Comment

Comment by Joker on February 23, 2010 at 3:02am

Just one comment on the Robert Johnson thing. If you listen to the lyrics of Crossroads you will find that the it is more of a story of a black man in the seregated south walking down a street at dusk. The fear in those times for a black man out after dark alone was lynchings. So the song may more likely be about a Robert trying to catch a ride down where more traffic would be likely (crossroads). He is also praying to God to have mercy on him if the "Devil" catches him there, some may say that he was referring to those white men responsable for lynching. The story of selling a soul to the devil has been attributed to Tommy Johnson who learned most of his pickin style working on SandersFarms in Cleveland Mississippi. Down the road at Dockery famrs he met Charlie Patton and Willie Brown who were both working the farms. Tommy was known to have taken on the persona of Legba- a Yoruba trickster god who is associated with crossroads, because he is said to "open a path" to supernatural powers. These are religious beliefs that were brought from Africa and became intertwined with Christian beliefs. Most southern blacks associated the devil of the bible with Legba. It was Tommy who came up with the tale of selling his soul to "the devil" when folks asked how he learned to play so well. Instead of giving credit to Patton and Brown.
Robert most likely crossed paths with Tommy Johnson around the Hazelhurst, Mississippi area (where he was born) or Crystal Springs (where Tommy ended up settling.
It was blues researcher Mack McCormick who was first told by Robert Johnson's relatives that Robert had been the one who sold his soul to the devil.
Truth was Robert learned from some of the same men, Patton, Willie Brown. and Son House.

But we all like a good folk tale

Comment by Joker on February 23, 2010 at 2:17am

Keni Lee, great video. I like the approach! You should be a college professor

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page