"You could hear him, literally, half a mile away when he opened up. He was at his peak then. He was, naturally, dying to get out of the place he was in, and he recorded for us his appeal for pardon to the governor"

This quote is referring to a prisoner Alan Lomax recorded in the 1930s. The detainee was so passionate and desperate to be pardoned that his voice could be heard from half a mile away. This recommends that the prisoner was at his peak in terms of emotion and desperation. He was desperate to be released from the jail and used the recording as a way to attract the guv for a pardon. This quote highlights the power of music and how it can be utilized to express emotion and communicate a message. It also demonstrates how effective the human voice can be and how it can be used to make a difference. Alan Lomax's quote is a testimony to the power of music and the human voice.