Jayne Cortez - How Long Has Trane Been Gone

1974 Celebrations And Solitudes
Bass - Richard Davis
Tell me about the good things
you clappin' & laughin'
will you remember or will you forget
forget about the good things
like Blues & Jazz being black
Yeah black Music
all about you
And the musicians that
write & play about you
A black brother groanin'
A black sister moanin'
and beautiful black children
ragged under-fed laughin'
not knowin
will you remember their names
or do they have no names
No lives-only products
to be used when you wanta
dance fuck & cry
You takin'-they givin'
You livin'-they creating
starving dyin' trying
to make a better tomorrow
giving you & your children
a history
But what do you care about
history-black history
and John Coltrane
NO
all you wanta do
is pat your foot
sip a drink & pretend
with your head bobbin' up & down
what do you care about acoustics
bad microphones or out of tune pianos
and noise
you the clubowners and disc jockeys
made a deal didn't you
a deal about Black Music
& you really don't give
a shit long as you take
There was a time
When KGFJ played all black music
from bird to Johnny Ace
on show after show
but what happened
I'll tell you what happened
They divided black music
doubled the money
and left us split again
is what happened
John Coltrane dead
and some of you
have yet to hear him play
How how long has that trane been gone
And how many more Tranes will go
before you understand your life
John Coltrane had the whole of
life wrapped up in B flat
John Coltrane like Malcolm
true image of black masculinity
Now tell me about the good things
I'm tellin' you about
John Coltrane
A name that should ring
throughout the projects mothers
Mother with sons
who need John Coltrane
need the warm arm of his music
like words from a father
words of comfort words of Africa
words of welcome
How long how long has that Trane been gone
John palpitating love notes
in a lost-found Nation
within a Nation
his music resounding
discovery
signed Always
John Coltrane
Rip those dead white people off your walls Black people
your walls Black people
black people whose walls
should be a hall
A Black Hall of Fame
so our children will know
will know & be proud
Proud to say I'm from Parker City, Coltrane City,
Ornette City,
Pharoah City living on Holiday street next to James Brown
Park in
the state of Malcolm
How long
How long will it take for you to understand
that Trane been gone
riding in a portable radio
next to your son lonely
Whio walks walks walks into nothing
No city No State No Home No Nothing
How long how long have black people been gone

[@GailGrantSmartSwissGuys]

I have only discovered Jayne Cortez. What a treasure. What power!

[@fatimataylor6618]

She’s one of my favorites... her poetry style and form is unmatched ❤️✊🏾

[@windel12002]

Jayne passed away Dec. 28th, 2012.....Thanks Jayne for your inspirational poetry...and your activism. RIP.

[@LaDyMaXx]

I am so blown away by this woman’s blues...the sheer power and beauty of her delivery.

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

I felt a great loss personally with her passing. I have a strong emotional, spiritual, and historical connection to Cortez. And since I, too, lived in Arizona we might've crossed paths unknowingly. Our cultural interests are so connected that I can't believe we had never met. We would've enjoyed each other's friendship, for certain. You know, once upon a time, I was up on the creative endeavors of women of color. But they've just left me in the dust! I've lost my sister!

[@mcknih1020]

Lady Word !!!!

[@duncanheining5522]

Dear Wallakat - Please post some more from this album. Dunc