Maura Lyum
Professor Anderson
English 10C
May 14, 2018
Blog Post #2: Sonny’s
Themes in Drown In My Own Tears
One song that comes to mind in relation to James Baldwin’s
“Sonny’s Blues” is “Drown In My Own Tears” by Ray Charles. This song conveys
the same sorrow and grief evoked in the music that Sonny and his friends play. Sonny
dreamed of becoming a musician but his family didn’t seem to support him in his
strife. It almost felt like they say his dream as a lost cause and he would nowhere
as musician. Through the music played at the end, the narrator feels all the
pain and sadness that comes out in Sonny’s piano playing. Music has a way of
touching the mind and heart in different ways. In Ray Charles song, he sends
the message of missing jazz in music. It appears to be a huge part of his life.
Even with the slow but strong playing of the piano it brings to mind the image
of a sorrowful man who has lost something. In addition, it seems like he is
trying to paint the picture of walking in a down pour of rain. Rain meant to
have a kind of cleansing feeling similar to clears the mind of the music. It is
just the musician and the instrument playing their song. This song could be a
disconnection of Jazz in Ray’s life. As if he has lost his way and love for Jazz,
but then within his song “Drown In My Own Tears” he reconnects with the music. Like
Sonny and Ray, music has a way of retelling traumatic or wonderful times in their
lives. In one moment for Sonny, he feels restrained and troubled by the piano.
This could be because he is out of practice but it could also be the “leashes” that
tied him from perusing Jazz. Sonny had many obstacles to overcome when perusing
his talent as a pianist. His family wanted him to stick to the normal route of
going to school and studying to be something better than a musician. His music
rises and fall in conjunction with the painful memories convey throughout the
song. For Ray, the song has crescendos and decrescendos throughout, depicting the
ups and downs Jazz had on his life. Jazz always seems the have that high and
low feeling. One phrase in particular, “I’m so blue / Here without you” depicts
his longing for music. It seems without Jazz he is missing a piece of his true
self, like Sonny. Later, in the song he says, “Oh yes so I won’t / Be all alone”,
as if to say he is not alone when he has music. Music here is like a companion,
with the ability to tell a person’s story that all who listens to it can relate
to in some way. Sonny and Ray’s souls are connected by music. Music gave their
lives meaning and without they would become unknown to the world. Not only did
it given them purpose but joy. For Sonny especially, music gave his freedom and
a voice.
Towards
the end of the scene in “Sonny’s Blues”, the narrator realizes what Sonny was
meant to be and who he was just from listening to Sonny play. Music made him
happy and made those who listened happy as well. Who does want to listen to
some smooth Jazz? Sonny appeared to have power and more emotion that just
talking to him. All that Sonny ever wanted to convey was spoken through the language
of music. Everyone understands music, not just the ability to read notes on a
music sheet or listen to the emotion, the story being told. In “Drown In My Own Tears”, the same feeling
is portrayed in the notes. The heavy drops in the piano to the slow beat of the
drums all convey this sorrowful moment in his life. Music tends to bring people
together despite their differences. Sonny’s music, in particular, brings his
community together, and allows for others to seem that you can make it as
anything you want if you have the passion. This same passion is in “Drown In My
Own Tears” brings and band of people together that all understand the pain of losing
something that was huge part of their life. Jazz and music in general may have
made large impact on Ray’s life which made him a great musician. A life without
music is rhythm-less. Sometimes there are songs that speak out to a person and
can convey every feeling or memory. If the song is good, listen to it ten times
over.
Maura, I think you did a fantastic job in comparing “Sonny’s Blues” to Ray Charles’ “Drown In My Own Tears.” I agree with your idea that Charles and Sonny both use jazz music as a way to express their grief and sorrow. As I was listening to Charles’ song, I could hear and feel the emotion in his voice. When he sings “I’m so blue / Here without you,” he almost screams it out, and you can feel the sorrow in his voice. And I think this is also true in Sonny’s song, even though there are no words. However, in Sonny’s case, it is his piano playing that expresses the same grief that Charles’ voice does. I also loved your point about jazz music being a part of these two musician’s lives. Charles’ sings about the pain he feels after he realizes that something has been gone from his life, and it could be concluded that this “something” is jazz. Charles feels “blue” without it, and wants it back. He realizes that jazz completes him, and gives him meaning. This is also the same for Sonny, who feels like music (like you said) gives him “freedom and a voice.” I also enjoyed your discussion about the rhythmic similarities between both songs. The drops in piano and the downtempo beat of the drums all convey a sense of sadness in Charles’ music. The rhythm of his song conveys emotion, just like Sonny’s song also conveys grief (and later joy). Overall, I think you did a great job, and you brought up a lot of awesome points!
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