SICK BED BLUES
SKIP JAMES
SONGWRITER: SKIP JAMES
COUNTRY: germany
ALBUM: hard
time killing floor blues
Label: vanguard
Genre: blues
Year: 1998
Nehemiah Curtis
"Skip" James (June 9,
1902 – October 3, 1969) was an
American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter.
His guitar playing is noted
for its dark, minor-key sound, played in an open D-minor tuning with an
intricate fingerpicking 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 three 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, having been adapted or covered by Kansas Joe McCoy, Robert
Johnson, Alan Wilson, Cream, Deep Purple, Chris Thomas King, Alvin
Youngblood Hart, the Derek Trucks
Band, Beck, Big Sugar, Eric Clapton, John Martyn, Lucinda Williams and Rory Block. He has been hailed as "one of the seminal
figures of the blues."
Layin' sick, honey, on my bed
I'm layin' sick, honey, and on my bed
I'm layin' sick, honey, and on my bed
I used to have some friends but they wish that I were
dead
In awful pain and deep in misery
Awful pain and deep in misery
Awful pain and deep in misery
I ain't got nobody to come and see about me
And every dog, baby, got a day
And every dog, baby, got a day
Every dog, baby, got a day
But I said, "Please, don't you treat me this-a
way"
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
He diagnosed my case and said it was awful bad
He walked away, mumblin' very low
He said, "He may get better but he'll never get
well no more
I hollered, "Lord, oh Lord, Lord, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy, Lord, Lord, Lord
I been so badly misused and treated just like a
dog"
I've got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride
I've got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride
I got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride
Now it's a thousand people standin' at my bedside
You take a stone, you can bruise my bone
You take stone and you can bruise my bone
You take a stone and you can bruise my bone
But you sure gonna miss me when I'm dead and gone
I been on the ocean, I been across the sea
Been on the ocean, I been across the sea
Been on the ocean, I been across the sea
I ain't found nobody would feel my sympathy