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...

LOVE THAT SLIDE GUITAR

Son House (March 21, 1902– October 19, 1988)



"Death Letter" by Son House

It's slide guitar day. We start with a blues classic performed on a metal-bodied National resonator guitar with a copper slide. "Death Letter," also known as "Death Letter Blues," was the signature song of Delta bluesman Son House. House was an important influence on Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, and he remains influential today, with his music being covered by blues-rock groups such as The White Stripes. Compare and contrast, kids.


The White Stripes cover "Death Letter"

WHITE STRIPES AND CAB CALLOWAY

What classic song has been performed by both the always cool White Stripes and the even cooler Cab Calloway...

...not to mention Artie Shaw, the Ventures, and Robert Crumb?

Check out the brilliant website "Honey, Where You Been So Long?" to find out--and listen to a few versions--by clicking HERE.

LETTER FROM THE WHITE STRIPES

I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear,
But thats what Ill do
And the feeling coming from my bones
Says find a home

Here are the White Stripes playing "Seven Nation Army" live on the Grammys, with a great weird intro by Beck. I love this track. I know, it's so ten minutes ago, but I still like this a lot. The riff is killer, and the words are so strange, and if that isn't enough, Jack White switches songs mid-performance to play an electrifying cover of "Death Letter" by Son House. Is that good enough for you? Somebody say yeah!

Eddie James "Son" House, Jr. - 1902-1988
Son House was an important Delta bluesman, and influenced Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, and played alongside Charlie Patton. He spent hard time in Parchman Farm prison for killing a man in a juke joint who had gone on a shooting spree, wounding House in the leg. After prison, he recorded for Paramount Records, and for Alan Lomax and the Library of Congress. His music lives on.

To hear the original version of "Death Letter" by Son House, please click button.

THE RACONTEURS SALUTE YOUR SOLUTION

BLUES IN THE MORNING

Jack White and Bob Dylan have been hanging around a lot lately. Jack sat in last week at a Dylan show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Jack went blues-crazy and took center stage, while Dylan hung back, sly old fox, and let the young man do most of the work.

Here they perform a blistering, bluesy "Meet Me in the Morning."

Click button for the blues.

THE CAPTAIN AND THE KIDS

I come across some unusual recordings, but I really had to pass this one on to you. The White Stripes covering Captain Beefheart. A replica of a replica.

Click red button to hear their version of "China Pig."

INTENSE AND PEPPERMINTS

You won't be seeing the White Stripes soon. They just canceled their North American tour because Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety. We suggest plenty of rest, relaxation, and peppermints. Not only does it fit the band's color scheme, according to our friendly aromatherapist, peppermint has been used since the 17th century to lift moods, relieve fatigue, energize and refresh. Good luck, Meg!