One should keep in mind that Sam Cooke didn’t create a bad song. It has been present in several different lists that chooses the greatest songs of the century and it has been covered over the years from a range of different artists. However, the song was used in the wrong way. Instead of uplifting the listener, the lyrics dragged it down. The tone made the listener feel vulnerable at a time where the people needed someone to make them feel strong. Instead of having a purpose that listeners could use to be encouraged, the message was erratic. Other artists, like Gils Scott Heron, could understand the direction of the movement, and responded with music that accurately depicted what was going on. In the end, though the song was popular, it wasn’t
