Cotton Fields - Leadbelly

[GammelDoener]

great voice singer like him a rare today

[tyrantsfaceisred]

haha its sad i discovered ccr before lead

[PBANDSNOW]

@sweet96635 I hope Ignorance is truly bliss, because your the stupidest person on this green Earth.

[Syzygy60]

he was convicted of manslaughter not murder

[SexyFatKid]

if this guy really did kill someone, it like, SO adds to his blues cred.

[lulustu]

@SexyFatKid he was the first gangsta

[hipncool07]

I'm surprised by some of the remarks on this site. For example, this thread talks about Ledbelly's being a criminal; how bad old music was; how 'covers' are better; etc. The reality is: while it might not directly affect this case, black's and poor white's were very often wrongly accused of crimes and it was easy to 'get rid' of them by doing so; old music was crude, with no special effects in a learning curve of creativity; originals deserve more credit than covers purely out of respect.

[Moustachehoarder]

Moustachehoarder @sweet96635 one word RACIST!!!!!!!keep ur racist opinions to yourself!

[Moustachehoarder]

@sweet9665 one word RACIST!!!!!!! keep ur racist opinions to yourself!

[ajman85able]

Whatever his private live held,you cant take away the fact he could sing with rhythm,my kind of singing,

[sweet96635]

It is nobody's fault but black people for their oppression in this country. If all blacks stated acting civilized and refrain from their jungle idiosyncrasies then everyone else would respect them more. It's not hard to put down the gun and the crack pipe and go to KFC to put in an application and become a productive member of society.

[fruntbach]

ALL Americans are idiots anyway... your gettin what ya deserve..hahaha

[LJBroussard]

Aaarrgggggh. Some of you people! Lead Belly didn't write "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" aka 'in the pines.' That's an old tune, older than him. As far as his prison record, nobody alive knows the facts of Lead Belly's crimes. Who gives a rat's ass anyhow? WHO CARES? Racist fools, enjoy the music and rant on Rush Limbaugh's blog. Or something.

[labuelarollandblues]

@sweet96635 He was a murderer that's right, but to be honest I dont care about his personal life. I like his music, and that's all I need to know. Some people thinks in their artist like gods, in my case I see them like musician and that's all.

[ThePinkWhoZeppelin]

@labuelarollandblues and plus, if that murder was the inspiration for in the pines, i actually congradulate him for killing a man---he provided himslef, the whole entire blues style, and not to mention nirvana a great run.

[wafflesandbeer]

@labuelarollandblues He didn't murder Woody Guthrie and that's all that really matters.

[cfcdan123]

@labuelarollandblues That's right, people don't know what it was like to be a young black male in those days, he was certainly a great songwriter and his lyrics tend to reach out and hit home, RIP LEAD BELLY

[SKYRIDE24]

@sweet96635 If You play the blues for real then you would have nothing but respect for this guy. every southern rock band & pretty much any type of southern music with white people in it, stole from Leadbelly, now tell me who are the real niggers here?

[eightfingertom]

@sweet96635 comments such as that show true ignorance besides at announce that your the grand wizard or something. racist

[1324Spectre]

@sweet96635 yeah thats why he played the blues and its good. don't get to have soul for being a perfect citizen that never had trial and tribulation, regardless of whether it was brought on by yourself or others

[alexa2271992]

@sweet96635 That has nothing to do with his skin color. What to paint yourself as an ignorant asshole.

[wendelkin]

@sweet96635 It's funny, no one ever gives a shit about Johnny Cash's record. ODD. Ya racist shit.

[SaidSheThatsWhat]

@wendelkin Johnny didnt actually kill anyone.....

[friskywalrusxd]

@sweet96635 you fucking twat

[queercat]

@sweet96635 And what do you call George W. Bush who started two illegal wars?

[sweet96635]

@queercat I call George W. Bush a man who strives very hard to please his father and is successful at it.

[DeadlySinzzz]

@sweet96635 Why be racist?

[sweet96635]

@DeadlySinzzz I think it's very important for black people to acknowledge why people still call some of them niggers. That's why I'm being "racist" as you say. Many of the reasons black people are hated today are the same reasons they were hated last century and the century before. They have a natural tendency toward violence.

[DeadlySinzzz]

@sweet96635 Chris Rock a little stand up routine about the difference between a black man and a nigger, its pretty funny. Either way, its just a word that's been used with so much hate suffering i just really don't like it, but i guess that just my opinion.

[ubmilitant]

@sweet96635 thats pure lack of education mate, sorry, in america the 99% of all serial murderers have been white, proving that murders related to black people are almost all done to social inequalities, your attitude will continue to breed black oppression for years to come

[TexianPride]

@ubmilitant Serial Killers are repeat murderers.

The statistic your refering to is for repeat murders not murder in general.

Blacks have a higher murder rate and theft rate then whites.

I think it has more to do with living in shitty ghettos then there color its a matter of growing up in terrible places and getting mixed up with terrible people

[sweet96635]

@ubmilitant I'm talking about the amount of bad people here. A serial murderer is 1 bad person, and if he's White, he's 1 bad White person. Someone else who kills one person in cold blood is a murderer, but he is still 1 person. And I'm telling you and EVERYONE right now. LISTEN to me! IT'S THE ATTITUDES AND LIFESTYLES OF BLACKS IN AMERICA THAT MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN OPPRESSION. Change your fucking attitude and start acting more fucking civilized.

[petervankan1]

@sweet96635 Fucking civilized ? Think about those two words for a while.

[Prophint]

@sweet96635 id a done far worse to the guy.

[Worfelzarz]

@sweet96635 Nigger means slave.

[TruckTurner74]

@Worfelzarz no, it's a colloquial way of saying Negro- the spanish word for black

[Worfelzarz]

@TruckTurner74 sh be quiet, spread more false info

[dirtyfukinrotten]

@sweet96635 wow you're a fucking idiot. if anything that just makes him more of a badass.

[lulustu]

@sweet96635 i think u meant "criminal." I dont think killing someone is justified as being nigger since everyone from any race does it. Also his music is good even if he does deserved to be in prison (he's long dead now so i dont see sense in arguing lol)

[jimmy6p]

Always the best version I've heard. He could do that to a song.

[janveverka]

@Abigailbl I did in Czech! :-) Love that song.

[Ip2FrEaLy]

seriouslly, love it in spanish with , ramon ayala, and with creedence , when would we see white folks near cotton exeot on froot of the loom ?? :P think about it , so yes , i always had a doubt if it was theirs..lol

[mary0mca0gypsy0eyes]

OMG - shivers & tears; my father used to sing this with me 50 years ago....*thank you for this*

[maggie24123]

Wonderful:) it takes you right there to the cotton fields. He gives this song he wrote such atmosphere. Thank you lead belly for all the great music you left us xxxxxx

[mherbert]

NO Lead Belly NO Beatles- I didnt make that up George Harrison did! go to the indiegogo site & look up leadbellyfilm

[9903kateyes]

Sorry about that. I tripped. This is one great down home song by one of my favourite blues artists !

[9903kateyes]

rr

[9903kateyes]

Greetings from Canada! I first heard this song as a child at a fair somewhere in the states. I have always liked it--of as a chid I didn't know it was a leadbelly song, but I became a fan as I grew up-as my father likes blues artists as well. Hope you're all enjoying this as much as I am!

[assegai47]

I was brought up listening to the blues. Leadbelly has always been a legend. As I age I find even more depth and beauty in songs like this. So pleasant to find younger people still will [they always can] relate to these songs. Cotton fields was the first song I learnt to play well enough and the first to elicit a ''I like that..your playing'' from my mother. I like Johnny Cash who also has a voice that makes me feel at home. ktf music is our tongue.

[79797937]

an American at his best!

[SuperAcab666]

it´s awesome how this man have inspired so many artists to cover his song

So much respect to Leadbelly from Denmark

[Worfelzarz]

@SuperAcab666 I almost thought i was the only dane with a decent taste in music, then i read your comment.

[SuperAcab666]

@Worfelzarz Hey:-D LOL no I had the pleasure to see John Fogerty performing this song twice in Denmark, so yes I sure also like Leadbelly:-D Greets from a dane:-D

[todopoderoso4781]

health to the roots of rock and roll, and also those who composed the music in the cotton fields, a greeting from Spain

[Drumric305]

...and they folk is for white people...

[PlantATrees]

Badass

[bennyworldwide]

This man was a real artist ...... I love all of his songs.

[losepocket]

Yahweh bless Leadbelly's soul!

[Mystashyft]

This is a great version,but,,,,, check out Tesla's version.

[icebytes]

the legend.

[trentex5]

OMG great

[duffmasterofpuppets]

This song just makes me smile.

[hammerlights]

Fuck, I even like this version better than Johnny Cash's version, and I like pretty much everything by him.

[killy633]

wish to born in louisiana =(

[tittyj2020]

sounds like shit

[beatlezrawesome]

@tittyj2020 u sound like shit!

[skyiscrying53]

@tittyj2020 wow, I guess y our songs will be listen to 60 years later too...lol

[tittyj2020]

@skyiscrying53 Just because people listen to it 60 years later doesn't mean it doesn't sound like shit. The only reason you guys came here was because you liked the CCR version and you saw this...so don't give me your self-righteous bullshit

[hammerlights]

@tittyj2020

I came here because I liked Nirvana's covers of leadbelly, and found out I like leadbelly's music just as much.  I like CCR, but not a fan of their cover of this. Your argument is invalid.

[mrbeatlesfan27]

@hammerlights thats exactly what I did

[tnb35]

@hammerlights actually that idiotic suicidal Cobain didn't even knew he covered Leadbelly. if you can call what he did covering.

[hammerlights]

@tnb35

Thanks for making things up as you go, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana covered Grey Goose, Aint it a Shame, They Hung him On A Cross, and In the Pines (Where did you Sleep Last Night) MANY times, all of which Ledbelly sang at some point. He (Kurt) always seemed to make a point of pointing out who he was covering, just look at the unplugged set.

You Lose. Good Day sir.

[devilrobbie25]

@tnb35 what you talking about you clown,,kurt said leadbelly was his favourite performer of all time before he sang where did you sleep last night (in the pines)..leadbelly''s estate also offered his guitar to cobain..he says it all on unplugged album have a listen you thick shit

[miniraptorX]

@tnb35 Kurt did a great job covering Leadbelly, and he turned many people on to Leadbelly due to the Unplugged set, when he mentions LEADBELLY!!!

[tnb35]

@miniraptorX i guess it's a matter of age... when one is a teenager sure you'd think kurt cover of leadbelly is awesome, you probably think it's much better, but then you grow up and you understand that Kurt Cobain didn't actually sang this song or actually played it' just made noise and screamed. it'k OK when you are a teen but when you grow up you tend to look for something else... like quality

[miniraptorX]

@tnb35 I understand. I actually like Leadbelly alot better. but you can't (well I guess you can) say that Kurts versions were crap, he did his style to it, maybe it wasnt talented, but it was unique, and touched alot of people. also, I don't think Kurt screamed at all in They Hung Him On a Cross, and the screaming at the end of Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Unplugged version) was really good, so I thought. But yeah, Leadbelly is amazing.

[MaiHarinder]

@tnb35 I'm 59 and I like Kurt's version. I admit I like Leadbelly's better, but fer God's sake, he's LEADBELLY.

[smartalek1]

@tittyj2020 "The only reason you guys came here was because you liked the CCR version"

Your assumption here is that everyone else is as ignorant as you are.

Bad assumption.

[tittyj2020]

@smartalek1 I assume that people like you are too chicken shit to admit that you had never heard of this guy until you heard the CCR version. You know it and I know it. So fuck you and the high horse you came riding in on

[Mr11950]

@smartalek1 i did come to leadbelly because of CCR Midnight special. is that wrong? how did u hear about Leadbelly?

[badass30gmailcom]

@tittyj2020 I for one admit to coming here because I'm interested in hearing where what I've listened to came from. Go back to your blurays titty, you have no business ripping on the roots of blues and rock music.

[skyiscrying53]

@skyiscrying53 mmmmmm, you missed my point and I will take leadbelly over your heavy D favorites anyday! mmmm, I agree some music sounded like BS back in the day but for you to say anything that leadbelly did was "shit" ..LOL...shame on you! PS, I knew about leadbelly since I was a kid...check your facts before you call yourself reading me.

[serpenteo80]

@tittyj2020 This shit gave origin to all rock and roll music on the world, asshole.

[izui1978]

Hermosa canción...

[hustlebrave2006]

This song touched my soul you can feel this song real deep

[ElvisKlan]

Those who don't like this song did not understand the music and have nothing to do on this page !!!

[drums4woodstock]

I wish i had the chance to meet leadbelly..

[100000538]

i thank Johnny Cash sings it better

[sonicscreamingblue]

@100000538 Never heard the Johnny Cash version. Might have to check it out.

[luvdastuf]

Amazing. Always wondered where it originated from and now I know.

Thanx.

[bodrius]

Ta medio mamado el morocho...

[Syzygy60]

Hughey Ledbetter was recorded while in prison by the U.S. Smithonsian institute

They actually do something right

[Syzygy60]

when i was a little baby

[alternangon]

What a great musician

[ZephyrZorlon79]

man Leadbelly's voice sends chills down my spine, so damn spooky like R.Johnson. first time Ive heard the original version. I love the blues and he's one of the best songwriters of that era.

[Syzygy60]

I know Leadbelly,I love Midnight Special

[Fellwander]

It's great to be able to hear these legendary performances on 'Youtube'. On hearing them, the truth emerges that Leadbelly was a greater folksinger than he was a blues singer. I say that with the greatest of respect.

[freakshowaffair]

original is always more meaningfull all versions are fantastic but nothing beats an original one thats where the true heart comes from

[roose468]

@freakshowaffair well i totally agree but still, i think this czech version:

"Rangers (Plavci) - Pole s bavlnou" sounds better and i guess i should also mention that for the Czech people of that time it also had quite a meaning...just my opinion anyway...

[BJJvB]

Johnny Cash, CCR, Blue Rangers, Beachboys etc all sang this song. I believe it was in fact Leadbelly who made the first recording. Great, down to the roots!

[supah1337B]

Beachboys? did a cover of this? CCR sang their songs to REVIVE (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER ---REVIVAL---) these songs, so they did cover songs. The Beach boys just stole sound, lyrics and music.

[MrAlexpee33]

If you like your blues, check out some of my tunes using old blues samples

[antiwar94]

I saw this guy on the suggestion bar on the side of the page everytime I was watching a Guthrie, so I decided to check this out, and this is great,

:)

[SqueezeMyLemonBabe]

@antiwar94 you've stumbled across one of the greatest heh lucky find eh?

[antiwar94]

@SqueezeMyLemonBabe Oh yeah. That's for sure. :)

[3mazatapec]

I haven't heard Creedence Clearwater Revival's version. but I know this song is emmense. It's what first drew me to Huddie :), this song is

[cullam]

He is awsome!!

[free2astroboy]

I heard CCR's version,...and I'm, going to learn for the first time a song,...these are basic beautiful chords,...this is a good song to learn how to play, easy.

[shuchr]

he made nout out these songs other people did

[shuchr]

huddie was born with a voice of a angel

[Keefterdam]

He's Great!

[RedZeppelin]

so much better than ccr and beach boys

[falconoilcompany]

wonderful

[shuchr]

ccr the animals beach boys etcetc have got a lot of thanking to do to leadbelly he was brilliant

[tim9191ful]

bastards

[eddycobain9117]

Just Awesome!

[RATM4LIF3]

If it wasn't for CCR than I never would've discovered this great man! Thanks to the poster aswell!

[nomiclas]

@RATM4LIF3 actually the brothers four did a cover as well as many folk people and groups.ccr was just another in the line of a great cover of a great song.

[RATM4LIF3]

@nomiclas well I'm just saying that I found them through CCR hahaha

[nomiclas]

@RATM4LIF3 i have found a bunch of the early blues through the covers.i guess there is a learning curve.i'm just now finding the really deep stuff and i've been buying vinyl for 49 years.just keep the search going-there are beginnings and truth in music.

[schreck515]

@nomiclas same here... and im only 21. the more i listen to the jerry garcia band or 60s-70s grateful dead, dylan, the animals etc the more i realize all my fav's are covers! fun to trace back the roots

[thruthefence]

Typicus,

I to, am a product of the Louisiana school system!

thanks!!

[creb1101]

excellent !! beautiful music.

[thruthefence]

"The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11"

wasn't Lightnin' Hopkins one of those guys?

Actually Texarkana is around 15 miles from Louisiana. Huddie was a product of the Louisiana school system, and had a poor geography teacher.

[Typicus]

@thruthefence You should add about fifteen more miles to that, as Texarkana is thirty miles from the most north-western town in Louisiana. From where Lead Belly was born to Texarkana is another thirty-six miles.

[Krinisty]

Wow amazing, I had no idea these tunes came from LeadBelly! Also Midnight special! CCR did a great job of them as well :) Awesome!

[BoozyBeggar]

Check out Beach Boys' cover of Cotton Fields. They add some lyrics.

[Krinisty]

Thanks boozy! I will certainly do that! ty again.

[Krinisty]

haha that was crazy... Indeed they've added lyrics HAHA.. wowzers! lol

[smartalek1]

@Hismailservice "The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 are about to appear and shock the world." They said the same thing back in 999. Also in 1346 (Black Plague). And in 1792 (the Shakers). 1843 & '44 (same guy, Wm Miller) 1850, '56, & more (7th Day Adventist founder Ellen White) By 1891 (Jos Smith, LDS founder) 1914 (Jehovah's Witnesses) 1915, '18, '20, '25, '41, '75, '94 (Watchtower Soc; if at 1st u don't succeed... ) 1997 (Hale-Bopp comet cult Heaven's Gate) How'd it work out all those times?

[newyorker107]

LeadBelly wrote this song along with a few others that Creedence Clearwater Revival sing.

CCR is a great band from Berkley, CA!

[harfuch1]

@abigail

Esta cancion data de los anos 20's pero la version que fue mas popular fue la de los hermanos Fogerty.

En mexico el cover lo hicieron (muy bueno) los Apson boys (Ap=aguaprieta Son+sonora) Mexico.

La excepcion confirma la regla.

Saludos desde Houston , Tx.

[rafaelprivate]

@Abigailbl Me too, but the lyrics in spanish is complete different to the original english version. "Los Payos" sang their version using the music only.

[studomatic]

sweet as grannys apple pie!

[cozmicfolkfan]

It´s the first song I´ve learned. Thanks Leadbelly

[iamjoedubois]

i think that he says vagina!

[PageandPlant4Life]

has anyone seen the video of Jimmy Page and his skiffle group playing this when he was like 12 or 13?

[BEATIT696969]

yes i have, love jimmy page.

[MrCyberGJnr]

Damn fine tune, i love the simplicity and rawness it gives it so much strength. Nothing like this being made these digitaly toched up days.....

[brokeass89]

@MrCyberGJnr i agree i dont understand why you had negative thumbs, i evened you back out

[MrCyberGJnr]

cheers bro! Peace

[beliasso]

great to hear the original

[extinguishersoul]

I love you leadbelly...

[BrokenneckYgor]

Crackers Crude Rantin=CCR

[NOAHPHECKS]

FUCKIN' A

[toddjbroockerd]

Love the scene in Cool Hand Luke when that guy plays this song.

[lafther210]

great song

[lezgon]

oh boy, it doesn't get more down-home than this

[Heylo193]

great song, and i love ccr's version

[UkkoA]

@Heylo193, me too, he was the baaadass of his time, just like the gangsta mofo's today. He lived his life the hard way! Him and Johnson were the men!

[Groove1993]

@UkkoA todays gangsta arent badass, leadbelly and others were, but not todays gangsta..

[tj10splayer]

greeat song ...... best one .... Lead Belly, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain RIP

[USASoCCerGoaL]

what about credence clearwater revival?