Broadside Ballads were the ipods of the 16th Century. However due to the lack of technology ballads were printed on cheap paper and widely distrubted. Broadside ballad's are rich in music history, but ballads also helped the progression of the printing press. These ballads are songs with a very common and familiar ryhthm that address a temporary issue, or ephemral issue. These issues are typically soical or political and are very powerful due to the lack of censorship the government can't put on them. However all broadside ballads weren't meant to be revolutionary, some were meaninful as well as entertaining.
John Jackson was a well respected guitarist and songwriter from Blueridge, Virginia. His broadside ballads were very rhythmic and honestly I see alot of his "style" in Hip Hop artists. John Jackson didnt keep the same melody for everysong and the subject matter changed from song to song. His joyful sound and plesant accent was so entertaining to crowds that he forced Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz to shout "I must record that man" during one of Johnson performances.
John Jackson is an amazing musician from Blueridge Virginia.
Key Words: Amazing Musician
This meaning that John Johnson not only played the guitar but he sang on top of writing the songs!! He was like Andre 3000 of the 1940's.
Johnson Composed a song called Railroad Bill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqacttmgWsg
This song didn't tackle racism or fight for freedom, however it provided a universal message of wanting to be free.
Now this is just my interpretation so I could be off but thought out the song Railroad bill is runnin, and John Jackson insists that you let Bill run. Bill Is a free spirit, and free spirts are meant to live and see the world, just like railroad bill. If you were to apply this song directly to a social issue, it would be the concept of "freedom" but freedom for all, because we all want and have the right to live freely
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