--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have sometimes thought that the mere…" description: "\"“I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery, than the rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg" --- # I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those… ![“I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery, than the reading of whole volumes of philosophy on the subject could do. I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently…” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg) > ““I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery, than the reading of whole volumes of philosophy on the subject could do. I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs. I was myself within the circle; so that I neither saw nor heard as those without might see and hear. They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness. I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing them. The mere recurrence to those songs, even now, afflicts me; and while I am writing these lines, an expression of feeling has already found its way down my cheek. To those songs I trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery. I can never get rid of that conception. Those songs still follow me, to deepen my hatred of slavery, and quicken my sympathies for my brethren in bonds. If any one wishes to be impressed with the soul-killing effects of slavery, let him go to Colonel Lloyd's plantation, and, on allowance-day, place himself in the deep pine woods, and there let him, in silence, analyze the sounds that shall pass through the chambers of his soul, - and if he is not thus impressed, it will only be because "there is no flesh in his obdurate heart." I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears. At least, such is my experience. I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery. The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.”” [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Douglass describes how slave songs reveal deep suffering and humanity, contradicting claims they indicate contentment. **In simple terms:** Songs expose the pain of slavery, not happiness. Key Takeaway Listen to cultural expressions to uncover hidden truths. Themes slavery human rights music empathy history Mood somber poignant reflective Type historical cultural When to use this quote - educators - human rights activists - musicians - students of African American history Key Concepts cultural testimony emotional resonance psychology of oppression Questions to Reflect On - How do artistic expressions shape our understanding of injustice? - Can we trust narratives that contradict dominant myths? A Different Perspective Some may view songs as coping mechanisms, not evidence of oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Frederick-douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frederick-douglass/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-often-sung-to-drown-my-sorrow-but-seldom-to-express-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/every-tone-was-a-testimony-against-slavery-and-a-prayer-to-god-for/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-often-been-utterly-astonished-since-i-came-to-the-north-to/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. 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Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness. I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing them. The mere recurrence to those songs, even now, afflicts me; and while I am writing these lines, an expression of feeling has already found its way down my cheek. To those songs I trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery. I can never get rid of that conception. Those songs still follow me, to deepen my hatred of slavery, and quicken my sympathies for my brethren in bonds. If any one wishes to be impressed with the soul-killing effects of slavery, let him go to Colonel Lloyd's plantation, and, on allowance-day, place himself in the deep pine woods, and there let him, in silence, analyze the sounds that shall pass through the chambers of his soul, - and if he is not thus impressed, it will only be because \"there is no flesh in his obdurate heart.\" I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, among slaves, as evidence of their contentment and happiness. It is impossible to conceive of a greater mistake. Slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart; and he is relieved by them, only as an aching heart is relieved by its tears. At least, such is my experience. I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery. The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frederick Douglass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-hearing-of-those-songs-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blues" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-hearing-of-those-songs-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/frederick-douglass-859_blues_i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-h_360672.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the…” — Frederick Douglass", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frederick Douglass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I have sometimes thought that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-hearing-of-those-songs-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-mere-hearing-of-those-songs-would/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```