Appendix E. Interpretation of a song through critical thinking and using an ethical lens.
Song Title: Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll.
Artist: Bob Dylan
Genre: Folk
Stanza 1: William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll
With a cane that he twirled through his diamond ring fingers
At a Baltimore hotel society gath’rin’
And the cops where brought in and the weapon took from him
Refrain: But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Take the rag away from your face
Now ain’t the time for your tears.
Ethical Assessment:
The most unethical or immoral act happened and was portrayed in the first stanza.
An older woman was killed by a young man. Evidently he was twirling his cane and it flew through the air and bludgeoned Hattie Carroll.
Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane; that sailed through the air and came down through the room, Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle
This is the antecedent we know to be a fact. The ethical questioning begins here. The man had a cane, he twirled it, it flew in the air and struck a blow to Hattie Carol’s head.
There is no intent of murder. However, there was a killing and the cops were brought in.
Bob Dylan begins to paint a musical picture of class, wealth, servitude, humility and privilege. Humility was not a virtue for William Zanzinger. Dylan writes: he reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders, and swear words and sneering and his tongue it was snarling. William Zanzinger is described as prideful and connected to power. He is angry that the cops interrupted his night out on the town. One can almost hear his snarl as “how dare they take me off in a police car”. He is important; Hattie Carroll is not.
She was a mother and worked hard for very little reward. William Zanzinger was wealthy and privileged. He was upper class. He owned six hundred acres of tobacco fields. His family were admired and honored by society particularly in Baltimore. In a few lines Bob Dylan sings that the Zanzingers are what other nations call nobles or elites.
Dylan then begins to write and sing how the differences in class make a difference in how we judge right and wrong. For me the power of the song is that it lays bare the injustices of a class system. The constitution of the United States eloquently and concisely states “justice for all”. It does not promote more or better “justice” for those with money. The United States is seen as a place where one has equal opportunity to excel and individuals use those opportunities to build better lives for themselves, their community and the world. According to the framers of the constitution and more recently, John Rawl’s justice must be meted out with a steady hand and without prejudice. This notion of equality fairness and justice however, is artfully challenged by the song writer.
This song’s tension between humility and pride, power and service is clearly laid out. Money, prestige and political influence are stressed against humility and gratitude. This tension is the ethical dilemma that breaks in favor of the rich and powerful family known in Baltimore as the Zanzingers.
Dylan masterfully exposes the injustice in his last stanza and refrain. It is fitting and classic. The song’s story line is no longer about the injustice of Hattie Carroll’s killing and trial but about societies continuing injustice towards the humble people raising families, working and hoping for a better life.
Last Stanza: In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel
To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level
And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded
And that even the nobles get properly handled
Once that the cops have chased after and caught’em
And the ladder of law has no top and no bottom
Stared at the person who killed for no reason
Who just happened to be feelin’ that way without warnin’
And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished
And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance
William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Final Refrain: Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now’s the time for your tears.
Ethical Summary:
This is a song that questions fairness and justice in our society. Power and money may not always win the day but certainly we all know of situations where justice does not mean equality and fairness for all. Moreover, a six month sentence for killing someone is a travesty of justice and certainly not proportional for the act and arrogance intertwined with the entire situation. John Rawl’s wrote that justice keeps freedom and equality in balance. This song exposes the hypocrisy that happens to often in our justice system: the powerful have more freedom than the rest of us. When the powerful are not punished for wrongful acts, society questions the fairness of the system. Worse is that questioning becomes distrust and eventually social unrest.
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