Meaning of field holler | Babel Free

Definitions

A slow, introspective African-American song type that has its origin in solo work songs, featuring a meandering melody, irregular rhythms, and various forms of wordless vocalization.

Examples

“They made up field hollers with long, sad, wailing blue notes in their voices that said how tired a man can be.”

“The emergence of classic blues indicated that many changes had taken place⟳ in the Negro. His sense⟳ of place⟳, or status, within the superstructure of American society had changed radically since the days of the field holler.”

“I was terrified that once loose, once I lifted or lost my control⟳, I would rise⟳ from my seat and dance⟳ like⟳ a puppet, up and down the aisles. I would open⟳ my mouth, and screams, shouts and field hollers would tear⟳ out my tongue in their rush⟳ to be free.”

“[…] she moans the remaining lines unhurriedly and with staggering self-possession, stretching out the vowels as if intoning a field holler.”

CEFR level