I was working the graveyard shift for little money. My family moved away and my girlfriend left me. Every night I would fall asleep on the living room floor of my friend's house with tears in my eyes. I'd listen to this song, and felt comfort in knowing that at some point in time, someone understood. Times are still hard, but I'm getting by. Thank you Skip James.
live like job (jobe) or you can't sing blues and make it real. If daddy took the keys to the hummer
vietnam war jimi janis and so on you want to have blues it gotta happen can't be induced tired of little boy sayin i went to school. don't believe me turn on the radio popularity is a song and melody heartfelt not read off a page you think muddy felt the pain leadbelly/robert the king you juz don't get it
I worked on the killin' floor at (Artie) Watkins Packing Plant in Dalhart, Texas in the early 70's...I mostly loaded quarters of swinging beef on trucks but ran the hide wagon on the kill floor too. Ward, the kill man 22'd a big bull one day and before he was cut after rolled out and hung, came to life slinging his head. Ward aimed and started shooting. He missed the first couple of shots and bullets were ricocheting...we all dove for cover...killin'floor blues.
Great structure. This is not as simple as some would think to play and sing. Of course, few would have the talent to rise to this sound. I see some guitar instructions on how to play this song that are laughable.
Lots of big name blues artists have recorded this song but this particular version by Skip blows em all away, big time. No one else comes close. It's a shame that Skip didn't get the recognition he deserves when he was still alive.
The 1930s version is a bit rougher but, more desperate sounding...the guy was living in the middle of it, you know? A HUGE influence on Cream and Led Zeppelin...I have been obsessing over this song for year since I first heard it in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
Skip James sings with soul. This is the best version of anything I've heard of his. Thanks for posting. Marking it as a favorite to listen to again. Is this part of some box set? I would have thought I had heard a lot of his music but this is wonderful and the quality is superb. Someone has cleaned it up. Beautiful. beautiful.
I'm thinking the "canned heat" singer Bear? was influenced by this guy for sure.
I am "discovering" his tunes for the first time. I don't profess to be a blues expert but I have heard and loved most all of them . And now Skip James .. live and learn. Thanks for it. Jeez what a treasure trove utube is. I can sit here in my older age and see and hear all these great artists, even though I am crippled up somewhat.that do'nt make no never mind
@abanks47 That is so hard to say-so here is a few off the top...Leon Russell- Lightning Hopkins-Jerry lee lewis-Bobby Bland-George Jones-Nina Simone-Commander Cody&L P airmen- Marv Johnson- Heartbeats(shep&limelighters)- Johnny Cash-. Buddy HollyTodays best record ever.... Louie Louie by Richard Berry brings back fond teen memories of cruising Los Angeles in 50's.just oozing life out of my pores. or was it "all night long" by Mighty joe Houston lol sorry can't get specific but it ain't easy
@joshshuffman HAH I like that..... or maybe huffin helium? Really tightey whiteys? I saw them once in LA (place had searchlights going outside-only way we found it) but I was juiced on something and disremember the particulars. I do remember they did refried boogie-went forever and beer was expensive.... take care
@5871248 youtube is great isn't it ! Music through the decades... Have you checked out Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Willie Johnson ? Similar sound and similar feeling. Best wishes 55 zeros
@5871248 I know both blind owl and bear were huge blues fanatics but I figured the vocal that matches this most is blind owls bear was the real gravelly deep voice Blind owl is the singer on Going up the country, etc. But they both surely draw from ol' skip james....love the blues it gets me deep in my soul and pins me to my roots.
@5871248 i think you're talking about Alan Wilson of Canned Heat who was their second singer. He sung in a similar high pitch and sure did study a lot of Skip James' music. The met several times and Wilson was surely influenced by Skip. He did some arrangements of his songs but they sadly didn't make it on any official Canned Heat record.
@EvolvaProject Thats VERY interesting- thanks for info- . I went to your site thing to see if you looked credible and YOU DO haha. I caught your vid of Bullfrog and was very impressed. You played and sang the hell out of that one. You seem to have studied the Canned Heat to a great extent. Keep it alive brother. Thanks
@5871248 Bob "The Bear" hite great vocalist with Heat- as was Al "Blind Owl" Wilson- the vocal sounds a bit closer to the "Blind Owl" "The Bear was a bit more gruff
@5871248 Hey... Just want to tell you that it was "the Blind Owl", who was one the guitarsts and the harp player in Canned Heat, that sang in this way. But I agree that he must have been influenced by Skip. The Bear is the one singing in "normal" voice.
used to own the original version, most delta blues came from the yazoo area but james as well as bud spires and jack owens were the only few to hail from bentonia, the north hills country blues much like fred mcdowell from farther north
@abanks47 thanks for uploading this :) it is my favorite song of all time. no Symphony by Maler or Mozart, no metallica, no jimi hendrix, no Doors, no John Dowland, no Sting and no filmmusic by Morricone......and I LOVE these artists :)
@solinjar yes, me posting this video, commenting on comments, profile picture and a simple glance at my favorites clearly shows that i am unappreciative of the blues, also clearly shows that the majority of the USA does not appreciate Blues either.
some cool blues right there ..right there.....right there man .
peperfish 2 days ago
MUSIC RIGHT HERE!!
olskooldannib030 2 days ago
I can actually hear the picture sing.
MrRaphinelli 3 days ago
This is a man at one with his guitar and voice. Truly music from the soul.
13EMAIN14 6 days ago
two people never had the blues....
lordofthemoodring 1 week ago in playlist Liked videos
aah i head this in the movie "oh brother where art thou"
elbones1982 2 weeks ago
the blues were written about sorrow, but ind the end its perhaps the must uplifting kind of music.
it certainly has helped me through shitty times.
barba666ruiva 2 weeks ago
@barba666ruiva Misery loves company, they say,the blues lets you know we all have em,
timberbeast420 2 weeks ago
I was working the graveyard shift for little money. My family moved away and my girlfriend left me. Every night I would fall asleep on the living room floor of my friend's house with tears in my eyes. I'd listen to this song, and felt comfort in knowing that at some point in time, someone understood. Times are still hard, but I'm getting by. Thank you Skip James.
EveryoneCallsMeChris 3 weeks ago
live like job (jobe) or you can't sing blues and make it real. If daddy took the keys to the hummer
vietnam war jimi janis and so on you want to have blues it gotta happen can't be induced tired of little boy sayin i went to school. don't believe me turn on the radio popularity is a song and melody heartfelt not read off a page you think muddy felt the pain leadbelly/robert the king you juz don't get it
SuperJohnnyv 3 weeks ago
I wonder if anyone knows what song the band Cream sang of Skip James?
rnlpw 3 weeks ago
@rnlpw I believe it was "I'm So Glad"
Podevarius 3 weeks ago
I worked on the killin' floor at (Artie) Watkins Packing Plant in Dalhart, Texas in the early 70's...I mostly loaded quarters of swinging beef on trucks but ran the hide wagon on the kill floor too. Ward, the kill man 22'd a big bull one day and before he was cut after rolled out and hung, came to life slinging his head. Ward aimed and started shooting. He missed the first couple of shots and bullets were ricocheting...we all dove for cover...killin'floor blues.
Doug
dcntexas3 4 weeks ago 3
@dcntexas3 wow... interesting
1d3j8m 3 weeks ago
Finally found the title of this song! Anyone know if this can be played in standard eadgbe tuning?
singularityJoe 1 month ago
@singularityJoe
You could probably work something out for standard but Skip used open Dm which is DADFAD, I think I saw a tab online somewhere..
Owlute 4 weeks ago
Great structure. This is not as simple as some would think to play and sing. Of course, few would have the talent to rise to this sound. I see some guitar instructions on how to play this song that are laughable.
1968joseph1 1 month ago
Gotta love 1930s blues. The best blues going around.
ZeppelinFloydRoses 1 month ago
Lots of big name blues artists have recorded this song but this particular version by Skip blows em all away, big time. No one else comes close. It's a shame that Skip didn't get the recognition he deserves when he was still alive.
65coro 1 month ago
The 1930s version is a bit rougher but, more desperate sounding...the guy was living in the middle of it, you know? A HUGE influence on Cream and Led Zeppelin...I have been obsessing over this song for year since I first heard it in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
mortalengines65 1 month ago
Haunting....
Sammybizness 1 month ago
IT WASN'T BEAR , BUT BLIND OWL . HE PLAYED AND AWESOME HARPOON .
bytwyzz 1 month ago
this song is as relevant today as it was 80 yrs ago...
GRADYGRAVES5 1 month ago
marvellous...
MKPeillet 1 month ago
Skip James sings with soul. This is the best version of anything I've heard of his. Thanks for posting. Marking it as a favorite to listen to again. Is this part of some box set? I would have thought I had heard a lot of his music but this is wonderful and the quality is superb. Someone has cleaned it up. Beautiful. beautiful.
nestorian9 1 month ago
damn..this is smokin'
kaptkarl 1 month ago
this guy is a poet
RockandrollPoet 1 month ago
I'm hearing a lot of Leon Rathbone in this guy's guitar. I wonder if they ever crossed paths?
TheMarkNessMonster 1 month ago
not forgetting robert johnson (:
coolmage 2 months ago
"like"-button seems so shamelessly lame to express my feelings
FiktiivinenTelsu 2 months ago 3
I wish there was a button here that said "LOVE" .
johnnyboy9034 2 months ago 4
I'm thinking the "canned heat" singer Bear? was influenced by this guy for sure.
I am "discovering" his tunes for the first time. I don't profess to be a blues expert but I have heard and loved most all of them . And now Skip James .. live and learn. Thanks for it. Jeez what a treasure trove utube is. I can sit here in my older age and see and hear all these great artists, even though I am crippled up somewhat.that do'nt make no never mind
old guy
5871248 2 months ago 56
@5871248 out of curiosity whom are your favorite artists? Blues or other
abanks47 2 months ago
@abanks47 That is so hard to say-so here is a few off the top...Leon Russell- Lightning Hopkins-Jerry lee lewis-Bobby Bland-George Jones-Nina Simone-Commander Cody&L P airmen- Marv Johnson- Heartbeats(shep&limelighters)- Johnny Cash-. Buddy HollyTodays best record ever.... Louie Louie by Richard Berry brings back fond teen memories of cruising Los Angeles in 50's.just oozing life out of my pores. or was it "all night long" by Mighty joe Houston lol sorry can't get specific but it ain't easy
5871248 1 month ago
@5871248 yeah we can just keep on keepin on old guy...i feel you! this is good ol stuff here though!
justpickin4me 1 month ago
@5871248 i just assumed the guy from Canned Heat was ripping off Kermit the Frog.
joshshuffman 1 month ago
@joshshuffman HAH I like that..... or maybe huffin helium? Really tightey whiteys? I saw them once in LA (place had searchlights going outside-only way we found it) but I was juiced on something and disremember the particulars. I do remember they did refried boogie-went forever and beer was expensive.... take care
5871248 1 month ago
@5871248 beautiful words
greetings young guy sry for bad english
riksommers 1 month ago
@5871248 youtube is great isn't it ! Music through the decades... Have you checked out Blind Lemon Jefferson and Blind Willie Johnson ? Similar sound and similar feeling. Best wishes 55 zeros
55Zeros 1 month ago
@5871248 I know both blind owl and bear were huge blues fanatics but I figured the vocal that matches this most is blind owls bear was the real gravelly deep voice Blind owl is the singer on Going up the country, etc. But they both surely draw from ol' skip james....love the blues it gets me deep in my soul and pins me to my roots.
DanDunebuggy 1 month ago
@5871248 It was Alan Wilson (Blind Owl) of Canned heat who was influenced by this guy, not Bear
alejandrosuckmy 4 weeks ago
@5871248 i think you're talking about Alan Wilson of Canned Heat who was their second singer. He sung in a similar high pitch and sure did study a lot of Skip James' music. The met several times and Wilson was surely influenced by Skip. He did some arrangements of his songs but they sadly didn't make it on any official Canned Heat record.
EvolvaProject 3 weeks ago
@EvolvaProject Thats VERY interesting- thanks for info- . I went to your site thing to see if you looked credible and YOU DO haha. I caught your vid of Bullfrog and was very impressed. You played and sang the hell out of that one. You seem to have studied the Canned Heat to a great extent. Keep it alive brother. Thanks
old guy
5871248 3 weeks ago
@5871248 Bob "The Bear" hite great vocalist with Heat- as was Al "Blind Owl" Wilson- the vocal sounds a bit closer to the "Blind Owl" "The Bear was a bit more gruff
TheAmericanidiot9 1 week ago
@5871248 Hey... Just want to tell you that it was "the Blind Owl", who was one the guitarsts and the harp player in Canned Heat, that sang in this way. But I agree that he must have been influenced by Skip. The Bear is the one singing in "normal" voice.
sletnern 1 week ago
Real, raw, fantastic...
scaredypicker 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
so wonderfully blue and beautiful...
stanarchy93 2 months ago
There's a dislike for this?? Huh. I'm pretty sure that's the only sin that Jesus doesn't forgive. Just sayin..
dan25pim 3 months ago
the hum of someone feelin the blues..
TakeyoLifebitch 3 months ago
used to own the original version, most delta blues came from the yazoo area but james as well as bud spires and jack owens were the only few to hail from bentonia, the north hills country blues much like fred mcdowell from farther north
francios67 4 months ago
JUST WONDERFULL...
zavataz 9 months ago
LOVE HIS VOICE...so original with depth and days we will never see...Thanks Mr. James for leaving this for us to hear and feel your pain.......
Evelynsgrace 11 months ago 18
great post banks...blues at its best
eihwazone 2 years ago
This is my favorite recording of this song. When did he record it/where can I get it?
Banerik 2 years ago
this version i believe was recorded in the 60s sometime before his death during the big blues boom. the original was sometime in the 20s.
abanks47 2 years ago
rec. New York City, 9/10 Jan. 1966
oobleckboy 2 years ago 9
thanks for th einfo
abanks47 2 years ago
@abanks47 thanks for uploading this :) it is my favorite song of all time. no Symphony by Maler or Mozart, no metallica, no jimi hendrix, no Doors, no John Dowland, no Sting and no filmmusic by Morricone......and I LOVE these artists :)
lateinpg 2 months ago
Comment removed
kamilszelest 1 year ago
@abanks47 first recorded in 31 then in 67,man dissapeard for 30 years,so mutch about people apreciating blues in usa
solinjar 1 month ago
@solinjar yes, me posting this video, commenting on comments, profile picture and a simple glance at my favorites clearly shows that i am unappreciative of the blues, also clearly shows that the majority of the USA does not appreciate Blues either.
abanks47 1 month ago
@abanks47 i was thinging about way back then,i mean son House also stopped performing then,rare were blues artists that could make a livin out of it
solinjar 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
hermes323 1 month ago
@Banerik try one of these programs
h t t p: // w w w. baixaki. com .br/ download/ free- youtube-to -mp3- converter. h t m
hermes323 1 month ago