"A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke: Stasis Theory

 Stasis theory can be found in all types of mediums, including songs. Although music may seem like an unlikely method, Sam Cooke utilized stasis theory in "A Change Is Gonna Come" to convey his message in a way people would remember. The first canon, generating arguments, exists through Cooke's response to the ongoing racial situation of the time. His song preaches to the people who've lost hope, ensuring them that their struggles will not last much longer. His arrangement of his argument takes a narrative approach, that helps listeners remember his message by the little stories he weaves into his lyrics, such as going downtown and being told not to stay too long. Cooke expresses his argument with language in his lyrics that any black person of the 60's can understand and relate to. By choosing to express his argument through song, he ensured its lasting effects, as great pieces of music are often remembered for years to come. Even today, people know his song, whether it be because of the powerful message it held, or just the musical beauty of it. He did a good job of making sure his piece of rhetoric would last beyond its time.
-Amrita Mitra