DEATH LETTER BLUES

Son House was one of the greatest blues singers. Some people don't like the blues, or feel it's too rough and down-home for their sophisticated tastes, but these people are insensitive swine. The blues is feeling, pure and simple, and unless you plan on being an inanimate object like a chair or endtable you'd better start feeling, and the blues is a good place to start. Son House had a hell of a life--spent time in Parchman Farm prison in the 1920s, had serious illnesses, and five wives--at different times, of course. All that bad luck and hard times--all that feeling--went into his music. Listen to Death Letter Blues. Can you feel that?



I got a letter this mornin, how do you reckon it read?
It said, "Hurry, hurry, yeah, your love is dead."
I got a letter this mornin, I say how do you reckon it read?
You know, it said, "Hurry, hurry, how come the gal you love is dead?"

So, I grabbed up my suitcase, and took off down the road.
When I got there she was layin on a coolin board.
I grabbed up my suitcase, and I said and I took off down the road.
I said, but when I got there she was already layin on a coolin board.

Well, I walked up right close, looked down in her face.
Said, the good ole gal got to lay here til the Judgment Day.
I walked up right close, and I said I looked down in her face.
I said the good ole gal, she got to lay here til the Judgment Day.

Looked like there was 10,000 people standin round the buryin ground.
I didn't know I loved her til they laid her down.
Looked like 10,000 were standin round the buryin ground.
You know I didn't know I loved her til they damn laid her down.

Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul.
I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold.
I said, Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul.
You know I wouldn't mistreat nobody, baby, not for my weight in gold.

Well, I folded up my arms and I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell honey, I'll see you on Judgment Day."
Ah, yeah, oh, yes, I slowly walked away.
I said, "Farewell, farewell, I'll see you on the Judgment Day."

You know I went in my room, I bowed down to pray.
The blues came along and drove my spirit away.
I went in my room, I said I bowed down to pray.
I said the blues came along and drove my spirit away.

You know I didn't feel so bad, til the good ole sun went down.
I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around...