His guitar playing is noted for its dark, minor-key sound, played in an open D-minor tuning with an intricate finger picking technique. James first recorded for Paramount Records in 1931, but these recordings sold poorly, having been released during the Great Depression, and he drifted into obscurity.
After a long absence from the public eye, James was "rediscovered" in 1964 by blues enthusiasts, helping further the blues and folk music revival of the 1950s and early 1960s. During this period, James appeared at folk and blues festivals, gave concerts around the country and recorded several albums for various record labels. His songs have influenced generations of musicians and have been adapted by numerous artists. He has been hailed as "one of the seminal figures of the blues.
James was described as aloof and moody. The musicologist Dick Spottswood commented, "Skip James, you never knew. Skip could be sunshine, or thunder and lightning depending on his whim of the moment".
James is sometimes associated with the Bentonia School, which is either a subgenre of blues music or a style of playing it. Calt, in his 1994 biography of James, I'd Rather Be the Devil: Skip James and the Blues, maintained that no style of blues originated in Bentonia and that the "Bentonia School" is simply a notion of later blues writers who overestimated the provinciality of Mississippi during the early 20th century, when railways linked small towns, and who failed to see that in the case of Jack Owens, "the 'tradition' he bore primarily consisted of musical scraps from James' table". Owens and other musicians who may have been contemporaries of James were not recorded until the revival of interest in blues music in the 1960s. Whether the work of these musicians constituted a "school" and whether James originated it or was a member of it remain open questions.
Crow Jane
Skip James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
You got to lay down and...
You got to die, you got to...
And I wanna buy me a pistol, wants me forty rounds of ball
Shoot Crow Jane, just to see her fall
She got to fall, she got to...
That's the reason I begged Crow Jane not to hold her head so high
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
You got to lay down and...
And I dug her grave with s silver spade
Ain't nobody gonna take my Crow Jane place
You can't take her place no, you can't take her...
That's the reason I begged Crow Jane not to hold her head too high
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
You got to lay down and...
You know, I let her down with a golden chain
And every link I would call my Crow Jane's name
Crow Jane, Crow... Crow Jane, Crow...
You know I never missed my water till my well went dry
Didn't miss Crow Jane until the day she died
Till the day she...
That's the reason I begged Crow Jane not to hold her head too high
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
You got to lay down and...you got to die, you got to...
You know, I dug her grave eight feet in the ground
I didn't feel sorry until they let her down
They had to let her down, let her...they had to let her down...
That's the reason I begged Crow Jane not to hold her head too high
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
You got to lay down and...
The song Crow Jane by Skip James is a mournful tune about the inevitability of death and the importance of humility. The chorus repeats the line "someday, baby, you know you got to die" several times, emphasizing the point that death comes for everyone. The verses add a narrative layer to the song, with the singer talking about wanting to buy a pistol to shoot Crow Jane, a metaphorical figure representing pride and arrogance. The singer knows that eventually, Crow Jane will fall, but also acknowledges that he will miss her once she's gone. The line "you know I never missed my water till my well went dry" echoes the sentiment that we often take things for granted until they're gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Crow Janie, Crow Janie, Crow Jane, don't you hold you head high
Skip James warns Crow Jane not to be too proud because everyone dies eventually.
Someday, baby, you know you got to die
Skip James emphasizes that death is inevitable.
You got to lay down and...
Skip James reminds Crow Jane that she will have to submit to death.
And I wanna buy me a pistol, wants me forty rounds of ball
Skip James intends to kill Crow Jane.
Shoot Crow Jane, just to see her fall
Skip James wants to witness Crow Jane's death.
She got to fall, she got to...
Skip James reminds us that everyone will eventually die.
That's the reason I begged Crow Jane not to hold her head so high
Skip James did not want Crow Jane to be too proud, because he knew she would die.
And I dug her grave with a silver spade
Skip James dug Crow Jane's grave using a special tool.
Ain't nobody gonna take my Crow Jane place
Skip James asserts that no one can replace Crow Jane.
You can't take her place no, you can't take her...
Skip James emphasizes that Crow Jane was irreplaceable.
You know, I let her down with a golden chain
Skip James had a special connection to Crow Jane.
And every link I would call my Crow Jane's name
Skip James had affection for Crow Jane.
You know I never missed my water till my well went dry
Skip James never realized how much he needed Crow Jane until she was gone.
Didn't miss Crow Jane until the day she died
Skip James regrets not appreciating Crow Jane while she was alive.
Till the day she...
Skip James emphasizes the finality of death.
You know, I dug her grave eight feet in the ground
Skip James made sure that Crow Jane's grave was deep enough.
I didn't feel sorry until they let her down
Skip James did not truly grieve until Crow Jane's body was laid to rest.
They had to let her down, let her...they had to let her down...
Skip James emphasizes the solemn ritual of burying the dead.
Lyrics © WYNWOOD MUSIC CO. INC.
Written by: Skip James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ClintT13
I heard three teenagers cover this song about a year ago and was blown away. Good to know there are still a few young kids digging up the good stuff.
@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec
I listened to this stuff as a teen
@funkality
I've always found the Delta blues to be so powerful. It truly does move your soul.
@neilbuchan5088
This is my favourite Skip James Track. Contrary to the idiots defaming him in other comments here, his father was the bootlegger. He entered a music competition in 1931 in which he played several songs in different blues styles. He was offered a cash prize or royalties for his songs. He chose the latter. As the great depression sunk in he never received a cent.
Skip disappeared for 30 years. There was nothing. Then he was discovered in a hospital by some blues enthusiasts. He was visiting 'kin'. They arranged to have him appear at the Newport Folk Festival where he was amazing and can be seen on film.
He died in 1969 and is revered by so many including Bonnie Rait.
@joshuaford2831
I have to say man, as a guy that is an idiot but appreciates people like you smart guys who have a passion for history, I love your desire to keep these moments in history alive, remember listening to one of his live performances of "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" and it was clear he was an intelligent man born in the wrong era, would imagine he was smart enough to appreciate royalties over a lump sum in that day and age, bad luck hit him in every aspect of his life. poor bloke.
@wheninroamful
Skip is treasured by so many who 'know and feel' what others can't for some reason. His music cuts through the ribcage and sinew and hits the heart directly.
@jpcohen1978
Amazing. It seems like every time he played his songs, he played them a little different--like a jazz man--and this is certainly the best rendition I've ever heard.
@joshualayne1
This is truly one of the greatest songs ever penned by man.
@Jim-oe9pt
So beautiful! Where would American music be without this saint and all his gifts?
@CharlieAnteby
Skip James. Not only a great talent, but a class act in every sense of the word.Thank you for posting the magnificent piece of blues history and sharing it with others.