Mississippi Fred McDowell was born Fred McDowell in Rossville, Tennessee, J… Read Full Bio ↴Mississippi Fred McDowell was born Fred McDowell in Rossville, Tennessee, January 12, 1904. He died in Memphis,Tennessee on July 3, 1972. He was a blues singer and guitar player in the North Mississippi style.
His parents, who were farmers, died when McDowell was a youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 and played at dances around Rossville. Wanting a change from ploughing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926 where he worked in a number of jobs and played music for tips. He settled in Como, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, in 1940 or 1941, and worked steadily as a farmer, continuing to perform music at dances, and picnics. Initially he played slide guitar using a pocket knife and then a slide made from a beef rib bone, later switching to a glass slide for its clearer sound. He played with the slide on his ring finger.
A pure hill country blues musician, he played "just the straight, natural blues," and he "do not play no rock and roll." McDowell initially played the recognizable resonator guitar but, during tours and recordings beginning in the 1960s, he adopted the use of electric guitar and was probably the first original delta- or country blues musician to do so. McDowell's style is distinctive and recognizable; perhaps the dirtiest sounding guitarist ever and one of the most influential. The slide guitar styles of Bonnie Raitt as well as Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, as well as Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys are all heavily influenced by McDowell's technique.
McDowell died of cancer in 1972 and is buried at Hammond Hill M.B. Church, between Como and Senatobia. On August 6, 1993 a memorial was placed on the gravesite of Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Hammond Hill Baptist Church cemetery by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund.
His parents, who were farmers, died when McDowell was a youth. He started playing guitar at the age of 14 and played at dances around Rossville. Wanting a change from ploughing fields, he moved to Memphis in 1926 where he worked in a number of jobs and played music for tips. He settled in Como, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, in 1940 or 1941, and worked steadily as a farmer, continuing to perform music at dances, and picnics. Initially he played slide guitar using a pocket knife and then a slide made from a beef rib bone, later switching to a glass slide for its clearer sound. He played with the slide on his ring finger.
A pure hill country blues musician, he played "just the straight, natural blues," and he "do not play no rock and roll." McDowell initially played the recognizable resonator guitar but, during tours and recordings beginning in the 1960s, he adopted the use of electric guitar and was probably the first original delta- or country blues musician to do so. McDowell's style is distinctive and recognizable; perhaps the dirtiest sounding guitarist ever and one of the most influential. The slide guitar styles of Bonnie Raitt as well as Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, as well as Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys are all heavily influenced by McDowell's technique.
McDowell died of cancer in 1972 and is buried at Hammond Hill M.B. Church, between Como and Senatobia. On August 6, 1993 a memorial was placed on the gravesite of Mississippi Fred McDowell at the Hammond Hill Baptist Church cemetery by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund.
Fred Mcdowell's Blues
Mississippi Fred McDowell Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Mississippi Fred McDowell:
61 Highway Lord, that 61 Highway is the longest road I know Lord,…
61 Highway Blues (guitar) Lord, that 61 Highway It's the longest road I know…
All the Way From East St. Louis I walked all the way from East St. Louis to…
Big Fat Mama Now asks sweet mama Lemme be her kid She says, 'I might…
Big Fat Mama BLUES Now asks sweet mama Lemme be her kid She says, 'I might…
Brooks Run into the Ocean (guitar) Well, now Brooks run into the ocean, you know Ocea…
Bull Dog Blues Gon' buy me a bulldog Watch me whiles I sleep ('Better get…
Dark Clouds a-Rising Yeah-eay Lord, Lord, ooh, Lord Yeah, baby, hey Lord, oh L…
Do My Baby Ever Think of Me Lordy, I wonder Do my bab-a-a-a-ay ever think of me, yeah …
Drop Down Mama Drop down, mama, let your daddy see You got something really…
Everybody You Done Told Everybody Trk 8 6:08 Fred McDowell Mississippi…
Everybody's Down On Me Please let me lay down, darling Let me lay down in…
Fred's Worried Life Blues You made me weep And you made me moan Way you cause…
Freight Train Blues I was born in Dixie in a boomer's shack Just a…
Frisco Line Lord, I seen my baby Way out on that Frisco line Lord,…
Frisco Lines Lord, I seen my baby Way out on that Frisco line Lord,…
Germany Blues Lord I'm going away baby, don't you want to go Lord…
Goin I'm goin' down that river I'm goin'-a take that right hand…
Goin Over the Hill I'm goin' over the hill I'm goin' on over the hill I'm…
Goin' Down To The River I'm goin' down that river I'm goin-a take that right hand…
Goin' To the River I'm goin' down that river I'm goin'-a take that right hand…
Going Down The River I'm goin' down that river I'm goin-a take that right hand…
Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl Good mornin', little schoolgirl Good mornin', little schoolg…
Good Morning Little School Girl Good mornin', little schoolgirl Good mornin', little school…
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl Good mornin', little schoolgirl Good mornin', little schoolg…
Got to Move You got to move You got to move You got to move,…
Highway 61 Lord, that 61 Highway is the longest road I know Lord,…
I Wished I was in heaven sitting Oooh, angel Oooh, my Wished …
I Heard Somebody Call (guitar) Lord, I heard somebody Keeps on callin' me Lord, I…
I Know I Wished I was in heaven sitting Oooh, angel Oooh, my Wished …
I Walked All The Way From East St. Louis I walked all the way from East St. Louis to…
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me I Want Jesus To Walk With Me …
I Wish I Was In Heaven Sittin Wished I was in heaven sitting Oooh, angel Oooh, my Wished …
I Wish I Was In Heaven Sittin' Down Wished I was in heaven sitting Oh, angel Oh, my Wished I…
I Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down Wished I was in heaven sitting Oooh, angel Oooh, my Wished …
I Wished I Was In Heaven Wished I was in heaven sitting Oh, angel Oh, my Wished I…
I woke up this Morning Well, woke up this mo'nin with my mind Stayin' on Jesus Woke…
I've Been Drinking Water Out Of A Hollow Log I've been drinking muddy water, sleep'n a hollow log I been…
I've Been Drinking Water Out Of Hollow Log I've been drinking muddy water, sleep'n a hollow log I…
Jesus Is On The Main Line Lonely sidewalks, silent night Bring the evening, deep insid…
Jim Steam Killed Lula Jim Steam Killed Lula (F. McDowell) Mississippi Fred…
John Henry This song is by Mississippi Fred McDowell and appears on the…
Keep You Lamp Trimmed and Burning Fred: Well, keep a-your lamp Annie Mae: (Trimmed an burnin')…
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Burning Well, keep a-your lamp (Trimmed an burnin') Keep a-your la…
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning Fred: Well, keep a-your lamp Annie Mae: (Trimmed an burnin')…
Kokomo Blues Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Leevee Camp Blues Well, I worked on the levee Till I went stone blind Well,…
Let Me Lay Down in Your Cool Iron Bed Please let me lay down, darling Let me lay down in…
Levee Camp Blues Well, I worked on the levee Till I went stone blind Well,…
Lord Have Mercy Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on. Lord if he tries to Lor…
Louise I said, Lou-ee-ise The sweetest girl I know I said, Louise T…
Mama Don't Allow Drop down baby Let yo daddy see You've got somethin' Really …
Mercy Mercy Oh Mercy Mercy Me How This World Has Got Its Hold…
Milk Cow Blues Now asks sweet mama Lemme be her kid She says, 'I might…
My Baby Don't Treat Me Like Humankind Lord, my baby got so Won't treat me good no mo' Well,…
My Trouble Blues You knew the sun rose this mo'nin I was layin' down…
On The Frisco Line Lord, I seen my baby Way out on that Frisco line Lord,…
Pea Vine Special Says, I think I heard That Pea Vine whistle blow Say it…
Red Cross Store Blues Well I ain't goin' back to that Red Cross store…
Sail On Little Girl Good mornin', little schoolgirl Good mornin', little school…
Shake If you see my baby, Lordy Stand around you know we Somewhere…
Shake Em On Down If you see my baby, Lordy Stand around you know we Somewhe…
Soon One Mornin' It was soon one mornin′ Death come a-creepin' in my…
That's Alright You know, that's alright, baby Baby, that's alright for you…
The Sun Rose This Morning When the sun rose this mornin' I was standin in the…
What's the Matter Now What's The Matter Now 4:56 …
What's the Matter Now? What's The Matter Now 4:56 Trk 10 Mississippi Fred McDowell…
When I Lay My Burden Down Hallelujah When I lay my burden down Oh glory, glo' Hallelu'…
When the Train Comes Along When The Train Come Along 2:09 …
Will Me Your Gold Watch and Chain Should happen to go the army, baby I want you t'will…
Wished I Was in Heaven Sitting Down Wished I was in heaven sitting Oooh, angel Oooh, my Wished …
Woke Up This Morning Well, woke up this mo'nin with my mind Stayin' on Jesus Woke…
Woke Up This Morning with My Mind On Jesus Note: some lines have unsung words Well, woke up this…
Worried Mind You made me weep An you made me moan When you caused…
Write Me A Few Lines Lord, when you get home, baby Please write me a few…
You You got to move You got to move You got to move,…
You Done Tol' Everybody Lord, you done told ev'rybody Baby, in your neighborhood Lo…
You Done Told Everybody You Done Told Everybody Trk 8 6:08 Fred McDowell Mississippi…
You Gonna Be Sorry Lord, you gon' be sorry Ever done me wrong Gon' be sorry Lor…
You Got to Move You got to move, you got to move You got to…
You're Gonna Be Sorry (Something is wrong) (My baby's gone) Lord, you gon' be sor…
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WillFazanaro87
01. Some Day Baby (00:00)
02. Milk Cow Blues (05:01)
03. The Train I Ride (08:27)
04. Over The Hill (14:59)
05. Goin' Down To The River (17:29)
06. I Wished I Were In Heaven Sitting Down (25:50)
07. Louise (28:30)
08. Germany Blues (35:33)
09. Some Sweet Day (39:33)
10. The Sun Rose This Morning (45:29)
11. When I Lay My Burden Down (51:04)
12. Goin' Down To Louisiana (53:28)
xxzzyyxxzzyy
At Cam Ranh Bay, recovering from illness in an Army field hospital, I first ran upon a battered lowest quality guitar with all six strings on it that wasn't really for sale at a tiny Vietnamese commissary but the guy sold it anyway. The first music I started trying to recreate was Mississippi Fred McDowell music. It was January, 1970, and I used a Zippo lighter for a slide. I was singing Highway 61 Blues, but never got on that road for another 29 years. What happened then is another good story that is well documented on my records.
On July 3, 1972, I was in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, protesting against the Vietnam war, which I had come home from some 2+ years before, as part of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War ((VVAW). Bonnie Raitt was there, she supported us. After the protest, Bonnie joined our veterans' camp with her bass player and drummer (I don't remember the drummer's name, but the bassplayer was a fretless fellow named Freebo).
It was the first time I met her, and the first time she honored me to play with her. After the night was over, I told her I had heard Fred was sick, and could she give me his address so I could write him? She did, though she knew no more than General Delivery in Como MS, and an area code.
I wrote to Fred and his wife the next day, July 4, 1972. It was a Sunday. On Friday, July 9, I learned over WBCN that he had died (he had cancer) on Saturday, the day Bonnie Raitt had given me his address.
And that's my death letter blues, y'all. Fred will always be with me. I sing for him still, at his grave. I take folks there occasionally. When I do, standing on that west-facing hill, I always sing Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning. His stone has a high durability laminated photograph of him attached, and I can look right in his eyes as I sing and play. Come on down to Clarksdale and I might take you there at sunset, and to the Crossroads at midnight.
Watermelon Slim
WillFazanaro87
01. Some Day Baby (00:00)
02. Milk Cow Blues (05:01)
03. The Train I Ride (08:27)
04. Over The Hill (14:59)
05. Goin' Down To The River (17:29)
06. I Wished I Were In Heaven Sitting Down (25:50)
07. Louise (28:30)
08. Germany Blues (35:33)
09. Some Sweet Day (39:33)
10. The Sun Rose This Morning (45:29)
11. When I Lay My Burden Down (51:04)
12. Goin' Down To Louisiana (53:28)
D Sanders
bless up
Hamza Alden
i dont mean to be off topic but does anyone know a method to get back into an instagram account..?
I stupidly lost my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me.
Rhys Lawrence
@Hamza Alden instablaster ;)
BlondeAmbition
Love time stamps thankyou
huyen pham
Nothing like some old school delta blues
B Latio
Can't get enough of that guitar. It has the power to align a crooked spine.
Thomas Wilson
I have scoliosis and confirm!!
Terry O'Neil
Love that!!!
John Tekavec
I hear ya, I keep comin back for more. 😊