Everybody get their shit. You might listen this and said "Great song. Rap is shit". But this is mindless. You never understand feelings in this song, because now you from another generation.
the best of rap is really just the continuation of blues, talib kweli, jurassic 5 common, aloe blacc and stuff like that. of course the bigots who make backhanded compliments like 'black people used to make good music' likely don't know these artists. we'd never hear somebody say 'whites used to make good music' just because lady gaga and ke$ha exist. so why judge black music on lil wayne and the rest. it's retarded.
You mean there are trolls on here who would sit and use childish, intolerant names whilst listening to this glorious artistic triumph? I think maybe mommy might be calling the trolls back to diner, so just turn the computer off, turn your nighhtlight on, and go back to bed, dear trollies, and don't forget to turn your night lights on. (If you feel the need to respond to this, you must be what I'm talking about)
never heard of this singer before tonight but have heard nearly every song by another artist or group - loving this old timey music 'cuz it's honest and real - all the little snotty brats looking for brash crash good luck to your generation - ha!
you know it gripes me that people change the words from the original...if they gonna do Leadbelly's tune, or Robert Johnson's or any other writers' music.they should do it as it is wriiten, if for no other reason than repect....such as the way they did Key to the Highway, they boiled it down to what they thought would sell...guess sometime some lyrics are just too real to be marketable...
dont foget mrbruce that the great blues artists change the words to songs all the time , could hardly ever get them to sing a song the same way twice so to have anybody change words to a cover is really not a big deal
well, an author can do what he wants i think, thats the creativity involved...but take say Johnny Rivers version of Midnight Special..and then it becomes close to wrong. the basic idea of Mr Leadbelly's two different versions are pretty close, he sings a diffeent order of the verses, and uses sugarland as opposed to penitenary, and sheriff's names are different, but not that big a difference......anyway, you are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to same.Ty.
@crw4242 If you're talking about what he's saying in the song, he's saying "Sugar Land bound". Sugar Land is a city close to Houston and once had a state prison there. (Still does, I think.)
Well it doesen't matter who wrote it as the writer got stuff all money, the recording bulley's rip off anyone who can play it or make a buck, its gotta be one of the most played harpin, guitar pickin and jammin singalong songs in history...the end....lol
@philblack63 According to wiki, the song was first released (in fullness) in 1923, 11 years before Leadbelly 'took credit' for it. It's a folk song passed down through the years, and changed to suit the singer, by the sounds of things.
Actually...It was told to me that this song is about suicide. The Midnight Special is a train that comes at Midnight. People would kill themselves because of the harsh realities of the South The Midnight Special was also a freight train that carried soldiers to war. That's what was told to me, I don't know. Don't judge.
The Midnight Special was a train that passed through Sugarland by the Texas State Prison. An inmate wrote the lyrics as a poem and Leadbelly took the credit for the song by adding music to it. It is not a SLAVE song. It was believed that it was good luck to have the cell with the window facing the railroad tracks. When the light shined into your cell it was believed you would soon make parole. Fogerty did not write this song but did the best version of it.
I'm pretty sure this song is older than fogherty, or leadbelly. It's actually a traditional slave song, which like house of the rising sun, they can't determine the author anymore.
Leadbelly is from this area, Northwestern Louisiana. City father's decided to honor him with a bronze statue- ok so far; but the cheap bastards made it about four feet tall! looks like a dwarf with a ukelele standing there! And we all know Huddie was a big guy. It's in front of the Library, on Texas street, in Shreveport, la.
he danced his hands all over that geetair and let himself go not many other ways a man could spreess himself it is the way it was to be and it is again
has led belly, invented rock' n' roll'? this starts like the blues, then speeds up to rock n roll, listen to bass,its pure rock n roll, on one guitar! amazing! "SMO'KIN"
I always think about the prisoner waiting each night for that train to go by the prison so he could imagine himself being able to ride the train light out of jail. Great song!
@steve89z funny the same was said about this music as well until the songs were marketed and produced millions of dollars AFTER this mans (and many other blues artists) death, and covered by various artists to bring them success...thing is i agree that a majority of rap music is a disgrace but sad how history repeats itself
@precisethoughts Exactly. I hate that people feel the need to denigrate one music genre to uplift another. This video has nothing to do with rap music so why bring it up? As you said, the same was said about the blues. Thats what people don't understand, we accept the blues now but ask someone from the 1930s and Leadbelly was no different than how we see 50 Cent complete with a rap sheet (although Leadbelly's was way worse than 50's). All I'm saying is there is room for all music out here.
Ignant downright ignant. look up Blackalicious - Shallow Days. It's on here, I doubt you'll think it's a disgrace. It all comes from this man, shit like Fitty Cent an that bullshit fuck that shit! Real Hip Hop is just a natural evolution of African American music and it's beautiful
Theres an extreme bias going on here about rap and modern rock vs old school music. Whatever happend to 'each his own'? Lets just listen to the music man, if you don't like rap, then just chill with it. Just think about man.
Their is incredibly intricate beauty to rap music. Biggie smalls is a 1 in a million. at 12 he met a jazz musician and he taught Biggie how to listen to music on different levels like a jazz musician. Biggie took the art of jazz flowing to rap music but most people can't hear that beauty and just bad mouth rap music. He was just a piss poor person who lived to express himself through rap music, just like many other musical greats. BUT its you whos missing out on a world of music.
I break it up more geographically as opposed to chronologically. Delta blues and Chicago blues primarily. Delta being first and moving north with people in search of work. Good stuff.
P.S.- I think Antiodo is a litlle too obosessed with being gay. I think he might be overcompensating just a little. lol
you guys get heated in these text. Antitodo2889 can you suggest some good blues. you too jeff6767. i dig this song. i came about it by way of cobain's cover of "where did you sleep last night" just looking for suggestions
mmm,well,if you ask me i would divided in 3 eras,the old blues (Blind Willie Mctell, Leadbelly, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson...) the 50s blues (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Big Joe Williams...) and the 60 n 70s blues, when a lot of rock musicians got influenced by the blues wave in england( The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cream...) if youre starting on blues i recomend you listen to Spoonful by Howlin Wolf, thats my favorite song.
I agree with your division of the blues into the eras you've done (one begats the next). Also, thanks for providing the 1st set of lyrics for Midnight Special that's my preferred version. Does anyone know if the Sherrif & Eddie Boone really existed?
Spoonfull is by Willie Dixon. Many of the chess records artists did spoonful as well as many of Willies other songs. Please give credit where credit is due.
Ad if you guys think that posting things like "oh yeah black people is awesome just because theyre black" then im not the ignorant here, I love blues, i Love music in general,and im pretty sure you guys also do, to me niggot rap is completely gay and cannot be considered as music, so go ahead keep thinking that auto-censorship is what makes racial prejudice go away, ill tell you something,Its useless to give yourself enemies that are not on the level of the conflict itself, i think for myself
@Antitodo2889 What the fuck is "niggot rap"? Why are you insulting the people who came to give your videos comments and views and calling them "fags"? Yes, you are free to be a dumbass and say what you want but its not without consequences, like the fact that I will avoid every one of your videos from now on because you are ignorant and probably 12 years old judging by the way you insult people.
HAHA you guys are so gay,of course i dont have problems saying a word,how do you pretend to banned languaje? how stupid is to think that sympathy and tolerance are the same thing? you can keep calling me a nazi or a redneck kkk scum, fact is, i dont like to censor myself just because some hippie thinks that is politically correct, no im not a racist,not because i think everybody is equal,no, is because i dont give a crap.
I just visited the Sugar Land prison in Texas yesterday. They have converted it to a museum...Houston Museum of Natural Science. In one part of the museum, they have a section of the history of the prison, and I learned about Leadbelly there. I love the Creedence version of this song. It was cool to find this information out.
"...After his release, Leadbelly accompanied the Lomaxes to other prisons around the South...Leadbelly became a sensation...made his first commercial recordings ... in January 1935. ...Leadbelly died on December 6, 1949, in New York City and is buried in the Shiloh Baptist Church graveyard near Mooringsport."
"...he did not make commercial recordings. .Leadbelly was arrested for attempted homicide in 1930 and was sent to...Angola...gaining popularity with prisoners, guards, and Warden L. A. Jones. When folklorist John Lomax arrived at Angola with his son Alan in July 1933 to record "Negro work songs" for the Library of Congress, Warden Jones recommended Leadbelly..."
"...Leadbelly spent the majority of the next seven years in the Texas penal system, becoming a legend for his labor ability and his singing. While in prison, he sang a ballad for Governor Pat Neff in January 1924, begging for a pardon that was granted a year later in one of Neff's last official acts..."
"...Leadbelly began to have serious troubles with the law beginning in 1915, and by the following year he was an escaped criminal living under the alias of Walter Boyd. Leadbelly shot and killed Will Stafford in December 1917, while on the run from the law..."
You guys (and Lomax) are being simple-minded, unlike Leadbelly...it's an ALLEGORY, duh....Do you believe EVERYTHING that you read? Check it out for yourself- I'm not the only one w/ this view....
if you check the alan lomax book AMERICAN FOLK SONGS it says the midnight special is a train and the mythology is that if its light shines on you then youll be set free
The midnight special was a train....it came around the prison everynight around midnight and the inmates believed if the light shined on them they would be released soon.....thats why they sing "let the midnight special shine it's ever loving light on me"
@Antitodo2889 yes you sure know your music dumb fuck, led belly would kill you for your breakfast and right a awesome song about, look in the mirror and realize who the real faggot is.
Ledbetter added a couple verses about his own problems that always seemed to work out badly -- squabbling and fighting that seemed to be forced on him.
Leadbelly didn't write this song. This is just a cover version. This is an old country song written and first recorded by Otto Gray and his Oklahoma Cowboys with lead singer Dave "Pistol Pete" Cutrell.
I'm black, but this is a white country folk song, but a black song. No different than Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues.
@largelester I think Ledbetter's involvement with the law was just his inability to accept the rules of his society at the time...like us Italians, we just don't do discipline well. They didn't call him "lead belly" fer nothin! Don't step out when he's on a toot! Lomax learned, even.
"Born January 15, 1888...a strong child, who could pick prodigious quantities of cotton...known as a "musicianer" for his instrumental prowess...1906 and 1908 he drifted through Louisiana, hearing Jelly Roll Morton ... In 1912, Ledbetter adopted the working name Leadbelly and took up with Blind Lemon Jefferson...
Of course i was just referring to the idea that the various styles first converged in the 50's....i Guess Rock n Roll came around a bit before that = P
does everyone know the meaning of this song? the midnight special was a trasin that rolled past the prison Leadbelly was in every night @ midnight. the legend was if its light shone in your window, you'd be released the next day. but the train tracks ran parallel to the prison, so its light couldnt shine in. kinda sad & ironic
How about we stop the pointless bickering about race and enjoy the sublime sounds of Huddie Ledbetter? For god's sake this is a folk and blues legend, he doesn't deserve this stupid fighting... enjoy the music!
the mere fact you use the word "crackers" only prolongs the hatred between colours. Frankly I couldnt give a fuck if Huddie Leadbetter was fuckin Blue
Why is it that when someone makes a new version of a song that it's the "right" version? Leadbelly is awesome and a lot of musicians made new versions of his songs and made a lot of money from them.
There is no "wrong version" or "wrong lyrics" for this song, this is a FOLK song, thats why you can do whatever you wnk with it, nobody knows how the original version was, so thats why nobody can say theres "wrong" lyrics to it.
Wow! Someone got it right! In his version Ledbelly sings Sugar Land bound. They have just restored the old prison building (which I think was the admin building but could have housed inmates also). It opens in Oct. as a satellite museum of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. I live in the area so I'm checking it out and if the guide doesn't know about Ledbelly's history, I'll have to school him a bit!
All the Brothers have soul that no other Race can even approach by a light year! My heart pours out to this fact and I am a White Boy. What a treasure. Thank goodness that so much of his work and the work of other Brothers is available here. I find it very moving.
It was a compliment about an ethnocentric phenomena that I feel in my soul when I experience the music of Brothers. "He is/was a Brother..." was standard jargon in Vietnam. It was not racist or hateful or negative or ... it was as neutral, benign, innocuous as any title or label could be! If anything it was a "term of endearment" from a honky or honkies or other ethnicity, who had their lives saved by a "Brother!" Now who is alive and glowing with "RACISM!" Huh?
The Midnight Special was a TRAIN. The Lomax's errantly thought he wrote this when recording it for Library of Congress during Ledbelly's attempted murder rap in 1934 but there is a 1905 version He likely learned an embellished version in jail. Hal Leonard Guitar Method book 2 ( which I give students for rock and blues basics ) contains Midnight Special as "traditional" ( not Ledbetter ) Get a start in basics with a teacher and HIS favorite book. You can wander about later on a firm foundation.
i find funny how the black people, who were discriminated for so long, accomplished to make the whole scene of music we see in this century and in the last. people like leadbelly, robert Johnson, and more lately BB king and john lee hooker, along with some more, made the good old fucking great blues, the structure of music as we know it. Talk about a shoot in the head to the racists.
maybe its because they had something to sing about, they were awesome black people who carried they sorrow and pain into the greatest music ever, now, there is a few black talented people out there, just a buch of niggers whining about how theyre people were discriminated 200 years ago, were are the leadbellies and blind willies? where are the great black people who said "fuck your discrimination, im gonna make great things by myself"
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Are you black? The word nigger offends me Irish people were not considered white for a long time people called em niggers. So the irish made bluegrass.......
I dont know how a word can offend people, im not black im latin/basque/irish, i know what you mean about irish people but being offended by a word is just gay.
More "crackers" are whining today than anybody. They have a 400 year head start on everybody else, still in charge 99.9% of major institutions and businesses, yet complain about non-whites taking over. It is whining "crackers" who control most of the music labels that put out this musical garbage (black & white). There are plenty of talented Black singers and musicians who are not being signed. Go to any Black church and there is still great talent.
Everybody get their shit. You might listen this and said "Great song. Rap is shit". But this is mindless. You never understand feelings in this song, because now you from another generation.
blyadko 4 months ago
So no one from this generation has ever felt pain, hurt or anger? Bullshit.
MrStonerwitch 4 months ago
@MrStonerwitch Look in description of my com.. You wasn't sit in prison, you don't understand song fully.
blyadko 4 months ago
:0 Is he playing a Bajo Sexto??
Adefesio94 6 months ago
@Adefesio94 He is playing a twelve string guitar
CMACHT000 3 months ago
God, this is perfection.
Blue, nothing better.
butterHibs123 9 months ago
ooh the start of rock and roll, right there?
timbearcub 1 year ago
Good point JovialDuke (though I can't stand Jurassic 5, to be honest).
Still, as a great entertainer once said "The way I like it, is the way it is. I got mine, don't worry bout his"
llanbo 1 year ago
what a fantastic looking gentleman god bless led belly an amazing bluesman
stevom31 1 year ago
what a fantastic looking gentleman god bless led belly an amazing bluesman
stevom31 1 year ago
the best of rap is really just the continuation of blues, talib kweli, jurassic 5 common, aloe blacc and stuff like that. of course the bigots who make backhanded compliments like 'black people used to make good music' likely don't know these artists. we'd never hear somebody say 'whites used to make good music' just because lady gaga and ke$ha exist. so why judge black music on lil wayne and the rest. it's retarded.
jovialduke 1 year ago
When i was 12years of age and learnt to play the guitar this man was God
Degbarawin1951 1 year ago
this reminds me of johnny cash...well.. otherway around.. leadbelly reminds me of him.. its like.. he STOLE leadbellys music + melodies?
Jinxedwithme 1 year ago
Good blues indeed from the father of blues!! Thanks uploader!
cullam 1 year ago
Thanks for posting!
mixer1dotgeo 1 year ago
You mean there are trolls on here who would sit and use childish, intolerant names whilst listening to this glorious artistic triumph? I think maybe mommy might be calling the trolls back to diner, so just turn the computer off, turn your nighhtlight on, and go back to bed, dear trollies, and don't forget to turn your night lights on. (If you feel the need to respond to this, you must be what I'm talking about)
chevleclair 1 year ago
This man was a true vision of greatness. On top of that he was a bad mofo. Very tough man.
steveovt 1 year ago
He put the SOUL in the Delta Blues. Roots, heck no !!! The flower of the age. Things are still the same. RIP
Ripley44mag 1 year ago
I love this song.
FLUSEM666 1 year ago
How come there's all these "rap sucks" comments on all of these Leadbelly videos on youtube? :o
codebreaker710 1 year ago 3
This man was the best
lionofusa1 1 year ago
Was that the original version of that song? this dude was good. i love the Pick a bale of cotton song.
BP3DP 1 year ago
You can trace so much music back to this guy.
birdie399 1 year ago
If you ever go to Houston, oh you better walk right
And you better not squallow and you better not fight
Sheriff Rocko will arrest you, Eddie Boone will take you down
You can bet your bottom dollar, penitentiary bound
abuseforapie 1 year ago
damn nigga gots ta go make sum rap
Acidic0man 1 year ago
i got trouble with the man cause i got his fork stickin in his brain
ironyvonne 1 year ago
music is music sound is sound doesnt matter whos play a good sound :)
ironyvonne 1 year ago
super master class !!!!!!!!!
DdionisioO 1 year ago
Fantastic!
CodyCEngdahl 1 year ago
It is said that the man that wrote this song was let out of prison when the warden herd it
johntiessen 1 year ago
ya'll need to quit and just listen to the music.
medicvet 1 year ago
never heard of this singer before tonight but have heard nearly every song by another artist or group - loving this old timey music 'cuz it's honest and real - all the little snotty brats looking for brash crash good luck to your generation - ha!
sallygarvin 1 year ago
NICE!!!!
rubyrose456 1 year ago
strange comments on such a great artist and great song,,,i love you leadbelly ,,,see you in heaven,,,
JSLLH 1 year ago
you know it gripes me that people change the words from the original...if they gonna do Leadbelly's tune, or Robert Johnson's or any other writers' music.they should do it as it is wriiten, if for no other reason than repect....such as the way they did Key to the Highway, they boiled it down to what they thought would sell...guess sometime some lyrics are just too real to be marketable...
MrBruceBarham 1 year ago
dont foget mrbruce that the great blues artists change the words to songs all the time , could hardly ever get them to sing a song the same way twice so to have anybody change words to a cover is really not a big deal
mimi6329 1 year ago
well, an author can do what he wants i think, thats the creativity involved...but take say Johnny Rivers version of Midnight Special..and then it becomes close to wrong. the basic idea of Mr Leadbelly's two different versions are pretty close, he sings a diffeent order of the verses, and uses sugarland as opposed to penitenary, and sheriff's names are different, but not that big a difference......anyway, you are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to same.Ty.
MrBruceBarham 1 year ago
"silver city bound" ? non-existant I guess, not on dick-tube at least- keep it private if you got it please.
crw4242 1 year ago
@crw4242 If you're talking about what he's saying in the song, he's saying "Sugar Land bound". Sugar Land is a city close to Houston and once had a state prison there. (Still does, I think.)
pandarsson 1 year ago
Comment removed
whatupscoop 1 year ago
This must have been one of the songs he recorded several times. There's another version with background vocals and it was performed much slower.
EuchridEucrow1 1 year ago
Well it doesen't matter who wrote it as the writer got stuff all money, the recording bulley's rip off anyone who can play it or make a buck, its gotta be one of the most played harpin, guitar pickin and jammin singalong songs in history...the end....lol
cravenmoorrrrrrrrr 1 year ago
midnight special bringing prisoners visitors on a train.. i saw some doc on tv about these songs and the texas prison farm
bbproductionsLA 1 year ago
Here I had thought it was like "midnight express," about escape form prison. Perhaps I was wrong. Anyway, musicaly it is nearly perfect, IMHO.
milascave 1 year ago
this is my fav leadbelly song
kidsexchange69 1 year ago
it's Leadbelly's song, get over it
largelester 1 year ago
@philblack63 According to wiki, the song was first released (in fullness) in 1923, 11 years before Leadbelly 'took credit' for it. It's a folk song passed down through the years, and changed to suit the singer, by the sounds of things.
nzhamishian 1 year ago
Actually...It was told to me that this song is about suicide. The Midnight Special is a train that comes at Midnight. People would kill themselves because of the harsh realities of the South The Midnight Special was also a freight train that carried soldiers to war. That's what was told to me, I don't know. Don't judge.
steven8807 1 year ago
The Midnight Special was a train that passed through Sugarland by the Texas State Prison. An inmate wrote the lyrics as a poem and Leadbelly took the credit for the song by adding music to it. It is not a SLAVE song. It was believed that it was good luck to have the cell with the window facing the railroad tracks. When the light shined into your cell it was believed you would soon make parole. Fogerty did not write this song but did the best version of it.
philblack63 1 year ago 3
John Fogerty did an incredible job writing this for
The Led Bellies. What a genius , Steve Ledbelly gave John a bottle of Jack Daniels for this song, what an incredible story. :)
friendofsyd 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure this song is older than fogherty, or leadbelly. It's actually a traditional slave song, which like house of the rising sun, they can't determine the author anymore.
harpmanDC 1 year ago
Leadbelly is from this area, Northwestern Louisiana. City father's decided to honor him with a bronze statue- ok so far; but the cheap bastards made it about four feet tall! looks like a dwarf with a ukelele standing there! And we all know Huddie was a big guy. It's in front of the Library, on Texas street, in Shreveport, la.
thruthefence 1 year ago 6
This guy was one big n. and very talened save his lif.
judge6754 2 years ago
he danced his hands all over that geetair and let himself go not many other ways a man could spreess himself it is the way it was to be and it is again
weenbaby69 2 years ago
Stunning. The guys plays like three musicians at once and you can hear the joy in his soul.
Love it!
devilsriveruk 2 years ago
Viva Leadbelly!!
panzergui 2 years ago 3
has led belly, invented rock' n' roll'? this starts like the blues, then speeds up to rock n roll, listen to bass,its pure rock n roll, on one guitar! amazing! "SMO'KIN"
vikingbiff 2 years ago 3
I always think about the prisoner waiting each night for that train to go by the prison so he could imagine himself being able to ride the train light out of jail. Great song!
GumboRon 2 years ago
Damn Leadbelly be gettin some hits! D' Man!!
dzjair 2 years ago
rap music is a disgrace
steve89z 2 years ago 21
most of it, yeah.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago 14
@steve89z funny the same was said about this music as well until the songs were marketed and produced millions of dollars AFTER this mans (and many other blues artists) death, and covered by various artists to bring them success...thing is i agree that a majority of rap music is a disgrace but sad how history repeats itself
precisethoughts 2 years ago
@precisethoughts Exactly. I hate that people feel the need to denigrate one music genre to uplift another. This video has nothing to do with rap music so why bring it up? As you said, the same was said about the blues. Thats what people don't understand, we accept the blues now but ask someone from the 1930s and Leadbelly was no different than how we see 50 Cent complete with a rap sheet (although Leadbelly's was way worse than 50's). All I'm saying is there is room for all music out here.
camking88 1 year ago
@steve89z
Ignant downright ignant. look up Blackalicious - Shallow Days. It's on here, I doubt you'll think it's a disgrace. It all comes from this man, shit like Fitty Cent an that bullshit fuck that shit! Real Hip Hop is just a natural evolution of African American music and it's beautiful
thegoodusernameman 1 year ago
@steve89z try Tricks of the Shade by the goats, written at the time of George Bush Senior high politics, depth in every platitude
teamcrumb 1 year ago
@steve89z
come on.
Theres an extreme bias going on here about rap and modern rock vs old school music. Whatever happend to 'each his own'? Lets just listen to the music man, if you don't like rap, then just chill with it. Just think about man.
abuseforapie 1 year ago
@steve89z a disgrace to what?
MichaelBValse 1 year ago
@steve89z yeah totaly its a disgrace. must be true because the all knowing steve89z said so...
asscunt69 1 year ago
@steve89z Rap is crap!
Leadbelly on the other hand was a real musician with great soul and feel to his performances!
robonez 1 year ago
@steve89z how?
Their is incredibly intricate beauty to rap music. Biggie smalls is a 1 in a million. at 12 he met a jazz musician and he taught Biggie how to listen to music on different levels like a jazz musician. Biggie took the art of jazz flowing to rap music but most people can't hear that beauty and just bad mouth rap music. He was just a piss poor person who lived to express himself through rap music, just like many other musical greats. BUT its you whos missing out on a world of music.
gioj3 1 year ago
@steve89z Don't be fucking ridiculous.
bazzazcl 8 months ago
@steve89z your unreasonably narrow-minded statement is a disgrace
j0hnny63 8 months ago 6
This has been flagged as spam show
@steve89z rap music is a disgrace? ahahah^^
PrettyBoyBlues 3 months ago
All good music comes out out of poverty. Ledbelly thats real music.
sspowersource 2 years ago 3
I break it up more geographically as opposed to chronologically. Delta blues and Chicago blues primarily. Delta being first and moving north with people in search of work. Good stuff.
P.S.- I think Antiodo is a litlle too obosessed with being gay. I think he might be overcompensating just a little. lol
Boodwin 2 years ago 2
you guys get heated in these text. Antitodo2889 can you suggest some good blues. you too jeff6767. i dig this song. i came about it by way of cobain's cover of "where did you sleep last night" just looking for suggestions
dogstaple 2 years ago 6
mmm,well,if you ask me i would divided in 3 eras,the old blues (Blind Willie Mctell, Leadbelly, Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson...) the 50s blues (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Big Joe Williams...) and the 60 n 70s blues, when a lot of rock musicians got influenced by the blues wave in england( The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cream...) if youre starting on blues i recomend you listen to Spoonful by Howlin Wolf, thats my favorite song.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago 6
I agree with your division of the blues into the eras you've done (one begats the next). Also, thanks for providing the 1st set of lyrics for Midnight Special that's my preferred version. Does anyone know if the Sherrif & Eddie Boone really existed?
cqsteve1 2 years ago
Benson Crocker And Jimmy Boone I Dunno?
whatupscoop 2 years ago
I hear it as Sydney Boone...
barnymad 1 year ago
@barnymad Maybe You Need To Get A Q Tip And Clean The Wax Out Your Ears Or Jimmy Boone Will Take You Down!
whatupscoop 1 year ago
@Antitodo2889 thanks for all the info. howlin wolf ...cool
dogstaple 1 year ago
@dogstaple.
yip he is but howlin wolf always leads me in to some old dirty captian beefheart stuff which can be a dark road
malkiebroon 1 year ago
@Antitodo2889
Spoonfull is by Willie Dixon. Many of the chess records artists did spoonful as well as many of Willies other songs. Please give credit where credit is due.
101MattSki 1 year ago
I stumbled into the blues in a similar way. I'd go for "Am I Right or Wrong" for something lighter, or for a darker/heavier piece try "Death Letter".
That's because Son House is the best and Antitodo secretly knows it.
SmackheadPedo 2 years ago
@dogstaple
John lee hooker 4eva bruv
and howlin wolf, cant go wrong with howlin wolf
otis rush too!
abuseforapie 1 year ago
Ad if you guys think that posting things like "oh yeah black people is awesome just because theyre black" then im not the ignorant here, I love blues, i Love music in general,and im pretty sure you guys also do, to me niggot rap is completely gay and cannot be considered as music, so go ahead keep thinking that auto-censorship is what makes racial prejudice go away, ill tell you something,Its useless to give yourself enemies that are not on the level of the conflict itself, i think for myself
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
@Antitodo2889 What the fuck is "niggot rap"? Why are you insulting the people who came to give your videos comments and views and calling them "fags"? Yes, you are free to be a dumbass and say what you want but its not without consequences, like the fact that I will avoid every one of your videos from now on because you are ignorant and probably 12 years old judging by the way you insult people.
ty73us 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Someone got insulted by the word "Fag"? HAHA being offended by a word is just gay
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
@Antitodo2889 Then you must be really fag
fistokov 1 year ago
@Anti Todo 2889 A poor attempt at humor.
cw1310 1 year ago
@Antitodo2889 You're fucking stupid for that comment.
DieByTheDrop 1 year ago
@ty73us he meant nigger rap. and nigger rap is shit. as is all rap.
StingerNova 1 year ago
HAHA you guys are so gay,of course i dont have problems saying a word,how do you pretend to banned languaje? how stupid is to think that sympathy and tolerance are the same thing? you can keep calling me a nazi or a redneck kkk scum, fact is, i dont like to censor myself just because some hippie thinks that is politically correct, no im not a racist,not because i think everybody is equal,no, is because i dont give a crap.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
I just visited the Sugar Land prison in Texas yesterday. They have converted it to a museum...Houston Museum of Natural Science. In one part of the museum, they have a section of the history of the prison, and I learned about Leadbelly there. I love the Creedence version of this song. It was cool to find this information out.
emoons 2 years ago 2
aaaaaaa esta cabrona la rolotaaaaaaaaa
dv1c3WMWparamo0o0or3 2 years ago
I love to sing this song when I'm drunk which is all to often
Arianalynn456 2 years ago 3
GOODFUCKINSHIT BECAUSEHELIVEDIT
TheChode08 2 years ago
Shine your light on me! What a tune!!!!!!
stevenallan23 2 years ago
"...After his release, Leadbelly accompanied the Lomaxes to other prisons around the South...Leadbelly became a sensation...made his first commercial recordings ... in January 1935. ...Leadbelly died on December 6, 1949, in New York City and is buried in the Shiloh Baptist Church graveyard near Mooringsport."
neverindoubt 2 years ago
"...he did not make commercial recordings. .Leadbelly was arrested for attempted homicide in 1930 and was sent to...Angola...gaining popularity with prisoners, guards, and Warden L. A. Jones. When folklorist John Lomax arrived at Angola with his son Alan in July 1933 to record "Negro work songs" for the Library of Congress, Warden Jones recommended Leadbelly..."
neverindoubt 2 years ago
"...Leadbelly spent the majority of the next seven years in the Texas penal system, becoming a legend for his labor ability and his singing. While in prison, he sang a ballad for Governor Pat Neff in January 1924, begging for a pardon that was granted a year later in one of Neff's last official acts..."
neverindoubt 2 years ago
"...Leadbelly began to have serious troubles with the law beginning in 1915, and by the following year he was an escaped criminal living under the alias of Walter Boyd. Leadbelly shot and killed Will Stafford in December 1917, while on the run from the law..."
neverindoubt 2 years ago
Wasnt Lomax involved in getting him out early?
I think he also tried to kill Lomax whilst they were on the road together
0987freeloader 1 year ago
Comment removed
GoodStuff79 2 years ago
Nice vid. Thanks for posting it.
taiggur 2 years ago
do you know when was this version was recorded and what label it was recorded at?
id appreciate any ifno, thanks :)
Hornilope 2 years ago
@Hornilope
1934 by Leadbelly. in 1940 on RCA with Leadbelly and the Golden Gate Quartet
ToscaDryliver 2 years ago
You guys (and Lomax) are being simple-minded, unlike Leadbelly...it's an ALLEGORY, duh....Do you believe EVERYTHING that you read? Check it out for yourself- I'm not the only one w/ this view....
DocGeorge4U 2 years ago
if you check the alan lomax book AMERICAN FOLK SONGS it says the midnight special is a train and the mythology is that if its light shines on you then youll be set free
mrtbunny 2 years ago
@mrtbunny We were always told it was the light of death on you, if the light shined on you, it was death
neverindoubt 2 years ago
LOL! Like the song says, aint no cure for convict man...ceptin death
neverindoubt 2 years ago
Comment removed
Geizjr 2 years ago
The "Midnight Secial{ is the Electric Chair, and when it shines its light on you, you WILL be free....
DocGeorge4U 2 years ago
The midnight special was a train....it came around the prison everynight around midnight and the inmates believed if the light shined on them they would be released soon.....thats why they sing "let the midnight special shine it's ever loving light on me"
Geizjr 2 years ago
these guy invented rap robert johnson and lead belly both had multiple songs that had hip-hop lyric pre world war II
clokrak1 2 years ago
I don't think Robert Johnson or Leadbelly invented gay music. I think they were more folk and blues Gods.
PageandPlant4Life 2 years ago 4
haha, no leadbelly and robert johnson were for real, no fag music here
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
youre the only fag here
channing789 2 years ago
Im just saying i just dont like Nigger-Fag music... i dont like Niggot music.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
Comment removed
weighfreight 2 years ago
@Antitodo2889 yes you sure know your music dumb fuck, led belly would kill you for your breakfast and right a awesome song about, look in the mirror and realize who the real faggot is.
jdunk502 2 years ago 8
@jdunk502 well said my friend! I was going to post something to that ass hole but you said it all!
stevenallan23 2 years ago 2
read my last comment hippie
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
ur retarted
dontdodrugzz1 2 years ago
save it for the cross adolf you little faggot
jeff6767 2 years ago
@Antitodo2889 why come and listen to it then then say don't like nigger music put kkk in to search all your buddies there
stevegale1948 2 years ago 2
this guy is the MAN
murphmanin 2 years ago
leadbelly and that big 12 string stella of his what a trip man
RomeGaStuntFactory 2 years ago
Ledbetter added a couple verses about his own problems that always seemed to work out badly -- squabbling and fighting that seemed to be forced on him.
neverindoubt 2 years ago
Leadbelly didn't write this song. This is just a cover version. This is an old country song written and first recorded by Otto Gray and his Oklahoma Cowboys with lead singer Dave "Pistol Pete" Cutrell.
I'm black, but this is a white country folk song, but a black song. No different than Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues.
EbonyBunny1 2 years ago
It's a prison legend, apparently, if the train light shone in your window you would die -- in a way, released.
neverindoubt 2 years ago
he was singing about himself. He shot a guy and went to prison and wanted to be free
USASoCCerGoaL 2 years ago
Ledbelly was a knife man, not a shooter
neverindoubt 2 years ago
he was also convicted of at least 1 gun charge earlier in his criminal career. a first class bar room brawler. problably played to some wild crowds
largelester 2 years ago
@largelester I think Ledbetter's involvement with the law was just his inability to accept the rules of his society at the time...like us Italians, we just don't do discipline well. They didn't call him "lead belly" fer nothin! Don't step out when he's on a toot! Lomax learned, even.
neverindoubt 2 years ago
"Born January 15, 1888...a strong child, who could pick prodigious quantities of cotton...known as a "musicianer" for his instrumental prowess...1906 and 1908 he drifted through Louisiana, hearing Jelly Roll Morton ... In 1912, Ledbetter adopted the working name Leadbelly and took up with Blind Lemon Jefferson...
neverindoubt 2 years ago
Ok...so Ledbelly invented Rock n Roll
wuclanfan 2 years ago
Pretty much. Rock n Roll and various other genres have roots that come from the Blues
CaptainScruffyBeard 2 years ago
Of course i was just referring to the idea that the various styles first converged in the 50's....i Guess Rock n Roll came around a bit before that = P
wuclanfan 2 years ago
Nah, he invented Folk. Robert Johnson invented Rock and Roll.
thefringthing 2 years ago
Word.
wuclanfan 2 years ago
does everyone know the meaning of this song? the midnight special was a trasin that rolled past the prison Leadbelly was in every night @ midnight. the legend was if its light shone in your window, you'd be released the next day. but the train tracks ran parallel to the prison, so its light couldnt shine in. kinda sad & ironic
SSSlappy138 2 years ago 2
i thought he was reaslsed early twice from prision beacuse he could sing atemped murder i think the gharges were
jhonwanegasey 2 years ago
I love this song...kisses from Italy!
alevoce83 2 years ago
black is beautiful, and so is tan.
but white is the coulour of The Big Boss Man!--Huey Newton
BrokenneckYgor 2 years ago
but what is the midnight special?
MrCyberGJnr 2 years ago
'twas a train, but just in the song
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
God bless Huddy Ledbetter...may this unique and uniquely talented American rest in peace.
WestportRugby3 2 years ago
Sublime. A world treasure - I hope we humans never forget the likes of "Leadbelly".
SCOTCHSOLACE 2 years ago 3
How about we stop the pointless bickering about race and enjoy the sublime sounds of Huddie Ledbetter? For god's sake this is a folk and blues legend, he doesn't deserve this stupid fighting... enjoy the music!
Bobofuhsho 2 years ago 6
just listen to leadbelly, forget that cracker business
swampy787 2 years ago 3
Let the midnight special shine her ever living light on me.
esb420 2 years ago 2
KhemuLuxons
the mere fact you use the word "crackers" only prolongs the hatred between colours. Frankly I couldnt give a fuck if Huddie Leadbetter was fuckin Blue
Chainsawhands 2 years ago 7
Why is it that when someone makes a new version of a song that it's the "right" version? Leadbelly is awesome and a lot of musicians made new versions of his songs and made a lot of money from them.
LetzWrock 2 years ago
leadbelly rules
fatas412 2 years ago
I sang this while playing washboard in a skiffle group in England 1957. Great memories of this song.
prehistory42 2 years ago
words dont mean nothin when U compare it to the man the music
gwengoadalso 2 years ago
your lyrics are all wrong- almost every single line has a mistake in it
SUGARLAND bound not penitentiary- bound although it is probably the state pen, Sugarland TX.
mikethebike7 2 years ago
There is no "wrong version" or "wrong lyrics" for this song, this is a FOLK song, thats why you can do whatever you wnk with it, nobody knows how the original version was, so thats why nobody can say theres "wrong" lyrics to it.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
It is somewhat possible to have incorrect lyrics if they sound nothing like the song.
1313Nothing 2 years ago
its wrong if your going off of creedences version
fatas412 2 years ago
Wow! Someone got it right! In his version Ledbelly sings Sugar Land bound. They have just restored the old prison building (which I think was the admin building but could have housed inmates also). It opens in Oct. as a satellite museum of the Houston Museum of Natural Science. I live in the area so I'm checking it out and if the guide doesn't know about Ledbelly's history, I'll have to school him a bit!
jimmyjim546 2 years ago
All the Brothers have soul that no other Race can even approach by a light year! My heart pours out to this fact and I am a White Boy. What a treasure. Thank goodness that so much of his work and the work of other Brothers is available here. I find it very moving.
jbg3941 2 years ago
brothers....white boy?
youre scum...you dont deserve to listen to this music. take your fucking racism elsewhere
extinguishersoul 2 years ago
extinguishersoul,
It was a compliment about an ethnocentric phenomena that I feel in my soul when I experience the music of Brothers. "He is/was a Brother..." was standard jargon in Vietnam. It was not racist or hateful or negative or ... it was as neutral, benign, innocuous as any title or label could be! If anything it was a "term of endearment" from a honky or honkies or other ethnicity, who had their lives saved by a "Brother!" Now who is alive and glowing with "RACISM!" Huh?
jbg3941 2 years ago
Love Mr. Ledbetters Version
TheAlaabs 2 years ago 3
Omg. "...being offended by a word is just gay."
Priceless.
keatingandrea 2 years ago 9
Comment removed
groovydog11 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
the guy who posted this is an asshole!
But an asshole that may a have a taste in good ol music so we can overlook that
; )
sk8nskunk 2 years ago
me?
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
The guy who posted this isnt an asshole!
Everyone commenting on here is a P.C mother fucker, the guy who posted this is fucking awesome!
groovydog11 2 years ago
The Midnight Special was a TRAIN. The Lomax's errantly thought he wrote this when recording it for Library of Congress during Ledbelly's attempted murder rap in 1934 but there is a 1905 version He likely learned an embellished version in jail. Hal Leonard Guitar Method book 2 ( which I give students for rock and blues basics ) contains Midnight Special as "traditional" ( not Ledbetter ) Get a start in basics with a teacher and HIS favorite book. You can wander about later on a firm foundation.
Geepsterr 2 years ago
i find funny how the black people, who were discriminated for so long, accomplished to make the whole scene of music we see in this century and in the last. people like leadbelly, robert Johnson, and more lately BB king and john lee hooker, along with some more, made the good old fucking great blues, the structure of music as we know it. Talk about a shoot in the head to the racists.
muquinhas 2 years ago 2
maybe its because they had something to sing about, they were awesome black people who carried they sorrow and pain into the greatest music ever, now, there is a few black talented people out there, just a buch of niggers whining about how theyre people were discriminated 200 years ago, were are the leadbellies and blind willies? where are the great black people who said "fuck your discrimination, im gonna make great things by myself"
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Are you black? The word nigger offends me Irish people were not considered white for a long time people called em niggers. So the irish made bluegrass.......
harryit 2 years ago
I dont know how a word can offend people, im not black im latin/basque/irish, i know what you mean about irish people but being offended by a word is just gay.
Antitodo2889 2 years ago
More "crackers" are whining today than anybody. They have a 400 year head start on everybody else, still in charge 99.9% of major institutions and businesses, yet complain about non-whites taking over. It is whining "crackers" who control most of the music labels that put out this musical garbage (black & white). There are plenty of talented Black singers and musicians who are not being signed. Go to any Black church and there is still great talent.
KhemuLuxons 2 years ago 3