Meanings of travel in the musical discourse of blues: Roosevelt “Grey Ghost” Williams and “Lonesome Traveller”

Authors

  • Josep Pedro University Complutense of Madrid, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/eutopias.0.18639

Keywords:

Musical discourse, blues, travel, hobo, African-American culture, Grey Ghost

Abstract

From a communicative, socio-semiotic and ethnomusicologic perspective, the aim of this article is to explore the construction of meaning of travel and itinerant lifestyle (hobo) in the musical discourse of blues. First we will provide a historical contextualization of travel in the African-American tradition, and then we will analyze the case of the legendary Texan musician Roosevelt «Grey Ghost» Williams (1903-1996) and his song «Lonesome Traveller», in which the hobo subject and lifestyle are represented. In this process, we will discuss the meaning of travel as an imposition and the meaning of travel as a sign of independence and freedom, finally affirming the complementarity between them.

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References

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Published

2016-12-27

How to Cite

Pedro, J. (2016). Meanings of travel in the musical discourse of blues: Roosevelt “Grey Ghost” Williams and “Lonesome Traveller”. EU-topías. A Journal on Interculturality, Communication, and European Studies, 12, 29–39. https://doi.org/10.7203/eutopias.0.18639
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Issue

VOL. 12 (2016)

Section

PERSPECTIVES

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