Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine. Singing to a melodious finger-picked accompaniment, he began to play local dances and parties while working as a sharecropper. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1928, but these were commercial failures. Hurt then drifted out of the recording scene, and he continued his work as a farmer. Tom Hoskins, a blues enthusiast, would be the first to locate Hurt in 1963. He convinced Hurt to relocate to Washington, D.C., where he was recorded by the Library of Congress in 1964. This rediscovery helped further the American folk music revival, which had led to the rediscovery of many other bluesmen of Hurt's era. Hurt entered the same university and coffeehouse concert circuit as his contemporaries, as well as other Delta blues musicians brought out of retirement. As well as playing concerts, he recorded several studio albums for Vanguard Records.
Born John Smith Hurt in Teoc, Carroll County, Mississippi (there is confusion about his date of birth, but the grave marker mentions March 8, 1892) and raised in Avalon, Mississippi, he learned to play guitar at age nine. He was completely self-taught, stealthily playing the guitar of a friend of his mother's, who often stayed at the Hurt home while courting a lady who lived near by. His style was not reminiscent of any other style being played at the time; it was the way Hurt "thought the guitar should sound". He spent much of his youth playing old time music for friends and dances, earning a living as a farmhand into the 1920s. His fast, highly syncopated style of playing made his music adept for dancing. On occasion, a medicine show would come through the area; Hurt recalls being wanted by one of them. "One of them wanted me, but I said no because I just never wanted to get away from home." In 1923 he partnered with the fiddle player Willie Narmour as a substitute for his regular partner Shell Smith.
When Narmour got a chance to record for Okeh Records as a prize for winning first place in a 1928 fiddle contest, he recommended Hurt to Okeh Records producer Tommy Rockwell. After auditioning "Monday Morning Blues" at his home, he took part in two recording sessions, in Memphis and New York City (see Discography below). While in Memphis, Hurt recalled seeing "many, many blues singers ... Lonnie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bessie Smith, and lots, lots more." Hurt described his first recording session as such:
... a great big hall with only the three of us in it: me, the man [Rockwell], and the engineer. It was really something. I sat on a chair, and they pushed the microphone right up to my mouth and told me that I couldn't move after they had found the right position. I had to keep my head absolutely still. Oh, I was nervous, and my neck was sore for days after.
Hurt attempted further negotiations with Okeh to record again, but after the commercial failure of the resulting records, and Okeh Records going out of business during the Great Depression, Hurt returned to Avalon and obscurity, working as a sharecropper and playing local parties and dances.
After Hurt's renditions of "Frankie" and "Spike Driver Blues" were included in The Anthology of American Folk Music in 1952, and an Australian man discovered a copy of "Avalon Blues", there became increased interest in finding Hurt himself. In 1963, a folk musicologist, Tom Hoskins, supervised by Richard Spottswood, was able to locate Hurt near Avalon, Mississippi using the lyrics of "Avalon Blues":
Avalon, my home town, always on my mind/Avalon, my home town.
While in Avalon, Hoskins convinced an apprehensive Hurt to perform several songs for him, to ensure that he was genuine. Hoskins was convinced, and seeing that Hurt's guitar playing skills were still intact, Hoskins encouraged him to move to Washington, D.C., and begin performing on a wider stage. His performance at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival saw his star rise amongst the new folk revival audience. Before his death he played extensively in colleges, concert halls, coffee houses and also on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, as well as recording three further albums for Vanguard Records. Much of his repertoire was recorded for the Library of Congress, also. His fans particularly liked the ragtime songs "Salty Dog" and "Candy Man", and the blues ballads "Spike Driver Blues" (a variant of "John Henry") and "Frankie".
Hurt incorporated a fast, pick-less, syncopated fingerpicking style that he taught himself. He was influenced by very few people; but did recall an elderly, unrecorded, blues singer from that area, Rufus Hanks, who played twelve-string guitar and harmonica. He also recalled listening to the country singer Jimmie Rodgers. On occasion, Hurt would use an open tuning and a slide, as he did in his arrangement of "The Ballad of Casey Jones".
Hurt's influence spanned several music genres including blues, country, bluegrass, folk and contemporary rock and roll. A soft-spoken man, his nature was reflected in the work, which consisted of a mellow mix of country, blues and old time music.
Material recorded by Hurt has been re-released by many record labels over the years (see discography); and his influence has extended over many generations of guitarists. Songs recorded by Hurt have been covered by Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Beck, Doc Watson, John McCutcheon, Taj Mahal, Bruce Cockburn, David Johansen, Bill Morrissey and Gillian Welch.
Hurt died on November 2nd, 1966, of a heart attack in Grenada, Mississippi.
There is now a memorial in Avalon, Mississippi for Mississippi John Hurt. It is parallel to RR2, the rural road on which he grew up.
American singer-songwriter Tom Paxton, who met Hurt and played on the same bill as him at the Gaslight in Greenwich Village around 1963, wrote and recorded a song about him in 1977 entitled "Did You Hear John Hurt?" Paxton still frequently plays this song at his live performances.
The first track of John Fahey's 1968 solo acoustic guitar album Requia is entitled "Requiem For John Hurt". Fahey's posthumous live album The Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick also features a version of the piece, there entitled "Requiem For Mississippi John Hurt".
British folk/blues artist Wizz Jones recorded a tribute song called "Mississippi John" for his 1977 album Magical Flight.
I'm Satisfied
Mississippi John Hurt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
First in the country, then in the town,
I'm a total shaker from my navel on down
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I pull my dress to my knees, I give my total all to who I please
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
Mississippi John Hurt's song "I'm Satisfied" is a joyful expression of his love for someone. The first stanza, "I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you," shows his contentment and happiness with his relationship. He is confident that his satisfaction will bring back the person he loves. The second stanza, "First in the country, then in the town, I'm a total shaker from my navel on down," portrays his pride in his social status and his ability to dance. He acknowledges that he might not have the riches and the sophistication of the urban folks, but he still finds joy in his simple pleasures. The third and final stanza, "I pull my dress to my knees, I give my total all to who I please," shows his willingness to offer himself completely to his partner. He is eager to please and ready to commit.
The song is a testament to the enduring nature of Mississippi John Hurt's music. Despite the challenges of the time, Hurt continued to make music and tour throughout his life. The song is also a reminder of the cultural and social context in which it was created. The rural blues, like this song, were borne out of the African-American experience, characterized by poverty, oppression, and discrimination. Yet, through their music, they found an outlet for their struggles and a means to express their joys and hopes. Finally, the song is a celebration of love, a common theme in blues music that acknowledges the pain of heartbreak but also recognizes the power of human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm satisfied, tickled too, old enough to marry you
I am happy and joyful because I am old enough to marry you.
I'm satisfied it's gonna bring you back
I am pleased because my actions will bring you back to me.
First in the country, then in the town,
I have traveled in the country and in the town.
I'm a total shaker from my navel on down
My body is dancing and shaking with joy.
I pull my dress to my knees, I give my total all to who I please
I offer my love and devotion to whoever I choose, and I am ready for them.
Lyrics © WYNWOOD MUSIC CO. INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Hurt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nicoisdreaming
you can see it in his face. you can feel it in his voice. you can hear it in his guitar playing. this man was really satisfied. everybody should have a grandaddy like him, sitting by his side, listening to his stories. doesn't this sound like the world being alright? i hope that john hurt knows, how much we love him
hard mode
ewww what a fanboy
tidewaterblues
John's thumping thumb bass is hypnotic. You can pick John's style from a mile away. Others try to imitate and fail. There's only one Mississippi John.
john Morrison
tidewaterblues completely agree with you he is unique
hard mode
uh and whats so specific about his style?if you dont mind the question
Orville Gibson
​@hard mode John was Travis picking before Merle was born. John was possibly the first steady thumb bass style players in the world, but he blended the melody lines into the thumb picking pattern and also harmonised the entire arrangement. No musical training. Very few guitarists can approach his skill level. He has a unique sound that is easy to pick from other players.
hard mode
@Orville Gibson again with the "He has a unique sound that is easy to pick from other players." smh... its just so annoying
FRANCOIS LAULAN
à tous et à chacun d'entre vous, je tiens à dire merci de vos encouragements à vieillir qui me confortent dans ma décision de continuer à persévérer dans ce sens. Je vous dédicace cette petite mélodie accompagnée de sourires et tendres regards que je ne saurais égaler !
Terranova0
Thank you thank you! Few months back there was barely a MJH video on YouTube (literally one short clip). This one is one of the best quality videos I've seen today and, of course, MJH is just a fantastic performer. Thank you again!
TeleDan
You've heard about people who you never hear anything bad about? That's Miss. John Hurt. Everything I've ever heard about him is that he was a sweet, gentle soul and his music reflects that. Wonderful man!