Research Activity: My Favorite Song Lyrics and why I Like Them

My favorite music lyrics are the lyrics to the song "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan. The song "Hurricane" is a powerful song about the wrongful sentence of an African American boxer named Rubin "Hurricane" Carter for the murders of three white people in the 1960's.



The Lyrics to the chorus go as follows:



"Here comes the story of the Hurricane

The man the authorities came to blame

For something that he'd never done.

Put in a prison cell

But one time

He could have been

The Champion of the World..."

(I couldn't put all the lyrics because there isn't enough room. To see the entire lyrics, go to http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Bob-Dylan/Hurricane.html)



The reason I like these lyrics is because they speak about a true story of an innocent man whos life was changed forever due to something that he had nothing to do with. He was sentenced to life in prison for murders he didn't commit. This man was on the verge of becoming the middle-weight champion of Boxing, and a racist court system and prejudice jury ended his hopes forever. The song handles real life issues that were happening in America in the 1960's. Bob Dylan used his stardom and popularity to spread the word of the injustice brought upon Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and played a part in his release in the 1980's. It is the only song that I have heard that gave me chills and made me angry toward the people who aided in sending Rubin Carter to prison, and made me feel embarrased to be white.



Bob Dylan's "Hurricane" is one of a kind, and there will never be a song as powerful and thought provoking as "Hurricane". I hope every American can hear this song, so they know what Rubin Carter had to go through, and how racism corrupted the Southern Court System. After I heard this song, I found out Rubin Carter was actually released from prison in the 1980's. It was decided his sentence was based on prejudice, and in modern court there was virtually no evidence that Rubin Carter was guilty. When Rubin Carter was released, he was given an honorary Boxing championship belt in 1993 by the World Boxing Council in Las Vegas, and I'd like to think Bob Dylan's song "Hurricane" had something to do with it.






Rubin "Hurricane" Carter