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.
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
Mississippi Fred McDowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mississippi Fred McDowell
Fred McDowell - guitar
James Shorty - vocal (friend & neighbor).
Recorded Sept. 25, 1959, Como Mississippi
(alt. performance of Atlantic Records issue)
Album: Portraits The First Recordings
Rounder CD 1718
Well, I want Jesus
Whilst walk with me
Yes, I want Jesus
Walk with me
Whilst I'm on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me
Walk with my mother
Lord, walk with me
Walk with my mother
Lord, walk with me
Whilst I'm on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me
Won't you be my doctor?
Come and walk with me
Just be my doctor
Come and walk with me
Well, whilst I'm on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me
(guitar)
Don't you leave me 'lone, no
Don't leave me 'lone
Don't you leave me 'lone, Lord
Don't leave me 'lone
Well, whilst I'm on this tedious journey
Yes, I want Jesus
Just to walk with me
Um-hm, um-hm, hmm
Um-hm, um-hm
Um-hm, um-hm-hm
Um-hm, hm-mm
Um-hm, hm-hm
Umm-hm-hm-hm
Yes, I want Jesus
Come and walk with me-he-eee.
~
The song "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me" by Mississippi Fred McDowell is a plea for companionship on a difficult journey through life. The repetition of the phrase "walk with me" emphasizes the desire for the presence of Jesus through the turbulence of life. McDowell's blues-infused guitar playing underscores the solemnity of the lyrics. The verses about walking with the singer's mother speak to the relationships that sustain us through life's darkest moments, and the verse about Jesus being the singer's doctor emphasizes the need for spiritual healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I want Jesus
I desire to have Jesus with me
Whilst walk with me
To walk with me while I go along in life
Yes, I want Jesus
I truly want Jesus
Walk with me
To accompany me
Whilst I'm on this tedious journey
While on this tiresome path of life
Walk with my mother
Accompany my mother
Lord, walk with me
Christ, accompany me
Whilst I'm on this tedious journey
While on this tiresome path of life
Won't you be my doctor?
Won't you be the one to heal me?
Come and walk with me
Come accompany me
Just be my doctor
Just heal me
Well, whilst I'm on this tedious journey
While on this tiresome path of life
Don't you leave me 'lone, no
Don't abandon me
Don't leave me 'lone
Don't abandon me
Well, whilst I'm on this tedious journey
While on this tiresome path of life
Um-hm, um-hm, hmm
Hums that can mean approval or singsong consent
Yes, I want Jesus
I surely want Jesus
Come and walk with me-he-eee.
Accompany me throughout this journey
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jmm4940
O the great memories in revival days as a little child
@ibrake4butterflies733
If I could make that sound with a guitar I'd never leave my house!
@isaacj.elliott2137
it took some 3 months but I finally got this style of slide figured out!!! I am so excited!!!
@vibebert1980
eternal respect for black people! And fraternity ! This is soul's voice
@liljimitwofeatherz9735
Not blk,but a nation of tribes and creeds
@idontknowname-rl8yb
Amen amen amen 🙏 😢
@coravisser727
This touch my whole soul again what beautifull brilliant.Thank you for uploading.
@stevebowman3439
As good as Fred was as a player and singer, I love his gospel singing and playing the best. My number one influence as a slide guitarist.
@ibrake4butterflies733
This stuff is so tasty. Never tire of it. Hits the spot every time, 💯🤠☮
@TheBWJohnson
a lot of people getting shots of all sorts of stuff these days - but when your soul feels empty, you gotta get a shot of love. good to see you, Brake.. always good to see old friends rambling through...