBN 10: 030680610X ISBN 13: 9780306806100

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 1995

Synopsis

Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976), the son of a former slave, lived almost his whole life in Navasota, Texas, supporting himself and his family by tenant farming cotton, plowing, and picking "from caint ta caint" (can't see to can't see) for a meager return. But he was also a superb "gittah" player, singer, and songwriter who played the blues at countless "Satiddy Night Suppas," where rural blacks celebrated the end of the hard workweek and blew off steam. Theirs was a life beset with racism and brutality, but redeemed by an indomitable spirit and a resilient sense of humor, of which Mance's was a sterling example. In 1960 Mance Lipscomb was "discovered" by Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records, who taped his songs in his own home and issued a record. This led to a debut appearance before 41,000 people at the Berkeley Folk Festival in 1961 - and instant musical celebrity. Mance traveled all over the country playing his music and influencing such musicians as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Ry Cooder, and Taj Mahal. But he always remained rooted in the life of Navasota. "I say me for a parable" means, roughly, "I use myself as an example." In this book Mance tells his own story in his own authentic language, as a representative of a hard yet rich way of rural African-American life and as a creator and purveyor of a music that has conquered the globe. Of special note are the "go-alongs" (or chapters) that relate Mance's adventures with the legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who rid Navasota of its virulent violence against blacks before he went on to capture Bonnie and Clyde, and that tell of his times in "this music bizness," including a command performance for Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow on their yacht.

About this title

From the Back Cover

There has in recent years been an explosion of interest in blues music and its brilliant creators. No other form of music is more deeply rooted in the realities of American life or more expressive of its joys and sorrows. Mance Lipscomb (1895-1976), the son of a former slave, lived almost his whole life in Navasota, Texas, supporting himself and his family by tenant farming cotton, plowing, and picking "from caint ta caint" (can't see to can't see) for a meager return. But he was also a superb "gittah" player, singer, and songwriter who played the blues at countless "Satiddy Night Suppas", where rural blacks celebrated the end of the hard workweek and blew off steam. Theirs was a life beset with racism and brutality, but redeemed by an indomitable spirit and a resilient sense of humor, of which Mance's was a sterling example. In 1960 Mance Lipscomb was "discovered" by Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records, who taped his songs in his own home and issued a record. This led to a debut appearance before 41,000 people at the Berkeley Folk Festival in 1961 - and instant musical celebrity. Mance traveled all over the country playing his music and influencing such musicians as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Ry Cooder, and Taj Mahal. But he always remained rooted in the life of Navasota. "I say me for a parable" means, roughly, "I use myself as an example". In this book Mance tells his own story in his own authentic language, as a representative of a hard yet rich way of rural African-American life and as a creator and purveyor of a music that has conquered the globe. Of special note are the "go-alongs" (or chapters) that relate Mance's adventures with the legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who ridNavasota of its virulent violence against blacks before he went on to capture Bonnie and Clyde, and that tell of his times in "this music bizness", including a command performance for Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow on their yacht. I Say Me for a Parable is a major document in Southern folk-lore, a monument to a vanished way of life, a touching extended self-portrait by a world-class storyteller and word spinner, and probably the most authentic account of the real roots of the blues ever put to paper. What All God's Dangers is to sharecropping, I Say Me for a Parable is for country blues.

From Kirkus Reviews

The oral autobiography of black East Texas farmer and songster Mance Lipscomb--a life that's one of the great American stories. Lipscomb (1895-1976) knew how to tell a tale, and had incredible tales to tell--about race and genealogy; about his allegiance to his part-Choctaw mother; about epic beatings by his father (who could play a cigar-box fiddle like a heavenly harp). The musician also speaks here about having his best friend, a cousin, and many acquaintances murdered by whites; about Frank Hamer, the Texas lawman who killed Bonnie and Clyde and who made Lipscomb his assistant and confidant when Lipscomb was ten years old; about farming (there's a dramatic account of share croppers readying mules to plow in the 4:00 a.m. darkness); about causing mass catharsis among 41,000 listeners when he played ``Motherless Children'' in Berkeley--ending his first-ever concert after just three songs. Lipscomb also demonstrates impressive insight into the structure of, and influences on, his musical style. But it was a mistake for editor-transcriber Alyn to begin with talk about Lipscomb's religious philosophy rather than to let that philosophy unobtrusively inform the narrative throughout. Moreover, Alyn's attempt to preserve Lipscomb's colorful speech through nonstandard spellings seems to trivialize his subject, and sometimes confuses (for instance, when ``rail'' is written for ``real,'' or ``miny'' for ``many''). Still, gratitude is owed Alyn for preserving Lipscomb's remarkable story. (Photos) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 030680610X
• ISBN 13: 9780306806100
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 508