Elmore James - The Sky is Crying

[MrRobinPresley]

Does anyone know where can I get a tab for the intro of this song?

[asceticification]

Thanks for uploading. E.J was king of the slashing bottleneck...

[lazercannoncheck]

who wrote this song this guy or sonny boy or someone else?

[Robearwgl]

@lazercannoncheck this guy. i first heard the SRV version 22 years ago and was hooked on the blues from that point on

[greaserleo]

clank! love it



[Klinky99]

I agree with TheGREATEST95



[TheGREATEST95]

technology ruined the blues and many more good stuff i hate technology

[pretty9reenpark4]

@TheGREATEST95 but yet in one aspect we wouldnt here greats such as this youtube is like an archive of some of the greatest players to ever grace the stage.

[TheGREATEST95]

@pretty9reenpark4 dont care we would of heard it on the streets

[SAMUELSAAVEDRA1]

@TheGREATEST95 chances of that are super slim

[grizlybird]

@TheGREATEST95 A) How did technology ruin peoples passion they have for their art (in this case, the blues)? and B) Writing about your hatred of technology on one of the largest internet social uploading sites isn't making a very strong case, so take your ass out in to the middle of nowhere and sing the blues away from us while we enjoy our Elmore.

[ThomasDeLello]

@TheGREATEST95

Yeah... I think you're right.

[Reddirtgirl55Again]

Fantastic!

[gaz470]

Intro is amazing. Listened to it like 10 times in a row. Was playing air slide guitar on the last one! hehe. Some 100% grade A blues right there :)

[deuceman9450]

Some people feel it inside, some don't.

I'll feel so sorry for those that don't.......

[HoleHeadedLiar]

I love this song.

Especially the live Stevie Ray Vaughan cover from Real Deal: Greatest Hits Volume One.

[cazzymaloney]

Beautiful.... <3

[wuwei619]

The signature riff that opens this song bends time. My eyes squint shut and my face makes musical twitches every time I hear it.

[MrBubblegumballs]

polish the apples you do worship, dingdong.

[restlesspride666]

thank you odrox

[divisorplot]

smoke stake lighting vulcano peru dust my broom antipode dust my broom antipode Mr Vulcan

[arkee71]

i usually know that..if it makes my shoulders move on their own...its the blues

[JoeKalk1]

Reminds me of alotta uncles we aint got no more..

[darc1362]

@LedZeppelin420x Jazz too...read Robert Palmer's book, "Blues and Chaos". Very interesting read.

[LedZeppelin420x]

@darc1362 thats what i was sayin lol, i just didnt say: to

[Django5198]

me and my best friend sing this whenever it starts raining

[darc1362]

The blues is the root of ALL American music.

[LedZeppelin420x]

@darc1362 but jazz

[TheDutchGame]

@darc1362 All MODERN music mate. Not just american.

[gdouglas86]

Just herd stevie ray version and I had to track it down to the origional this is def going in the ipod

[Jesrama1]

@gdouglas86 The original is ultimate but SRV's 1987 Iowa live version is absolute top !

[rhondabenin56]

Here's the version I would vibe on!

[avallon235]

hell yeah!



[elleng222]

Who's playing the piano?

[LovableKarlMarx]

damn this is sad

[Owen7058]

True blues that comes from deep in the soul.

[whisky2roxy]

No words can describe how great this is. All you posers that think you can play this, put your guitar back in the case and have a listen

[jcrltn1124]

@whisky2roxy yep! yep! u sho nuff right

[jcrltn1124]

Respond to this video... i remember the day!!! there's a lotta posters out there who think they can play like Elmore...now way!!! 

[sharplessguy]

sadly this cut is very compressed. I used to have several LPs of James' work. His mastery of the slide is inspiring. I wish I'd have seen him play live. He's certainly influenced my guitar playing...

[1022rebelreddog]

i play guitar..and give the blues the # 1 reason people shake rattle and roll....if it aint got that mojo then it dont pass my mojo test....

[fxo369]

Amazing tune from one of the blues greats. It says a lot that this was later covered by none other than Eric Clapton & George Thorogood.

[TheThreeStrikes]

Sadly i had never heard of Elmore James before this song but now my life has been changed!

[McDonnellWrite]

People talk about his slide guitar chops, but he's a great singer too. He has so much feeling and power in his voice.

[dhiu9]

α ρε έλμορ. μας άφησες νωρίς

[sirronald69]

* * * * *

AWESOME

[FecalFarmer]

Someone needs to put up Tabs for this song. Can't find it anywhere

[1988WHISKY]

Yeah....PURE BLUES!!!

Amazing!

[Wuotinsheer]

me too, my favorite song of him,...unbelievable deep,..love it so much!!!

[pikochanchan]

My tears kick my ass everyday,.

sky is blue,sky is crying.

[KYgelly]

People dont give blues the respect they deserve, its the reason great genres like rock were created. If they only knew.

[Calintoz]

@KYgelly IF THEY ONLY KNEW !!!

[jasonemilio]

@KYgelly

I'm a 22 year old Vietnamese immigrant and even I know this; but yeah, like you said, 99% of my generation are oblivious to this , and classic rock and older songs in general.

[zaldivarjohn]

@jasonemilio ...Young man, music in general is universal. The blues, is more of a feeeeeeling, and a vibe. To like the blues is,either you have it in you, to like them, or you just don't. Like I say it's a feeling, an emotion that takes over and you are hooked. I'm glad for you, you are enlightening yourself and enjoying yourself at the same time, nothing wrong with that. Try Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan, here @YouTube, there you will get to see two enlightened Blues Masters Jam. Peace.

[zaldivarjohn]

@jasonemilio ... Hey,Emilio, this blues player inspired, thousands, if not millions of blues guitarist over the years...Listen to Led Zeppelins first album, there, they were playing the blues, just very loud, but the blues never the less.Some called it blues rock or hard rock even heavy metal.

Notice here, in this great recording, from @2:10 onward and compare it to Led Zepellin first album, the black and white cover with a zeppelin exploding. People were blown away by their blues guitar licks.

[jasonemilio]

@zaldivarjohn

No lol I know that Led Zeppelin was "blues-rock" and anyone with fundamental knowledge of the blues know that most classic rock bands and artists were heavily infuenced by the blues and jazz.. And zaldivarjohn, I guess you were trying to say the same thing?

Exactly what point were you guys trying to make?

My point was that people now a days have no appreciation for musical history and true musicianship.

[jepp1627]

@KYgelly blues had a baby and they named it rock n rool - muddy waters

[mig29su27f16]

@KYgelly damn right

[putaindepseudospris]

@KYgelly

Should people worship the apples just because they gave Newton the idea of the gravitation theory ?

[nyg1954]

 elmore sure wrote a lot of great songs.

[ewalks73]

wow!!!!! awsome

[petfireball]

i always heard SRV and warren hayes version but i never knew there was an original....i thank the vaughan and hayes for that

[petfireball]

@acdcfantic for all you know they have put pop on there....people that listen to rap and metal listen to this dude

[kinglear2009]

Blues primarily at its best!

[vandret]

King of slide guitar

[sammipink1]

used to drive my mum up the wall playing this record over and over again he was great

[Paulsworks]

Everybody out there ought to go out and buy this CD. You'll be enlightened as to where ZZ Top ,SRV,George Thurogood, Eric Clapton(although he was mostly influenced by Robert Johnson), and EARLY.Fleetwood Mac.maybe the best Blues/rock band ever, , and many,many others drew their inspiration from. Elmore was truly an American original. He deserves more recognition than he receives. IMHO.

[redpoul]

det var her det startede



[edwfriend]

If you enjoy this version check out Warren Haynes cover --W O W can he belt this great Blues song out. Respectfully , Old ED

[bigwillhenk]

Blues blues and blues very nice

[Bryant03051]

@bigwillhenk  You damn right.

[Bluesanne]

Kurt Ostbahn Rotz & Wossa, Album: Kurtiositäten (2002)

[mynewpastime]

Hey you musicians. Is this an old do bro guitar?

[residualbill]

I love the sound on his guitar here.

[clairebear999]

I wish I didn't have to go to work or school or interact with the world....I wanna just lay on the floor and listen to music all day

[autinspare]

I could listen to Elmore James all day. And I sometimes do...

[pholkins]

just listened to versions of this song by a. king and srv...both are masterful in their own right, but neither matches the original for raw feeling, pure blues power. it is a damn shame that elmore james doesn't get his due - the man deserves a seat among the titans of the blues.

[1richards]

@pholkins don't be knockin' stevie! that man is the reason i picked up the axe!

[TheHellbred]

anyone know what key this in? and what tuning?

[drapedaddy]

big fan of the electric blues period; these recordings (many of them re-recordings of his earlier work) are some of the best of the period. Thanks so much for posting this!

[followingbreadcrumbs]

Elmore's the man!!! LOVE!

[Giwilly18]

listen the tears falling, the chaos of all your memories splintering before you

[zfinnan]

this song makes me sway,music for the soul

[zfinnan]

this song makes me sway, music for the soul

[bmwstan]

I know a lot about the Blues, I'm entittled to my opinion just like you are entillted to yours. Mr Know it all.

[rollituplightitup85]

man i jizzed my pants when that first guitar note dropped

[Herve1955]

@bigstU25 Hendrix has ripped this piece. This is not the same spirit, nor the same soul.

[bmwstan]

The greatest Blues singer is singing right now

[skyiscrying53]

@bmwstan You dont know MUCH ABOUT BLUES THEN..LOL, JAMES WAS GOOD BUT SON HOUSE IS THE GOD OF BLUES......

[detweilcny]

It's a crime how little known Elmore James is today. It just doesn't get a whole lot better than this. There's more heart and soul in one note of this song than there is in entire albums of today's music.

[Monthy1990]

Elmore James is the best blues man ever, matter of fact...

[connorpocks]

word acdcfanatic. this dudes voice is freakin amazing. one of the best blues voices out there for sure.

[november191968]

Vry strange things happen when it's about good music! I have a man here Elmore James who would be much older than my father if both of them were alive and yet he says things that make more sense and are more real than anything else I've heard recently.If I were a musician,there'd only be one way to look at ; the past. Everything you want,just name it and it's right there...

[gniw56]

Neat, and sweet!

[mylittlerockabillyka]

YESSSSS

[glenndupuis]

If the blues ain't in ya, ya just are missing a great part of America's greatest music!

[Seaventeares]

fuck i love that song

[bigwillhenk]

lekker hoor

[jazz1bro]

My late Dad used to play this song. Thanks for putting this one up!

[boxingin]

Man, this dude pours his heart out with every fucking syllable that comes out deep from his heart and soul. The first time I heard this song it was a live version from George Thorogood (live in Cincinnati and I fell in love with it!) The funny thing is that I discovered this song around the same time that my first love kicked me to the curve for being an asshole! Ohhhhh, what memories.

[trumpetgod2010]

I live in middle tennessee and I think I've listened to this song every day since the flood. This and texas flood. We got the blues down here.lol.

[master10734]

porbally some of the best blues you will hear,did anybody hear My Rock by The Swan SIlvertones

[MrRustyGuns]

boxingin is a fuckin idiot.I think your a hendrix clone,trippin with 15 hits under your headband to say some shit like that.Vaughn was nothing but original,and showed respect to his influences.Thats how you do it.What r u trippin on...wizard of oz double dipped?

[boxingin]

@MrRustyGuns Hey, it takes one to know one. lol!!! Show me what was so original about SRV? C'mon and shut my mouth with facts and not little boy's actions like you're doing. You sound like a third grader: mami he hit me he's bad...... :)

[boxingin]

@MrRustyGuns I'm still waiting for your public reply and not private messages just like the one you sent me, that was a punk move. Let's debate this right here right where it all started cause I've got nothing private to say to you and as matter of fact I didn't even bother to read the private message you sent me. I want you to show me how great and original SRV was right here!

[panbread89]

I liked that part he played at 0:01 to 2:48.

[archVille1979]

this is about feeling of blues... never will be heard again from anyone, no matter how good they will play guitar.

blues is about feeling!

[boxingin]

@archVille1979 I agree.

[ticerul]

Just amazing!!!!!!!!!!ELMORE IT S GREAT!

[morriswilburn]

Back in the day, Elmore James was called the "King of the slide guitar". He has had far-reaching influence; the fact that this song was played at the funeral of Duane Allman tells you a lot.

[lampshad3126]

@morriswilburn Makes you wonder what was played at Elomore's Funeral. I bet it was bad ass

[jagcag123]

I gotta say, the Stevie Ray Vaughan version might have the best guitar playing ever

[skyiscrying53]

@jagcag123 you must be kidding! Stevie ray played just like his influences, albert king, elmore james and henrix...Stevie use thier playing style and if you close your eyes one would think one of them was playing..I see you are not a student of plays....

[jagcag123]

@skyiscrying53 just saying dude. that version is way better

[boxingin]

@skyiscrying53 Thanks for setting the record straight man. Some of these cats just don't get it. SRV was a Hendrix clone at best. Sure Stevie could play and I love some of his stuff but the dude wasn't original at all, he was pretty much a copy cat.

[9mej]

one of the best slide users i love him his vocals are so meaningfull and powerfull

[CadillacL]

Amazing to realize he died young. He had SO much more to give IMO.

[boxingin]

I remember the first time I heard this song. It was live by George Thorougood and I was hooked to it! This is my first time ever listening to the original version. Wow!

[Erock09291]

"You and the penguin are the only family we got, and you are the only one that was ever good to us." :)

[BigWillieWillHom]

Wow!!! The Great & Legendary Blues Guitarist, Elmore James!! I Love It, Man!! The Blues Will Always Be Here Forever!! 5 - Stars ***** !!!!

- BigWillieWillHom :)

[Beatnikzombie]

You ever notice how Elmore James totally KICKS ASS?

[brokentoedspoon]

@Beatnikzombie agreed

[jonanjello]

@Beatnikzombie

I noticed. My ass is kicked. Amazing music.

[NagaJolokiafied]

@Beatnikzombie agreed 

[Beatnikzombie]

@NagaJolokiafied I know, right?

[cw1310]

This is my favorite song of Elmore James.

[AtmaRising]

nice

[dloree29]

Elmer James was a great Musician! .Thanks for posting this song. Also a message for Toppbatman, you are a far better man then I, If I got ripped off as you did, I don't think I could be as gracious.

[chaosdragon1212]

@dloree29: This sounds very like Rock N Roll. :) Blues = Rock N Roll. That's also a fact.

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

to tomthumb, from ron, we will be playing this sunday at

hansons tavern in Northbrook il, all day jam to benefit Hati earthquake victims

also play regularly at morseland and kingston mines in the city, our cd should be done by end of march or early april

[acdcfantic]

just had my mp3 player stolen from the high school locker room. losing the actual player didnt bother me a whole lot- what bothered me was that some punk was going to delete all my elmore james for some metal or rap bullshit.

[mx6lover]

@acdcfantic

Damn DooD! That is a crime to humanity! & you know it will happen exactly that way!

Mega harsh man! Damn thieves!

[tomthumbtoo]

Exactly: & so we invented the Internet, so You Can Never Lose Your Recordings Forever. You just gotta go back and start again. In the old days, when somebody stole your record collection, you might be Never be able to find that record again. ~ttt~

[Toppbatman]

@acdcfantic I feel your pain. Years ago my car was broken into and a cd wallet with 300 blues and classic rock cds in it was stolen. probably tossed in the nearest trash can because the punk didnt know E James, R. Johnson, A. King, J.L. Hooker, BB King and others. What a shame. Hopefully he kept them and gave them a chance and opened his eyes to real music.

[jagcag123]

@acdcfantic whats wrong with metal?

[acdcfantic]

@jagcag123 im just not a fan of these skinny tough guys screaming on stage with minimal musical talent. they dont incorporate any soul or emotion into it its just all about who plays faster and louder and whos fans mosh harder. i dont understand the appeal. not to offend you or get in a stupid youtube argument, but to me metal is just pompous and disgraceful.

[MyuziQ25]

@acdcfantic your comment made me laugh

[jagcag123]

@acdcfantic haha i notice that you like acdc. those guys are my favorite band of all time. anyways, I see where your coming from, as I'm not a fan of all the screaming and growling as well. However, I listen to the greats like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pantera, Black Sabbath etc... I also love modern "metal" bands like avenged sevenfold. Even though most dont consider them metal because they don't scream anymore.

[jagcag123]

@acdcfantic if you listen to some good bands, there is great stuff out there thats not all about breakdowns and screaming and growling or shredding weird bulgerian demonic minor scale or something like that. There really is complex stuff. Avenged Sevenfold write epic, emotional songs that take you through journeys, and then they make songs that just make you wanna headbang! haha just sayin my opinion

[srvinfinity]

@acdcfantic The sky IS cryin'!

[PrinzEugenMCMLXXXIII]

@acdcfantic

Lol What's wrong especially with metal and some rap stuff? Nice move by the punk...

[MrBuckwilliam]

@acdcfantic THE BASTARD!!!

[t3hn00bzor]

@acdcfantic It's a shame you got your MP3 taken. I like almost every style of music played on the guitar except country and indie.  Blues has to be my favorite, and for it to be replaced by ANYTHING, especially rap, is a disgrace.

[IvanZagorTopDinarBal]

@acdcfantic o man ,you are young and still listen blues.that is strong thing

[teemliberty]

@acdcfantic  some people just dont know real music

[Cokoholicar]

@acdcfantic

Dude when I was in high school no one ever spoke of this great music, you should be happy to even heard of it this young- so put a sock in it and enjoy mofo :D

[mjt11860]

@acdcfantic hope the bastard the stole it gets gang raped!

[rogerstill71]

@acdcfantic If you catch him, nail his nuts to a stump & push him over backwards!

[gavincfc]

@acdcfantic if it was stolen...how did you know

[Georgio448]

@acdcfantic I don't know about the metal part of that, seeing that any real metalhead would appreciate this kind of music, seeing as it's where the early metal musicians took their inspiration from. Of course, you did say this was at a high school...

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

a true blues legend, elmore's music as lived and breathed through the allman brothers, and stevie ray down thru the years, and i am also carrying it on with my band, THE BERETTA BLUES EXPRESS in chicago

[tomthumbtoo]

Cool: will be Chicago one of these lazy afternoons and will look for you & your band. Where U Guys Play Most Often?

[indexnet]

happy b-day! :)

[saxonsnowredux]

no one does a better version of this song than elmore

[LennyMocambo]

I love his voice. But i like SRV's guitar playing better. If only we could combine the two :)

[slownoman]

Stevie would tell you himself (and don't we wish he could) that he could never have done what he did without men like Elmore James and Albert King, to name only two. RIP Stevie, who was as good as they get. Ever.

[swingersonian]

fuck whitey ray vaughn. and i'm white.

[gajda1984]

@LennyMocambo that's because it was a totally different time. Elmore died whe SRV was like 9 years old.

[barbj7121]

this is awesome music , natural voice and everything awesome!!!!

[cigarsmoker26]

i.m ready for the summer and the humidy in the south. Theres nonthing like driving home in the droptop caddy smoking an cigar and have elmore james on the radio.

[thewitness415]

I thought I had heard every thing when I heard Albert King do this song, But this one there is nothing that can express it but WOW!

[mpo1107]

After 50 years of listening to the blues, now I only listen to the originals.

This is the best version, you can stop looking now.

[bisquithead100]

listen to the words.... if you want to talk..... the sky is crying.... that is something to say..... or maybe...bad feeling my baby don't love me no more.. . to sing the blues you have to know the blues

[sam19851]

Lennon is talking in terms of public perception you fool.

[Emmawannabe1988]

I thought this song is from Robert Johnson :(

[rorboo]

oooooh sooo good

[shire2005]

There cannot be a better version than this. Incredible!

[hebelecik]

muzik iste abi. dinlemek lazim. kendimi buluyorum fenami

[BordiniBlues85]

OLD but GOLD ... Hendrix loved Elmore James music too

[goo710]

Yes!

[gabrisc90]

I've already heard him! But I've never listened to him before! Delicious voice and guitar style

[memfisman]

We won't ever forget about ELMORE but let's also remember Bobby "BLUE" Bland and Little Milton.