Steven Nichols, professor at Lancaster Bible College,  has written a very interesting  book about the musical form commonly called, “The Blues”.

The book provides a selective and interesting history of this uniquely African American musical form.  While it was not the author’s intent to provide a history of the musical genre, it serves as a great introduction for someone who is not familiar with the music.

The Blues is more than just music.  It is a song of the human condition; physically, socially and spiritually from a uniquely African American perspective.  It is a window into the depravity of man and both external and internal oppression.  Through the words and music of Blues music we experience the full range of emotions and reactions to man’s condition, whether it be by the oppressor or the oppressed.  In it we feel the reaction of the soul to sin.  

To the author, parts of the Bible are typical of  “blues” music.  Nichols transcends time as he outlines the “groanings” of David, Nehemiah and  Naomi in Chapters titled “Man of Sorrows” and “Woman of Sorrows”.  In each case he points the reader to how these Biblical characters struggled with earthly despair and sin but how God found and saved them.

The author is clearly a fan of Blues music.  He includes snippets of his own Blues poetry along with the narrative.   His enthusiasm comes through in the writing, sometimes a little too much as he tends to justify the actions and reactions of some of the musicians in their sinful behaviors.  However, he does catch himself, adding some  parenthetical commentary.  Yet in a way, this is the key to understanding the book.  If the reader puts himself in the shoes of the early Blues singers, there is an overwhelming rush of emotion.  Getting caught up in it is natural.  I found myself doing the same. 

I think the heart of the book is Nichol’s statement on the Blue’s connection to Christ”

“The Blues is also Christ-haunted, although not entirely in the same way as the spiritual [speaking of the traditional musical form typically called the “Negro Spiritual”].   In the latter, Jesus while not always mentioned, is known to be there; the buoy in the time of storm.  In the Blues, Jesus could be the buoy in the time of storm, or the one who would take burdens away.  He could be the one who would bring divine expectation into the historical present.  Sometimes that Christ-haunted nature of the Blues lies deep beneath the surface, which is to say, sometimes it’s hard to find.  But at other times,  that which is Christ-haunted becomes rather transparently Christ-present.” 

I take this to mean that life from the perspective of the singer, is reflected in the lyrics  and/or the music.  Likewise the “hope” crying out, either directly or indirectly, is found in listeners heart.  Where the affections of the listener’s heart lie dictates where the hope will be found, whether it be in a bottle, or in a Savior.  As the book pointed out, sadly many of the great early Blues singers found their hope in a bottle. 

Among the many things I learned, the two that stick out are:

  1. Dietrich Bonheoffer’s discovery and love of the Blues and Spirituals.
  2. BB King’s recollection of the German POW’s working the cotton fields during World War II.  It was eye opening to learn that the enemy POW’s were treated better than the Black sharecroppers!

I think the book succeeds in it’s premise in answering “What Blues Music Teaches Us About Suffering and Salvation”, in an interesting way.  The chapters will take you through a range of emotions.  Read it not as a theology text nor as pure history.  Rather as you read it, be conscious of your responses to the social conditions and injustice and evaluate them in light of the Gospel.  As I read it, there were times when my hope was not in Christ but I found myself saying, “yes, I probably would have responded in that way.”  The value of the book isn’t in its theology or historical portrayal but in asking yourself, if you were faced with the same circumstances, where would your hope lie? 

Read more information about or purchase “Getting the Blues”  here.

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