'Travelin' Blues' BLIND WILLIE McTELL, Blues Guitar Legend

[matttttt84]

This song came to mind when I first heard

Big Boy's untitled "Blues"

- recorded by Roscoe Lewis in Hampton, Virginia (1941)

The recording is on Blue Ridge Institute's 'Virginia Traditions' series.

This was BRI-006, which had the LP title "Tidewater Blues"

Same formula of a hobo narrative.

Alternating thumb use, 'talking' verses and

then singing a 'song' within the song itself.

[matttttt84]

Here's some info on "riding the blinds"

blindman.15.forumer.com/a/ridi­ng-the-blinds_post14567.html

[Walkingshadow1]

Classic song, one of his best. BTW, the line is "Mr. Engineer, let a man ride the blinds; Mr. Engineer, let a poor man ride the blinds. Said, 'I wouldn't mind it fella, but you know this train ain't mine.'" For those who might not know, "ride the blinds" has a specific meaning, but was also more general slang for riding the freight trains (illegally). Also, to raveyard....he was not talking about South America, he was talking about the south of America, which is where he came from---the south.

[raveyard]

@Walkingshadow1 Thanks for the info. 

[BaggedGnome]

Blind Willie is my favourite from that era. Undeniably good.

[stueycow]

it takes some doing playing a 12 string blind but playing at this level of quality is amazing especially 0:30 a truly a master I am 12 and my granddad likes this and so do i

[raveyard]

Must have been a great performer, my favorit story teller.

with a golden voice, we are so fortunate he was blind.

Telling us, close your eyes and listen, this is what it sounds like, travelin through the country of South-America.

He got many in his storybook even in this one song is filled with impressions.

These storys in just one line singing and played with guitar

I want to hear again and again.

[badpdx]

He always reminds me of Lonnie Johnson. They started recording about the same time so it's hard to tell who influenced whom. Most likely both were influenced by somebody else.

[auchindown]

wow

[Bobjb999]

I like it this singer enunciates clearly. In contrast, try figuring out words to a Charlie Patton song without seeing lyrics! It ain't easy.

[Kynatics]

@Bobjb999 hahaha that's true. First time I heard "Spoonful Blues", I couldn't figure out what in the world he was singin about, although I loved the tune!

[samsharpeye]

As opposed to what? A woman with a cat and a flute?

[OrenoiR]

where can i found the lyrics?

[ceepatton]

@OrenoiR

Right here.

[AgentCarter]

@OrenoiR heres my best shot

i was traveling through south america, walked up to a lady's house, called her grandma, didnt know her name, she give me something to eat, walked on down the road, i heard an old train getting off like this, i heard an old bell ring kind of like this, i went on down i heard an old whistle blow, i heard it say lookey yonder, lookey yonder, at the women, at the women, i went on in and i began to sing the the engineer, mr engineer let a man ride this line (CONT)

[AgentCarter]

@AgentCarter (CONT) mr engineer let a poor man ride this line, well i wouldnt mind it fella but you know this train aint mine, i began to hear that old fella blow a long short, get away blower, and i began to sing to him one more time, your the cruel fireman low down engineer, your the cruel fireman low down engineer, im trying to hobo my way and you leave me standing here, then i go along further and i began to sing poor boy to him, then he began to smile in my face, (CONT)

[AgentCarter]

@AgentCarter (CONT) get up fella and ride all around the world, get up fella and ride all around the world, poor boy you aint got no girl, then i begin to hear him tell me about those cheese and eggs, how he wanted them fixed, scrambled down, scrambled down, scramble down, then i began to hear him tell me about them cheese and eggs, alright i say cheese, eggs, dinner, dinner, then i began to hear him tell me about emery, i love you emery i love you true, i love you emery tell the world i do, yea

[MisterBorg9]

@AgentCarter Slight correction: It's "let a poor man ride the blinds" , not "ride this line"

[sirkickbutt1]

@AgentCarter To me, especially since McTell was blind, the line sounds like "Mr. engineer, let a poor man ride that's blind."

[AgentCarter]

@sirkickbutt1 sounds more like "this line" to me though

[redflagwaving008]

I love how it ends. Theres so much historical context behind it.

[BabyEater9000]

cheese and eggs. legendary.

[OlivarJohansen]

Same cords as whorehouse blues - Motorhead :D

[SouthBoundAl]

@OlivarJohansen oh is it so?? two different blues songs have the exact same chords?? lordy mama what a coincidence :-----DDD

[MushiePuppet17]

i wrote a short story inspired by this song. Blind Willie creates some of the richest music in existence.

[Nyquilcoma]

CHEESE! EGGS! I love you Emry, yes I do! I grew up in Atlanta during the '70's. My first guitar teacher was a white man who followed Blind Willie around to Bar-B-Que and liquor store parking lots in the early '50's. He said Blind Willie played an enormous 12-string Stella that looked like it was made out of cardboard, and would sing any song you could name for a dime. He had a taste for corn liquor, and would play your party all night for $5 and a fifth. That was when a God walked the earth.

[1snocogirl]

oh my god! that's where page learned that? 

[sourcactus]

@1snocogirl hahaha jimmy page stole everything. theres a website telling where he stole almost every song idea from, somewhere

[Murnicor]

@sourcactus Are you serious ?-.-

[sourcactus]

@Murnicor yeah, and you can see that when you start playing through old blues musicians who influenced them. everything they stole they made there own, but they still stole it haha

[shiambles]

Imagine this singer performing, for me it would be the most thrilling experience ever.

[jessupar]

@shiambles this singer is also playing the guitar... if i were doing this many things at once on stage i dont think i'd have enough time to be thrilled.

[raveyard]

@jessupar I ment the experience for the audience

I know he was playing and singing all at once and being a great performer.

[MrPhonograph]

one guitar

[jth1v072009]

there's two guitarists on this actually

[RatherCrunchyMuffin]

@jth1v072009 Mctell only ever recorded with one guitar. He did, however, have five fingers on his right hand.

[doggeds]

i've been waiting for somebody to upload this. i think this is perhaps blind willie mctell's very best : )

[falkirkdouglas9]

One man, One guitar, one mic. And It's a 12 string.

[blackmath8]

@falkirkdouglas9

And he's blind.

[tacStar253]

is that just him playing without an over dub? if so absolutely amazing.

[ceepatton]

This song is fucking amazing, please excuse my language.

[june4783]

NO