"Mary Don't You Weep," Georgia field hands, Aretha Franklin

 From Boing Boing last night, posted by Xeni Jardin. It's a rainy Sunday morning; I managed to haul myself out of bed early and am now listening to Aretha's wonderful version of the song.


"'Oh Mary don't you weep,' an early film recording of unknown origin, found on YouTube with the description "Georgia Field Hands, recorded 1928-1935." More about the song, which was a sort of coded message of resistance in the American South, and seems timely today, with current events in Egypt. Thanks to NPR's Andy Carvin for the inspiration."

Lyrics here. There have been many great renditions of this song throughout the ages; Aretha Franklin's from 1972 is one of the finest to be found on YouTube."