Throughout the years there have been many great song writers whom have blended the rhythm of life including its ups and downs with that of music. One of the greatest writers to ever do this was that of Huddie William Ledbetter also known as the “father of blues”. Harry was known for “telling a story” through song. These stories often tragic are considered to be some of the greatest songs ever recorded which inspired many future generations of artists.
The following is what I considered to be the best of his songs. Now everyone is titled to their own opinion but these are the songs I remember fondly.
10: The Bourgeois Blues – Written after visiting Washington D.C. this song is about the rampant racism present during the 1930s and 1940s.
9: Blue Tail Fly – Many children know the nursery rhyme “Jimmy cracked corn…”, however not many children know that this is only one small part of a song originally sung by Ledbetter.
8: Midnight Special – During Ledbetter’s rough life he spent quite a bit of time in jail. During his incarceration he learned Midnight Special. This song which detailed the rough life in person was one of his favorites. It is suspected that it was this song which got him out of jail after playing it numerous times for his fellow inmates and the governor. The governor would later issue him a pardon.
7: Amazing Grace – This very well known Christian hymn was sung by Ledbetter on numerous occasions. He is often credited for making the song so popular.
6: AlabamaBound – Originally this song was created by Robert Hoffman in 1909 but it was covered by Ledbetter years later. It is his version which would become well known.
5: Ain’t It a Shame – This classic piece of Americana is a simple retelling of where we wish to be, free from our “cubicle” and rather “be fishing”. Nirvana would later cover this song in their Silver album.
4: John Henry – In this song Ledbetter retells the tale of American folk hero John Henry. It is Ledbetter’s unique style of rhythm which makes his version stand out from the numerous others.
3: Black Betty – In Ledbetter’s original version this song was about an African American woman with a child. This song is often confused with the later versions sung by Ram Jam and Spiderbait. However, this song is often remembered for its fast paced rhythm and tone.
2: The House of the Rising Sun – This classic folk song has been sung by numerous artists over the years. The most famous being The Animals in 1964. However, Ledbetter added his own style to the song when he sung it in 1948. His version of the song is often titled as “In New Orleans”.
1: In the Pines – This song is also known as “Black Girl” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?“. This song is about a little girl traveling in the woods after killing her significant other. The “woods” is often seen as a metaphor for death or being lonely. It was this song which would help inspire future musicians such as Kurt Cobain who performed a cover of this song on Nirvana’s Unplugged in New York album.
