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.
I'm so glad
Skip James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am glad, I am glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad and I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I'm so tired of moanin', tired of groanin'
Tired of moanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, indeed I am tired
I am tired
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I'm so tired and I am tired
I am tired, I'm tired
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
The song "I'm So Glad" by Skip James is a blues piece that, on the surface, seems to be about the singer's relief at being free from a tumultuous relationship. The repetition of the line "I'm so glad, I am glad" creates a sense of joy and release, which is further emphasized by the verses where the singer expresses exhaustion with weeping, moaning, and groaning for their former lover. The repeated line "I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do" could suggest the singer's uncertainty about how to move forward in life without the person they have been pining for.
However, there are some more subtle hints in the lyrics that suggest a deeper emotional struggle. The repeated phrases "I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin', tired of groanin' for you" suggest that the singer is not simply relieved to be free from their former lover, but is also grappling with feelings of depression and hopelessness. There is a sense that the singer is stuck in a cycle of mourning and does not know how to break free from it. The repeated references to being tired suggest a sense of fatigue and resignation.
Overall, "I'm So Glad" is a song that captures the intense emotional struggle of a person who has been through a difficult relationship and is now struggling to move on. The repetition of certain phrases creates a sense of both joy and despair, suggesting that the singer is experiencing conflicting emotions as they try to come to terms with their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so glad, and I am glad
I am experiencing a great deal of joy and satisfaction.
I am glad, I am glad
I am feeling a lot of happiness and contentment.
I don't know what to do
I am at a loss and unsure about what course of action to take.
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I am feeling indecisive and uncertain about the next step.
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin',
Tired of groanin' for you
I am exhausted from the constant emotional pain and suffering I have felt because of you.
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
Despite my previous emotional struggles, I am still feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment.
I'm so tired of moanin', tired of groanin',
Tired of moanin' for you
I am absolutely fatigued by the constant emotional toll of mourning and grieving over our relationship.
I'm so tired, indeed I am tired
I am tired
I am extremely fatigued and worn out.
I'm so tired and I am tired
I am tired, I'm tired
Once again, I am emphasizing my exhaustion and weariness.
I don't know what to do
Once more, I am expressing my confusion and uncertainty about the path forward.
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I am still feeling undecided and unsure about what the future holds.
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin',
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
Despite all the emotional pain and fatigue, I am still experiencing a strong sense of happiness and contentment.
I'm so tired and I am tired
I am tired, I'm tired
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin',
Tired of groanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
I am reiterating my emotional exhaustion while also expressing my continued feeling of joy and uncertainty about what the future holds.
Lyrics © WYNWOOD MUSIC CO. INC.
Written by: NEHEMIAH CURTIS "SKIP" JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jean-micheldehalu6572
I'm so glad, and I am glad
I am glad, I am glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad and I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I'm so tired of moanin', tired of groanin'
Tired of moanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, indeed I am tired
I am tired
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do, I don't know what to do
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
And I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I'm so tired and I am tired
I am tired, I'm tired
I'm tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of groanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I'm glad
I don't know what to do, don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
@MrAschiff
Skip James was in the hospital and was having problems paying his medical bills. Cream covered this song and it became a hit, and it helped James pay for his hospital bills.
@SWAATSFan
It was also covered by Deep Purple
@tayronadreamer
So thankful and good action by Cream.
@KyleGravesLive
God is good
@robertculliford5698
God is shite
@MrAschiff
@@robertculliford5698 At least you believe in God
@billyboy1093
A friend of mine thought this was a Cream song written by Clapton. Don't worry, I set him straight right quick!
@coryroberts7519
I just found out today it wasn't a Cream original =)
@terencedoherty3049
@@coryroberts7519 Cream ALWAYS gave credit where credit was due. Unlike Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin, they clearly identified Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Skip James Howlin' Wolf, etc. as authors of their remakes. And, they were proud to do so. This wasn't some sheepish admission that they weren't the authors of the song at all. This is what identified them as blues artists. Jimi Hendrix had the same attitude towards Bob Dylan.
@irvinginglethorpe
Clapton stated in an interview in the 60’s that they tried to include an old blues song on the Cream album not just because they liked it but also to help the blues artist with the royalties.