I've Known Rivers

written by Azizi Powell

This post is in praise of African American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) and his poem "I've Known Rivers". This post is also in praise of some of the musicians/vocalists who have interpreted that poem.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes

"First published in The Crisis in 1921, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", which became Hughes's signature poem, was collected in his first book of poetry The Weary Blues (1926)."

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
by Langston Hughes

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

-snip-

According to http://www.duboislc.org/ShadesOfBlack/LangstonHughes.html "Lincoln's determination to end slavery was said to have started when,
as a young man, he visited New Orleans for the first time." That website includes more biographical information about Langston Hughes.

-snip-

Gary Bartz NTU Troop (1973)



Uploaded by Ruhkukah5150 on Jul 26, 2010
Recorded Live. Montreux Jazz Festival 1973.

-snip-

4Hero remix: Courtney Pine - I've Known Rivers (2009)



Uploaded by 1994RapLover on Jun 16, 2009
hot jazzy remix, too fresh!

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