username: mus11c

password: blues2pop

This playlist contains songs performed by ‘country’ blues musicians in two major subcategories. (These are the second and third general styles described in David Evans “The Development of the Blues." The first style he describes—from East Texas and Oklahoma—is not included here.)

One style represented on this listening list, called “Delta Blues Style”, originated in Texas, Louisiana, and tributary regions of the Mississippi Delta. Son House, Tommy Johnson, Skip James and Charley Patton show the style’s main features here. Guitarists usually strum chords steadily and simply. They sing in ways we more often associate with the blues: using gruff, spontaneous emotions, ranging from comical to painful, with a very ‘free’ sense of time. The melodic style puts a lot of emphasis on improvisation, and not so much on memorable, singable tunes.

The other is typified by Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller. Sometimes called “Piedmont-style” fingerpicking, the style involves a guitar sound with a lot of activity, and usually more than one thing going on at a time. The style is influenced by ragtime music, and usually involves a lot of syncopated rhythm. The singing, and choice of melodies, is influenced by Anglo-American folk music, popular ‘parlor’ songs, and brass band compositions that were popular in the late 19th century. (Note that “Mississippi John Hurt” got his nickname from Okeh Records producers—not inappropriately, since he could, and did, play in this Delta style—but he was a versatile musician and in these recordings he exemplifies the Piedmont style.)

Listen to these tracks with the Unit 1 readings in mind. Consider how might an audience *outside* this tradition — including all of us today — interpret these songs as evidence of a way of life, or as evidence of how these performers see themselves in the world?

Click on a link below to listen. Some link to youtube recordings, but for most links, your browser opens a quicktime player; in that case you will be asked for a username and password. Use the GENERAL username and password (not your personal account info.):

username: mus11c

password: blues2pop

Listening Due April 14: choose one from Charlie Patton (1-3), 7, 8, 11, and one from Willie McTell (12-14).

Charlie Patton’s High Water Everywhere, pt 1
Charlie Patton’s Moon Goin’ Down
Charlie Patton’s Some Summer Day
Ruth Willis and Blind Willie McTell’s Experience Blue
Son House’s Mississippi Country Farm Blues (Paramount 1930)
Skip James’ Devil Got My Woman (Paramount 1931)
Tommy Johnson’s Canned Heat Blues (Victor 1928
Mississippi John Hurt’s Stack O’Lee (Okeh 1928)
Mississippi John Hurt’s Salty Dog (Okeh 1928)
Blind Blake’s West Coast Blues (Paramount 1926)
Blind Boy Fuller’s Rag, Mama, Rag (Vocalion/Columbia 1935)
Blind Willie McTell’s Statesboro Blues (Victor 1928)
Blind Willie McTell’s Atlanta Strut (Victor 1929)
Blind Willie McTell’s Georgia Rag (Victor 1931)

“EXPERIENCE BLUES” (Ruth Willis & Blind Willie McTell)

I once loved a man, that didn’t mean me no good
Wasn’t any use stop loving, I couldn’t see why I should

I woke up one morning, walking across the floor
I’m going away to leave you baby, I don’t mean you no good no more

You didn’t mean it baby, you hadn’t no right to lie
So go baby go, and stay until you die

I’m talking about a man, a man by the name of John
He’s the meanest man, that ever lived under the sun

What you see here Jenkins, just look what you done done
Lord you treat me like my troubles have just begun

Lord you left me worried, that’s why I’m all confused
That’s why I’m singing, these old experience blues

“STATESBORO BLUES LYRICS” (Blind Willie McTell)

Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Have you got the nerve to drive papa McTell from your door

My mother died and left me reckless, my daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
Mother died and left me reckless, daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
No, I’m not good lookin’, but I’m some sweet woman’s angel child?

She’s a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way
She’s a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way
oing to leave this town, pretty mama, going away to stay

I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen?
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen?
Treated me like I was a king and she was a doggone queen?

Sister, tell your Brother, Brother tell your Auntie,
Auntie, tell your Uncle,Uncle tell my Cousin, Cousin tell my friend
Goin’ up the country, Mama, don’t you want to go??
May take me a fair brown, may take one or two more?

Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop
You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot
Reach over in the corner, hand me my travelin’ shoes
You know by that, I got them Statesboro blues?

Sister got ‘em, daddy got ‘em?
Brother got ‘em, friend got ‘em, I got ‘em
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues
I looked over in the corner, grandma and grandpa had ‘em too.

“BROKE DOWN ENGINE BLUES” (Blind Willie McTell)

Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no drivin’ wheel,
Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no drivin’ wheel.
You all been down and lonesome, you know just how a poor man feels.

Been shooting craps and gambling, momma, and I done got broke,
Been shooting craps and gambling, momma, and I done got broke,
I done pawned my pistol, baby, my best clothes been sold.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord.

I went down in my praying ground, fell on my bended knees,
I went down in my praying ground, fell on my bended knees,
I ain’t cryin’ for no religion, Lord, give me back my good gal please.

If you give me back my baby, I won’t worry you no more,
Give me back my baby, I won’t worry you no more,
Don’t have to put her in my house, Lordy, just lead her to my door.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord.

Can’t you hear me, baby, rappin’ on your door?
Can’t you hear me, baby, rappin’ on your door?
Now you hear me tappin’, tappin’ across your floor.

Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no drive at all,
Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no drive at all.
What make me love my woman, she can really do the Georgia Crawl.

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord.

Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no whistle or bell,
Feel like a broke-down engine, ain’t got no whistle or bell,
If you’re a real hot momma, drive away Daddy’s weeping spell.