This week, Jim wants a song from an artiste who made the ultimate career move of dying at the age of 27. There are many more than I thought. Coincidence of course, but a little eerie all the same.

I was aware of the usual triptych of my generation – Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. More recently, notable names include Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.

Going back further in time, there is also, I discovered, arguably the most influential of all the great proponents of delta blues: Robert Johnson. Famously rumoured to have sold his soul to the devil and probably best known for ‘Crossroads’, this song does little to dispel the myth of the satanic connection.

I got to keep movin’, I’ve got to keep movin’
Blues fallin’ down like hail, blues fallin’ down like hail
Mm mm mm, blues fallin’ down like hail, blues fallin’ down like hail
And the days keeps on worryin’ me of 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
(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, mmm
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
All I need’s my little sweet woman
And to keep my company, hmm hmm, hey hey
My company

Written by Robert Johnson

Song Lyric Sunday 2 October 2022