The Country BluesThe Country Blues

The Country BluesThe Country Blues

Also referred to as “rural,” “down-Also referred to as “rural,” “down-home,” or “folk” blueshome,” or “folk” blues

– Itinerant male folksingers traveled the Itinerant male folksingers traveled the rural South/Delta region.rural South/Delta region.

– The blues was the music of this The blues was the music of this impoverished black work force.impoverished black work force.

– The rural musicians who played this The rural musicians who played this style of music were not recorded until style of music were not recorded until the mid-1920s.the mid-1920s.

Charley Patton and “Tom Charley Patton and “Tom Rushen Blues” (1929)Rushen Blues” (1929)

Charley Patton (ca. 1881–1934)Charley Patton (ca. 1881–1934)– One of the earliest known pioneers of the One of the earliest known pioneers of the

Mississippi Delta blues styleMississippi Delta blues style– The son of sharecroppersThe son of sharecroppers– A charismatic figure whose performance A charismatic figure whose performance

techniques included rapping on the body of techniques included rapping on the body of his guitar and throwing it into the airhis guitar and throwing it into the air

– His powerful rasping voice, strong danceable His powerful rasping voice, strong danceable rhythms, and broad range of styles made him rhythms, and broad range of styles made him ideal for Saturday night dances and all-day ideal for Saturday night dances and all-day picnics.picnics.

Listening: “Tom Rushen Listening: “Tom Rushen Blues” Blues”

Performed by Charley PattonPerformed by Charley Patton Recorded in 1929 by Paramount RecordsRecorded in 1929 by Paramount Records Twelve-bar form Twelve-bar form Three chordsThree chords AAB text (with a few minor variations, typical of AAB text (with a few minor variations, typical of

rural blues performances)rural blues performances) Patton sings in the rough, heavy voice typical of Patton sings in the rough, heavy voice typical of

Delta blues.Delta blues. His emphatic approach to guitar playing is also His emphatic approach to guitar playing is also

representative of the style. representative of the style. The lyrics focus on Charley Patton’s overnight The lyrics focus on Charley Patton’s overnight

incarceration in the Bolivar County, Mississippi, incarceration in the Bolivar County, Mississippi, jailhouse, after being arrested for drinking jailhouse, after being arrested for drinking moonshine. moonshine.

Listening: “Tom Rushen Listening: “Tom Rushen Blues”Blues”

Lay down last night, hopin’ I would have my peaceLay down last night, hopin’ I would have my peaceI lay down last night, hopin’ I would have my peaceI lay down last night, hopin’ I would have my peaceBut when I woke up, Tom Rushing was shakin’ meBut when I woke up, Tom Rushing was shakin’ me

When you get in trouble, it’s no use to screamin’ and cryin’When you get in trouble, it’s no use to screamin’ and cryin’When you gets in trouble, it’s no use to screamin’ and cryin’When you gets in trouble, it’s no use to screamin’ and cryin’Tom Rushing will take you back to Cleveland a-flyin’Tom Rushing will take you back to Cleveland a-flyin’

It was late one night, Holloway was gone to bedIt was late one night, Holloway was gone to bedIt was late one night, Holloway was gone to bedIt was late one night, Holloway was gone to bedMr. Day brought whiskey taken from under Holloway’s headMr. Day brought whiskey taken from under Holloway’s head

Listening: “Tom Rushen Listening: “Tom Rushen Blues”Blues”

Awww it’s boozey-booze now, Lord, to carry me throughAwww it’s boozey-booze now, Lord, to carry me throughIt takes boozey-booze Lord to carry me throughIt takes boozey-booze Lord to carry me throughThirty days seem like years in the jailhouse when there is no Thirty days seem like years in the jailhouse when there is no

boozebooze

I got up this mornin’, Tom Day was standin’ ’roundI got up this mornin’, Tom Day was standin’ ’roundI got up this mornin’, Tom Day was standin’ ’roundI got up this mornin’, Tom Day was standin’ ’roundIf he lose his office now he’s runnin’ from town to townIf he lose his office now he’s runnin’ from town to town

Let me tell you folkses just how he treated meLet me tell you folkses just how he treated meI’m gonna tell you folkses just how he treated meI’m gonna tell you folkses just how he treated meAw he dogged me here an’ I was drunk as I could beAw he dogged me here an’ I was drunk as I could be

Blind Lemon Jefferson: The Blind Lemon Jefferson: The First Country Blues StarFirst Country Blues Star

Born in TexasBorn in Texas Traveling blues performerTraveling blues performer First records released in 1926First records released in 1926 East Texas styleEast Texas style

– Vocal quality is more nasal and clearer than Vocal quality is more nasal and clearer than Mississippi Delta style.Mississippi Delta style.

– Guitar accompaniments are sparse and less Guitar accompaniments are sparse and less rhythmically steady.rhythmically steady.

– The guitar is used as an extension of the voice.The guitar is used as an extension of the voice.– There is little feeling of chord progressionThere is little feeling of chord progression——

more single-note playing and less strumming more single-note playing and less strumming of chords.of chords.

Listening: “That Black Snake Listening: “That Black Snake Moan” Moan”

Written and performed by Blind Lemon Written and performed by Blind Lemon JeffersonJefferson

Recorded by Paramount Records in Recorded by Paramount Records in 19261926

The melody consists of brief, repeated The melody consists of brief, repeated ideas.ideas.

Each of the six three-line stanzas has Each of the six three-line stanzas has basically the same melody.basically the same melody.

Call-and-response between voice and Call-and-response between voice and guitarguitar

Listening: “That Black Snake Listening: “That Black Snake Moan”Moan”

LyricsLyrics– There is no precise chronological There is no precise chronological

ordering of events.ordering of events.– Certain stanzas could be placed in a Certain stanzas could be placed in a

different position without affecting our different position without affecting our overall understanding of what overall understanding of what transpires.transpires.

– Obviously a sexual encounter is being Obviously a sexual encounter is being described.described.

Listening: “That Black Snake Listening: “That Black Snake Moan”Moan”

Aay, ain’t got no mama now.Aay, ain’t got no mama now.Aay, ain’t got no mama now.Aay, ain’t got no mama now.She told me late last night, “You don’t need no mama no how.”She told me late last night, “You don’t need no mama no how.”

Mmm, black snake crawlin’ in my room.Mmm, black snake crawlin’ in my room.Mmm, black snake crawlin’ in my room.Mmm, black snake crawlin’ in my room.And some pretty mama had better come an’ get this black snake And some pretty mama had better come an’ get this black snake

soon.soon.

Oow, that must be the bedbug—baby, a chinch can’t bite that Oow, that must be the bedbug—baby, a chinch can’t bite that hard.hard.

Oow, that must be the bedbug—honey, a chinch can’t bite that Oow, that must be the bedbug—honey, a chinch can’t bite that hard.hard.

Ask my sugar for fifty cents, she say, “Lemon, ain’t a dime in the Ask my sugar for fifty cents, she say, “Lemon, ain’t a dime in the yard.”yard.”

Listening: “That Black Snake Listening: “That Black Snake Moan”Moan”

Mama, that’s all right, mama, that’s all right for you.Mama, that’s all right, mama, that’s all right for you.Mama, that’s all right, mama, that’s all right for you.Mama, that’s all right, mama, that’s all right for you.Mama, that’s all right, most any ol’ way you do.Mama, that’s all right, most any ol’ way you do.

Mmm, what’s the matter now?Mmm, what’s the matter now?Mmm, what’s the matter now?Mmm, what’s the matter now?Tell me what’s the matter. “I don’t like no black snake no Tell me what’s the matter. “I don’t like no black snake no

how.”how.”

Mmm, wonder where my black snake gone?Mmm, wonder where my black snake gone?Mmm, wonder where is the black snake gone?Mmm, wonder where is the black snake gone?Black snake, mama, done run my darlin’ home.Black snake, mama, done run my darlin’ home.

Blind Lemon JeffersonBlind Lemon Jefferson

Was denied any share of the profits Was denied any share of the profits generated by his hit recordsgenerated by his hit records

Died destituteDied destitute

Robert Johnson (1911–38)Robert Johnson (1911–38)

No country blues artist had a greater No country blues artist had a greater influence on later generations of blues and influence on later generations of blues and rock musicians than Johnson. rock musicians than Johnson.

– Influenced Influenced British guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, British guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones,

andand Eric Clapton, whose band Cream released a Eric Clapton, whose band Cream released a

celebrated cover of Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” in celebrated cover of Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues” in 1968. 1968.

Johnson’s complete output was reissued on Johnson’s complete output was reissued on CD in 1990 and was a surprise million-CD in 1990 and was a surprise million-seller.seller.

Robert Johnson (1911–38)Robert Johnson (1911–38)

Robert Johnson’s brief life is shrouded in Robert Johnson’s brief life is shrouded in mystery and legend.mystery and legend.

– Little is known of his early years.Little is known of his early years.– Stories circulated claiming that Johnson had Stories circulated claiming that Johnson had

sold his soul to the devil to play the guitar so sold his soul to the devil to play the guitar so remarkably. remarkably.

– When performing for an audience, he When performing for an audience, he apparently turned to conceal his hands. apparently turned to conceal his hands.

– Only eleven records (twenty-two songs) by Only eleven records (twenty-two songs) by Johnson were released during his lifetime.Johnson were released during his lifetime.

– Johnson died in 1938, apparently a victim of Johnson died in 1938, apparently a victim of poisoning by a jealous husband.poisoning by a jealous husband.

Listening: “Cross Road Listening: “Cross Road Blues”Blues”

Vocal like intensified speechVocal like intensified speech Melody/vocal moves freely over Melody/vocal moves freely over

rhythmrhythm Guitar accompanies & answers voiceGuitar accompanies & answers voice Call and response between vocal and Call and response between vocal and

guitarguitar Rough, untrained vocal timbreRough, untrained vocal timbre Free approach to the blues form (not Free approach to the blues form (not

always12-bars to a chorus)always12-bars to a chorus)

Listening: “Cross Road Listening: “Cross Road Blues”Blues”

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees,I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees, I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees,I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees, Asked the Lord above, “Have mercy, save poor Bob, if you Asked the Lord above, “Have mercy, save poor Bob, if you

please.”please.”

Mmm, standin’ at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride.Mmm, standin’ at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride. Mmm, standin’ at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride.Mmm, standin’ at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride. Didn’t nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by.Didn’t nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by.

Mmm, the sun goin’ down, boy, dark gon’ catch me here.Mmm, the sun goin’ down, boy, dark gon’ catch me here. Mmm, the sun goin’ down, boy, dark gon’ catch me here.Mmm, the sun goin’ down, boy, dark gon’ catch me here. I haven’t got no lovin’ sweet woman that love and feel my care.I haven’t got no lovin’ sweet woman that love and feel my care.

You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie BrownYou can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie BrownYou can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy Willie Brown Lord, that I’m standin’ at the crossroad, babe, I believe I’m sinkin’Lord, that I’m standin’ at the crossroad, babe, I believe I’m sinkin’

down.down.