Swannanoa Tunnel Song: Uncovering Labor History
Durham News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · The Daily News Now!
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Show Notes
Researchers uncover the true origins of the folk song Swannanoa Tunnel, tracing it back to incarcerated Black laborers who built a railroad tunnel in western North Carolina during the 1870s. The song, originally a work song, was sung to match the rhythm of their hammers, with at least 139 workers dying on the job. The discovery was made after years of research into old records and was brought to life by musician Rhiannon Giddens on stage in Atlanta. The songs raw power is preserved in a 1939 recording by William Love, a Black man who worked at Duke University. The discovery highlights the harsh lives of those prisoners and connects brutal labor history to todays tracks rolling again.
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