A song went around from fiddler to fiddler and each one added something and took something away so that in time the song became a different thing from what it had been, barely recognizable in either tune or lyric. But you could not say the song had been improved, for as was true of all human effort, there was never advancement.Everything added meant something lost, and about as often as not the thing lost was preferable to the thing gained, so that over time we'd be lucky if we just broke even.Any thought otherwise was empty pride.
In this passage from "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier, the author reflects on the evolution of a song as it is passed among musicians. Each fiddler contributes their own interpretation, leading to significant changes in both melody and lyrics. Over time, the original essence of the song becomes diluted, and it can hardly be recognized in its new form. This transformation demonstrates the complexities of human creativity and the idea that progress in such endeavors is often misleading.
Frazier suggests that with each addition to the song, something is inevitably lost, and it’s not uncommon for the removed elements to be superior to the new ones. Therefore, it’s a rare outcome for the end result to be a true improvement. Such a perspective challenges the notion of advancement, highlighting that pride in perceived progress may often be misguided. Instead of celebrating evolution, it prompts a reflection on how change can sometimes lead to loss rather than gain.
