Blind Willie Johnson

[zarq]

This is a quote from a West Wing episode. Links are mine.

Josh: "Voyager, in case it's ever encountered by extraterrestrials, is carrying photos of life on earth, greetings in fifty-five languages, and a collection of music from Gregorian chant to Chuck Berry, including "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by 1920s bluesman Blind Willie

Comments

That West Wing Quote

[anonymous]

is absolutely brilliant. In just a few sentences it conveyed so many things:

- How music is part of our defining character
- How beauty can arise from tragedy
- How suffering can strike even the most talented
- How at our best, humans can reach beyond the known stars
- That your work can outlive you and that recognition might come long after death comes calling.

Heck, there are a few more points and I've already used more words than a fictional character summed up in just a few.

[vertigelt]

Just wanted to say thanks for transcribing and posting this quote in its entirety. Each time I watch that episode of West Wing, it chokes me up. I've been listening to old Blues through Internet radio and some Blind Willie Johnson came up, and I suddenly HAD to know the full quote, but I didn't want to dig out the DVD to find it.

The other commenter nailed it: so much meaning conveyed in this single, simple story. I typically preferred Sorkin's writing to those who replaced him in the last three seasons, but this is a sample of very fine writing, which stands alone well on its own, but which is the icing on the cake to the whole episode.

Thanks again.

and the music itself makes me FEEL; i could close my eyes and never open them again