Robert Johnson, "Crossroad Blues" and Others (1936)

Robert Johnson,
"Crossroad Blues" and Others (1936)

Crossroad Blues (recorded 1936): I went to the crossroad; Fell down on my knees; I went to the crossroad; Fell down on my knees; Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now,; Save poor Bob, if you please; Mmmmm, standin' at the crossroad; I tried to flag a ride; Standin' at the crossroad; I tried to flag a ride; Didn't nobody seem to know me; Everybody pass me by; Mmm, the sun goin' down, boy; Dark gon' catch me here; oooo ooee eeee; Boy, dark gon' catch me here; I haven't got no lovin' sweet woman that; Love and feel my care; You can run, you can run; Tell my friend-boy Willie Brown; You can run, you can run; Tell my friend-boy Willie Brown; Lord, that I'm standin' at the crossroad, babe; I believe I'm sinkin' down
Hellhound on My Trail (recorded 1936): I got to keep movin'; I got to keep movin'; Blues fallin' down like hail; Blues fallin' down like hail; Umm mmm mmm mmm; Blues fallin' down like hail; Blues fallin' down like hail; And the days keeps on worryin' me; There's a hellhound on my trail; Hellhound on my trail; Hellhound on my trail; If today was Christmas Eve; If today was Christmas Eve; And tomorrow was Christmas Day; If today was Christmas Eve; And tomorrow was Christmas Day; [spoken: Aow, wouldn't we have a time, baby?]; All I would need my little sweet rider just; To pass the time away, huh huh; To pass the time away; You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm; Mmm, around my door; All around my door; You sprinkled hot foot powder; All around your daddy's door, hmm hmm hmm; It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider; Every old place I go; Every old place I go; I can tell the wind is risin'; The leaves tremblin' on the tree; Tremblin' on the tree; I can tell the wind is risin'; Leaves tremblin' on the tree; Hmm hmm hmm mmm; All I need's my little sweet woman; And to keep my company, hey hey hey hey; My company
Stones in My Passway (recorded 1936)

I got stones in my passway
and my road seem dark as night
I got stones in my passway
and my road seem dark as night
I have pains in my hearts
they have taken my appetite

I have a bird to whistle
and I have a bird to sing
Have a bird to whistle
and I have a bird to sing
I got a woman that I'm lovin'
boy, she don't mean a thing

My enemies have betrayed me
have overtaken poor Bob at last
My enemies have betrayed me
have overtaken poor Bob at last
An ' 'ere's one thing certainly
they have stones all in my pass

Now you tryin' to take my life
and all my lovin' too
You laid a passway for me
now what are you trying to do
I'm cryin' please
plea-ease let us be friends
And when you hear me howlin' in my passway, rider
plea-ease open your door and let me in

I got three legs to truck home
boys, please don't block my road
I got three legs to truck home
boys, please don't block my road
I've been feelin' ashamed 'bout my rider
babe, I'm booked and I got to go
Go to discussion questions for Robert Johnson's music.

Prepared by Professor Catherine Lavender for Honors 502 (American Frontiers and Borderlands), Department of History, The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York. Send email to lavender@postbox.csi.cuny.edu
Last modified: Saturday, 19 August 2000.