1. An American… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists by the name Robert Johnson:
1. An American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter (1911-1938) amongst the most famous of Delta blues musicians; ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time; considered by some to be the "Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll"
2. An English lutenist and composer of the late Tudorian and early Jacobean eras (c.1580-c.1634)
3. A 1970s Memphis-based American guitarist
4. A former drummer for KC and the Sunshine Band
1. Robert Johnson (Robert Leroy Johnson, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, May 8, 1911- Greenwood, Mississippi, August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songwriter, among the most famous of Delta blues musicians.
His landmark recordings from 1936–1937 display a remarkable combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend.
The first songs to appear were Terraplane Blues and Last Fair Deal Gone Down, Terraplane Blues became a moderate regional hit, selling 5,000 copies.
Other songs Johnson recorded were Come On In My Kitchen, Kind Hearted Woman Blues, I Believe I'll Dust My Broom, and Cross Road Blues.
Come on in My Kitchen included the lines:
"The woman I love took from my best friend / Some joker got lucky, stole her back again / You better come on in my kitchen, it's going to be rainin' outdoors."
In Crossroad Blues, another of his songs, he sang:
"I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees / I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees / I asked the Lord above, have mercy, save poor Bob if you please / Uumb, standing at the crossroads I tried to flag a ride / Standing at the crossroads I tried to flag a ride / Ain't nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by."
Stones In My Passway and Me And The Devil are both about betrayal, a recurrent theme in country blues. Hell Hound On My Trail utilises another common theme: fear of the Devil. Other themes in Johnson's music include impotence (Dead Shrimp Blues and Phonograph Blues) and infidelity (Terraplane Blues, If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day and Love in Vain).
The most widely-known legend surrounding Robert Johnson says that he sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi in exchange for prowess in playing the guitar. Actually, the location Johnson made reference to is a short distance away from that intersection. The Faustian legend was told mainly by Son House, but finds no corroboration in any of Johnson's work, despite titles like Me and the Devil Blues and Hellhound on My Trail. With this said, the song Cross Road Blues is both widely and loosely interpreted by many as a descriptive encounter of Johnson selling his soul.
The older Tommy Johnson (no relation, although it is speculated that they were cousins), by contrast, also claimed to have sold his soul to the Devil. The story goes that if one would go to the crossroads a little before midnight and begin to play the guitar, a large black man would come up to the aspiring guitarist, retune his guitar and then hand it back. At this point (so the legend goes) the guitarist had sold his soul to become a virtuoso (A similar legend even surrounded virtuoso violinist Niccolò Paganini a century before.
His death remains a matter of controversy. Some accounts state that he was given poisoned whiskey at a dance by the husband of a woman he had been secretly seeing. Others claim that it was just The Devil collecting his debt after the old legend of Robert Johnson dealing with the devil.
However, the latest, and unfortunately less dramatic and more plausible theory (published by David Connell in the British Medical Journal) is that Robert Johnson suffered from Marfan's Syndrome. Marfan's is a genetic disorder characterized by disproportionately long limbs, long thin fingers, a tall stature — all of which can be seen in the two photos that exist of Robert Johnson. Marfan's Syndrome is a cause of heart defects, and a complication such as an aortic dissection could lead to Robert Johnson's excruciatingly painful death.
Eleven 78s were released on the Vocalion label during his lifetime, with a twelfth issued posthumously. All songs are copyrighted to Robert Johnson, and his estate.
The Complete Recordings: A double-disc box set was released on August 28, 1990, containing almost everything Robert Johnson ever recorded, with all 29 recordings, and 12 alternate takes. (There is one further alternate, of
Traveling Riverside Blues which was released on Sony's King of the Delta Blues Singers CD and also as an extra in early printings of the paperback edition of Elijah Wald's "Escaping the Delta."
Grammy Awards:
1990 — Best Historical Album The Complete Recordings (Sony/Columbia) Legacy Winner
Grammy Hall of Fame:
1998 — Cross Road Blues (Single) (1936, Vocalion)
National Recording Registry:
The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson (1936-1937) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2003.
The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included four songs by Robert Johnson in the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll:
Sweet Home Chicago (1936),
Cross Road Blues (1936),
Hellhound on My Trail (1937),
Love in Vain (1937)
The Blues Foundation Awards:
Robert Johnson: Blues Music Awards
1991 Vintage or Reissue Album The Complete Recordings Winner
Honors and inductions
On September 17, 1994 the U.S. Post Office issues a Robert Johnson 29-cent commemorative postage stamp.
2006 — Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner accepted by son Claud Johnson
2000 — Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame Inducted
1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inducted Early Influences
1980 — Blues Hall of Fame Inducted
He was also ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Considered by some to be the "Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll", his vocal phrasing, original songs, and guitar style have influenced a broad range of musicians, including Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton.
2. Robert Johnson (c.1580-c.1634) was an English lutenist and composer of the late Tudorian and early Jacobean eras. He was the son of John Johnson.
3. Memphis-based Robert Johnson has been recording since the early '70s. Some early appearances were on recordings by the Hot Dogs, a band that featured Jack Holder and Greg Reding, later to cross the Mississippi River and become members of the raunchy hard-rocking Black Oak Arkansas.
By the late '70s, Johnson had recorded a single with the Bell Heirs and had established a somewhat regular playing relationship with a rhythm section featuring bassist Dave Cochran and drummer Blair Cunningham. The Infinity label released the premier Johnson effort as a leader, an album entitled Close Personal Friend, yet a collection entitled The Memphis Demos, which came out the following year, is considered to be a much better representation of his work, not the first time a musician's more casual performances beat out a supposedly more serious album project.
4) Robert Johnson was a former drummer for KC and the Sunshine Band
Preachin` Blues
Robert Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
I woke up this mornin'
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
Worried blues
Give me your right hand
And the blues fell mama's child
Blues fell mam's child
And it tore me all upside down
Travel on, poor Bob
Just can't turn you 'round
The blu-u-u-u-ues
Is a low-down shakin' chill
(Yes, preach 'em now).
Mmmmm mmmmm
Is a low-down shakin' chill
You ain't never had 'em,
I hope you never will
Well, the blues
Is a achin' old heart disease
(Do it now. You gon' do it?
Tell me about it.)
Let the blues
Is a low-down achin' heart disease
Like consumption
Killing me by degrees
I can study rain
Oh, oh drive, oh, oh, drive my blues
I been studyin' the rain and
I'm 'on drive my blues away
Goin' to the stil'ry
Stay out there all day
In Robert Johnson's "Preachin' Blues," the singer wakes up in a state of despair, describing his blues as walking like a man. He implores the blues to give him its right hand, indicating his willingness to face his sadness head-on. The blues, overwhelming and all-consuming, has caused his world to turn upside down. Despite his attempt to move on, he feels stuck, unable to shake off the grip of this chilling disease.
The second half of the song acts as a warning to those who haven't experienced the blues before. Johnson paints the picture of a disease that infects the heart, much like tuberculosis. He declares that he's going to try to study the rain and drive his blues away, indicating his determination to overcome this internal struggle. However, he ends up going to the still, a place where moonshine is brewed but also often associated with loneliness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Mmmmmm I woke up this mornin'
I woke up with a heavy heart and troubled mind
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
I can feel the blues possessing me like a person
I woke up this mornin'
I started my day with the bad feelings
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
I can feel the impact of blues on me like a human’s stride
Worried blues
I am feeling anxious, stressed and burdened
Give me your right hand
Empathy and consolation to all who suffer from the same pain
And the blues fell mama's child
I was born with blues and it is making me fall apart
Tore me all upside down
It deeply affected me and disrupted my peace of mind
Travel on, poor Bob
I am stuck in this state and trying to move on, but it’s hard
Just can't turn you 'round
I am struggling to break free from the grip of the blues
The blu-u-u-u-ues
The blues are so deeply affecting and consuming to me
Is a low-down shakin' chill
It’s a desolate and bleak feeling that makes me tremble
(Yes, preach 'em now).
Expressing the feeling more elaborately
You ain't never had 'em,
I hope you do not experience these feelings of extreme sadness
I hope you never will
I wouldn’t wish them on anyone
Well, the blues
These feelings of sadness and anxiety
Is a achin' old heart disease
It’s a disease that hurts your heart
(Do it now. You gon' do it? Tell me about it.)
Ask if they ever had it and understand their experience
Let the blues
Allow me to express more about the blues
Is a low-down achin' heart disease
This achy feeling is an ailment to me
Like consumption
It's a disease that slowly taking my life away.
Killing me by degrees
Slowly, but surely it is destroying me
I can study rain
Reflecting that my soul is so distressed that it can even sense and observe the natural elements
Oh, oh drive, oh, oh, drive my blues
I am trying to escape from the depression and trying to forget the cause of it
I been studyin' the rain and
I have been contemplating the rain to take my mind off the blues
I'm 'on drive my blues away
I am determined to drive my blues away and get rid of them
Goin' to the stil'ry
I am heading to the distillery to consume alcohol and forget about the blues
Stay out there all day
I am going to stay there till the end of the day until I forget the blues
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Son House
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mathieu Schuler
Mmmmm-mmmmm
I's up this mornin'
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
I's up this mornin'
Ah, blues walkin' like a man
Worried blues
Give me your right hand
And the blues fell, mama's child
Tore me all upside-down
Blues fell, mam's child
And it tore me all upside down
Travel on, poor Bob
Just can't turn you 'round
The blues
Is a low-down shakin' chill
Yes, preach 'em now
Mmmmm-mmmmm
Is a low-down shakin' chill
You ain't never had 'em, I
Hope you never will
Well, the blues
Is a achin' old heart disease
Do it, now
You gon' do it?
Tell me all about it
Said the blues
Is a low-down achin' heart disease
Like consumption
Killing me by degrees
I can study rain
Oh, oh drive, oh, oh, drive my blues
I been studyin' the rain and
I'm gon drive my blues away
Goin' to the 'stil'ry
Stay out there all day
Kae Cake
Ever since I was 13 I heard Robert Johnson. I thought i was listening to Rock n Roll before it was named. He learned from Ike Zimmerman. Yes, son House said he did- So did Honeyboy Edwards...
They didn't see him in Arkansas where he learned from an influencer.
If you listen to "Some Summer Days" by Charlie Patton
"Last Fair Deal Going Down by Robert Johnson sound similar because the influenced was big in the south - Their music sound similar.
We a lot to these Southern Black people, their influence is the endless pavement road for what we call Modern Music.
I tell you we found Blind Blake's grave what great discovery after 100 years. I started playing guitar because of Robert Johnson ever since I was 12. Thank you so much for keeping him heard after 100 years.
JC713
The song is phonetically genius. But two parts of the lyrics are even more so.
The second verse "travel on poor Bob" is in my opinion" travel on so far."
The second part on the last verse of I can study rain .
I believe the lyrics are actually
I been stutterin' or , or die, or or , drive my blues ( the stuttering "or's" add credence to this )
The second part of the same verse is the same as the accepted lyrics
I've been study rain and I'm going to drive my blues away.
I believe when you listen to Johnson's lyrics more you pick up the verbal nuances that make it extremely unique.
John Jeffire
Playing lead and rhythm at once and that unmistakable voice...the once and always greatest.
Elijah Robinson
Robbie Krieger of The Doors does the same on many of their tracks, including playing the bass part on his regular 6 string electric.
Such skills, especially to one like me who can’t play, are somewhat surreal. Truly amazing and incredible.
Mattias Svanberg
@Elijah RobinsonRay Manzarek plays the bass on a keyboard with one hand, not Krieger. He plays the keys with one hand and the bass with the other. He was really talented, Ray Manzarek.
Taylor
This man's music is too good for anyone to dislike it.
Hungry Howie
Bc he sold his soul
Billy Roues
@Hungry Howie he didn't. that's just a myth. Tommy Johnson was the one who said that he sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads. Not Robert Johnson.
illeaglememes
@Hungry Howie No such thing as the devil. Dude was just good.
ira onok
@Hungry Howiesold his soul sounds mighty economical, and money ain't nothing but artifice. He scratched on old scratch for a lil scratch on his own back. Making lemonade of water, from scratch, ain't nothing wrong with that, or jc would be down and out, not up to bat.
dave
@Billy Roues Brother then how is it possible that in less than two years he has learned and refined his technique with such precision, for no other reason but in certain songs you hear on Elvis funky a bit of psychedelic rock many other styles and ways of doing that have influenced millions of guitarists, this comment is not to create hatred of course
Alaric Pether
No overdubs or post production or anything like that just one man and a guitar. Every time I hear Preachin' Blues I'm still as in awe as the first time I heard it. Robert Johnson is utterly electrifying.