R.L. Burnside: See My Jumper Hanging On the Line (1978)

R.L. Burnside at home in Independence, Mississippi, shot by Alan Lomax, Worth Long, and John Bishop in August, 1978. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit culturalequity.org. [02.11.07]

[@skippy6francs]

Be honest, it's not the first time you're coming here to watch this.

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

Not by any stretch

[@lucas.mathias_]

guilty as charged

[@HenryLewisRadd]

Yep. Unforgettable performance.

[@Dafoodmaster]

i'm not sure

[@beachbum4166]

I lost count the first week I heard this. I hadn't listened to this in months but I moved to Portland OR and my neighbor was listening to RL. Kinda ironic because both of us were hardcore punk rockers back in the day.

[@Uatemysoul]

This is one of the most genuine recordings in just how real it is. He's playing a junky old electric, on a junky old amp. He's sitting on a 5 gallon bucket. You can hear kids crying in the background. This man is a musician not for the fame but because he wanted to bring joy and liveliness to the tough life of the people around him. This is what music is really about.

[@husky500cr]

And with a barbwire fence behind him.

[@jaimacpherson972]

Absolutely … no gimmicks, no pretentiousness involved. Just raw soulful music that gives you the cold sweats and makes your hair stand on end

[@elishines8353]

nothing junky about either of those things

[@jasonnewsom]

And crickets

[@robk6635]

When I see the guitar and amp called junky, I can't help but be reminded of this scene: Jake Blues: "Two thousand for this chunk of shit? Come on, Ray." Murph: "I mean, really, Ray. It's used. There's no action left in this keyboard." Ray Charles: "Excuse me. I don't think there's anything wrong with the action on this piano." *Brilliance ensues*

[@ceemer6935]

One camera, One microphone, One electric guitar, One Man. Pure Gold.

[@skateurs25]

issou

[@ceemer6935]

@@skateurs25 Elite ! Elite everywhere ! :'-)

[@jeffjoad9784]

The real way. Real live. No effects

[@douglaspaterson5269]

@@jeffjoad9784 One man one guitar the real essence of the blues!

[@davidjacobs2871]

And two fingers

[@Mrchungus11C-OIR]

Sitting in my yard probably less than 20 miles from where this was filmed. It’s truly an unmatched aesthetic.

[@tamasnyulasi6007]

yeah man. How's life there bro?

[@Mrchungus11C-OIR]

@ not bad actually this part of the states doing well. Water valley where this is filmed is looks way better than it did when I was a kid

[@tamasnyulasi6007]

@@Mrchungus11C-OIR i'm glad to hear that God bless u all from Hungary

[@JoeSchmidl-c5u]

Where is this?

[@pwee507]

And to this day no grass grows where he was a stompin that heel

[@namename7270]

I am

[@TimTheHermit]

This might be the greatest comment of all KZbin. Kudos, fellow music aficionado!

[@KatieDe_G]

🏆best comment award

[@earthianfriendly5708]

lookin at the 1st fret

[@jeffjoad9784]

@@TimTheHermit

[@Jeffros]

This has to be the best recommendation youtube ever got me.

[@jaguarcesar]

Agreed.

[@I.P.Phreely]

👍

[@jeremyrumas12]

Same here

[@BaLLHands87]

@@jacktheripper8463 you're what's wrong with the world today lmao

[@clydetheglide4198]

✅

[@tjthegreat7]

That baby wailing in the background is about 42 years old now

[@JLxavyo]

Cheese Steak Jimmy's it’s amazing how time passes.

[@Elohim423]

Or its dead

[@derleckstopfen7238]

@@Elohim423 No dude! I'm fresh like hell!!!

[@Joey-ow4kj]

Probably his grandson Cedric, who's also a musician lol

[@jjRoxy]

damn

[@cemery50]

I am soo proud to say he was a friend...I was about 2 feet from him when this series was being filmed...I was soo intranced that I didn't really notice the filming...an insanely reat soul and talented man

[@MarkChittom]

Wow! Amazing! I grew up in Mississippi. Spent my childhood in the Delta, in Greenwood and a little town called Webb. Spent some time in Holly Springs. When I hear this music it brings me right back home, even though I don't actually recall hearing anyone play the blues when I was a kid. The music was just kind of around. Strange how music and place can be tied up so keenly. But you were literally right there. Good for you! I hope some people are still playing the blues down there.

[@lydiabanjo]

very cool

[@spencerchapman4712]

There's an old recording of this tune on Dave Stewart's "Deep Blues" soundtrack. Were you there for that? I've always wanted to speak with someone who was...

[@theslim]

That's awesome. Are you a player as well

[@bigdawg77]

Men like this are one in a million. It's sad but also poetic that 90% of these men will live their life in obscurity only blessing those who come across them by chance

[@mgiantpurplepanda]

to who ever recorded this, thank you for focusing on his hands

[@vinny3597]

alan lomax! he spent most of his life documenting folk music from all over the world, check out all the stuff he recorded over the years, it's pretty much all amazing:~) www.discogs.com/artist/468451-Alan-Lomax

[@countryboy6767]

Um hm m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3244748435569330&id=100001026151518

[@clawhammer704]

Open G tuning?

[@ThaiThom]

Alan Lomax. Remember his name when you listen to music like this.

[@oscar9680]

I still cant tell what hes doing. Cuz hes got two melodies going on a the same time, but strums so casually

[@bradonchristian6017]

It's bluesy. It's country. It's funky. It's got soul and Rock & Roll.

[@rvz53]

It’s Hill St Blues!!! All that you said come from blues!

[@Regina-cm8ik]

It's just really awesome playing.......I love that Bluesy Funk, it's so Raw❤❤❤❤🎉

[@joshuadowling8778]

​@@rvz53 The TV show?

[@joshuadowling8778]

Hahaha !

[@branchcovidian754]

Hill county blues, North Mississippi not far from Tennessee.

[@joshmatthewcereghino]

With no more than$ 137 worth of gear he sounds like a million bucks. What a legend.

[@omairsh8]

That's why they say guitar playing is in the fingers not the instrument

[@barristanselmy2758]

@@omairsh8 Yes and no. If u gave a good guitar player a shit guitar it would sound okay. But if you gave him a great guitar he'll sound better.

[@tPsychedelic]

That's a Fender duo sonic not a cheap Squire

[@benharkin9812]

@@tPsychedelic you do know there are more than 2 guitar brands, right? this definitely isnt a fender, looks like a teisco or a guyatone

[@hemigod2]

thats what makes the blue tha blues baby. all these kids buying these ten thousand dollar "vintage axes,. the masters played what ever they could get their hands on. its all really company hype and commercial ism. pay attention to detail these old masters won't lead you astray

[@belligerantbooger]

Once in a while the algorithm spits out a gem like this.

[@peterdefrankrijker]

That baby crying at 3:06 sounds like some just picked up exactly the right blues harp at exactly the right time. This is a magical piece of film.

[@davidmehnert6206]

Peter de Frankrijker it go to my heh

[@jonassoelberghansen]

Perfect timing.. Music is in the blood down south ..

[@babylonsmostwanted8406]

Baby was crying in key!

[@kazoolordhd6591]

its 666 dislikes now

[@wordreet]

@@kazoolordhd6591 668 now. ;¬)

[@chronicallytiredmedstudent]

My dad has been playing R.L Burnside for ages. Funny enough, he's a Polish immigrant and we live in Northern Canada. Music touches every soul

[@claytronico]

Chess records was named after the folks that started it. They were Polish immigrants. Some mighty fine recordings. Little Walter, Muddy Waters era. There is a documentary on RL that talks about his experience in Chicago at the time. It is a sad story. The man had chops.

[@pgroove163]

?......

[@michalw1397]

So greets from Poland. Pozdrawiamy ;)

[@maskcollector6949]

My ex was Polish, a lot of cultured people from there - that's why. You're the exception not the norm.

[@1683clifton]

I get tired of equating music taste to geographic location or race. Either you love this or you're a shit.

[@jaygatsby1]

Not only is he a phenomenal player, but “R.L. Burnside” is a spectacularly awesome name for a bluesman.

[@paulgentile1024]

his real name is oliver Wendell

[@SeldumSeen]

Word

[@D33Lux]

Or a moonshiner cooking up some of that likkey.

[@PumpkinSpicePretzels]

Yeh, like "Are real sideburns?" For sure.

[@fredvlietstra2394]

I don,t like blues but I do not care how you call it I love the style ,ritme, playing and singing and text’s of This great player of music .R.L.Burnside. I love you mr Burnside.

[@Barock-mt8bc]

No fake, no AI, real people, genuine feelings, here we are ! Blues is music straight to the soul ))

[@seamusmaguire8853]

The wailing baby adds to it’s authenticity feeling that soul.

[@kortgreen7725]

That's not a baby but a peacock. They make great watchdogs.

[@Blockhead971]

@@kortgreen7725 that’s a baby

[@maryannehickey2741]

Right on key too

[@SurlyFly]

@@maryannehickey2741 dat babe Kno'd it's daddy's rhythms well

[@horsewithnoname12345]

@@kortgreen7725 that’s a baby. RL had like 10 kids.

[@dirtydelva]

Sometimes the blues finds you

[@pissbulletskilgore522]

Brother your danm right..

[@thatsclassified1]

WELL BOY IT JUST FOUND ME!

[@andyeagle7466]

The first time I met the blues, I was walking down through the woods.

[@Trpmanne]

Found me today

[@charliesideshow8400]

Finds me every day.

[@soundpark_]

Lost in the hidden valleys of youtube R.L Burnside the most underrated Blues musician.

[@soundpark_]

+benjaminduncan Appearance has nothing to do with talent. What's your point?.

[@ziparis]

+Carlos A. Redondo I find it transcendent. I just go to a different place beyond intellect when he plays. I hear it, but can't remember what the notes sounded like.

[@hailtheleaf7451]

+zi paris yes

[@amorican88]

Belton Sutherland

[@64CadDeville]

*You couldn't have said it any better then that!*

[@traviscutler9912]

Saw him play 1997, opening for Spencer blues explosion. Crushed it with an intensity that men half his age can't muster, I mean he stole the show. He said as he took a sip of whiskey, "I only drink whiskey when I'm not sleeping" and proceeded to lay waste to the room. People were crowd surfing and he just started laughing, he thought it was hilarious.

[@greenxxghostie]

I first learned about him in 97 because of that tour, never got to see a show though!

[@emichaelmcmahon]

the great RL Burnside. You can't teach this timing. He drove a cab in obscurity for decades. Such a gift to humanity.

[@xxdfoster]

He's one of my favs . That tiesco didn't stand a chance

[@jamespatrick3462]

Brilliant. He is technically playing 3 parts at the same time while singing a completely unrelated melody line and doing lead fills.

[@dougsmith7083]

I love the way that many of the rural and country blues legends play multiple parts (sometimes complex off key/off rhythm parts too) at the same time Manner Lipscomb - completely different style but multitasking effortlessly on a beat to crap acoustic

[@THICCTHICCTHICC]

3 parts with 2 fingers

[@zephallen]

Technically he's just feeling it.

[@jessewilmeth1697]

which makes you a genius

[@jessewilmeth1697]

he's playing the blues, a***ole.

[@og_jefry_jonson]

That groove is absolutely hypnotic, one of my favorite pieces of blues music ever

[@ronbobele8996]

also listen to Robert Wolfman Belfour HILL COUNTRY BLUES

[@angusseletto1511]

Jeffrey Johnson isn't it amazing,always something we haven't heard yet one f the best

[@EbonyPope]

I think that's the African roots of the blues. Percussive repetitive catchy patterns that put you in a trance-like state if you dance long enough to it.

[@NovChivon]

yes repetitive hypnotic roots in zimbabwe africa

[@AdrienneCross]

This is quite possibly my favorite blues video ever now.

[@davidjohnmcguigan7848]

yes amazing, less is more more or or less

[@ScottH9]

Music fans owe Lomax and his team an enormous debt of gratitude for capturing and preserving the music of so many of these artists.

[@alimantado373]

NOw pay them instead of exploiting them because of color....

[@jeffjoad9784]

Completely agree.

[@benedictus9683]

@@alimantado373 Pay who and what? Who's exploiting who and where?

[@charlesoneil4459]

@@alimantado373 SIMPLETON

[@randyelliott9152]

Many of the early recordings are available to listen too through the Library of Congress.

[@gregmckeown4198]

Can you imagine his reaction to being told this video has been viewed 4.3 million times on one platform alone

[@bigtoelittlefinger1536]

Yehaa well over 5 and a half now and growing

[@dereksmallsuk]

Folks be easy pleased

[@Porkchop_Delight23]

Especially if you told him that in 1978

[@Kowasi]

@@Porkchop_Delight23 Explaining the Internet to guys from the 70s in the 70s would be a trip in itself…

[@kickthatmulelee9249]

@@Kowasi Honestly, small towns in the south ,they are hip AF when it comes to techie stuff. they just play dumb.

[@themodelcircus8179]

One of the coolest picking rythmns I've ever heard

[@LiveYourLife229]

its almost like he treats it as percussion

[@shanghunter7697]

@@LiveYourLife229 EXACTLY !!

[@vertyisprobablydead]

More like fingerstyle rhythms.

[@aaronbennack714]

I'm curious what tempo he's keeping in his head. When it shows his foot tapping, is the audio out of sync? Looks right when he's singing. Or does the riff not come in on the "1"?

[@vertyisprobablydead]

@@aaronbennack714 I doubt he's keeping any tempo. Once you play solo guitar for awhile you stop caring about tempo.

[@adamhughes2580]

Pure genius, this is the best recording of the song too, stripped back just him outdoors back to basics and it pays off. Dude should have become way more famous than he did but guess he's that hidden gem those who know get t love

[@harrymills2770]

I get the impression he was pretty happy.

[@adriankingdon3055]

That baby wailing gave the song an extra dimension.

[@BlankRami]

Yeah it's my favorite part.

[@blindboymusic8262]

The baby was crying in key.

[@ecworldwide1]

😂

[@xruhz]

baby prolly got perfect pitch

[@teebro2373]

That's amazing you picked up on that. I just made a comment above how we saw RL's grandson, Cedric, last night, and he would have a been a baby when this was made, AND lived in his grandfather's house! Too cool L)

[@marselmusic]

hthats what happenes when you hear it from the womb

[@johnhickey8429]

True!

[@stevew6910]

Man died in 05, Back when he recorded this video it was something to do,,,, He may have forgotten all about it, But he lives on,,,, I hope his grandkids enjoy

[@debaterofeverythingpresent2775]

Sad he couldn't enjoy it on the internet. Damn, remember the 90s? No idea how I survived without the internet

[@Jacob-qt7jt]

Look up Cedric Burnside

[@johanstaelens5194]

Blues History will prove...

[@brownncares]

I also hope his grandkids reaped some financial benefit for the use of his music by others.

[@rag2458]

Some of his grandkids are pretty well-known blues musicians, so they'd probably be very familiar with R.L.'s work

[@ogatosun5302]

Very moving music, good work.

[@literallyshaking8019]

The crickets and kids in the background add to the vibe so well.

[@misteraxl1]

I'm convinced that you can't play and sing blues sincerely unless you accumulate certain age and baggage on your soul. This man's face, look and voice, are pure blues.

[@ssy12335]

You got to mean it, isn't that right.

[@mm37too]

That's kind of sad.

[@lawrence-yx1ew]

This is what art should be. Not pursuance of Fame or Fortune. Just expression of what's in the heart

[@teeoh9192]

💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@jeremyroastscoffee2495]

I've been watching this same video repeatedly for almost a decade now

[@scottmcfadyen8921]

Really

[@dannyxmendoza]

I got to get started on my decade watching it too

[@dirtinnails]

Me too Jr. Kimbrough R.L. Burnside T-model Ford You See Me Laughin'

[@bigchestflex]

Nice

[@TheVatonaught]

Me too...I like his grandson's mixes too...which surprises an old man like me.

[@banjarro]

Thank God...finally someone who knows how to film a guitar performance.

[@ughhh4790]

900 dislikes are the people who mad as shit they weren’t blessed to have rhythm like his man

[@I.P.Phreely]

Octoberzzz z : 960 Bozos

[@jameszond8805]

I totally Agree 100% with you on that one Octoberzzz

[@satanicpanic1313]

900 people that need their thumbs snapped off!

[@jimcervantes5659]

I can't imagine why anyone cares about thumbs down.

[@jimiguitar6324]

Or maybe they just didn't like this and besides who are you to say what someone should or shouldn't like?

[@Mr.A_LDN]

That riff is one of those I could listen to for days

[@anashfd4211]

When you ain’t got nothing, you still got the blues

[@brounwynsmith848]

Fuck yeah

[@giacomopandiani6290]

You speak the truth brother.

[@Charlesbim75]

Who said he's got nothing? It's a matter of perspective.

[@joshuadowling8778]

@@anashfd4211 Sometimes. Ain't that the blues.

[@Criticallyours]

This is absolutely timeless, the baby wailing in the background said it all.

[@bluesdrmr2]

I read an interview once where the interviewer asked him if it was true that R.L. once killed a man and R.L. replied that he had shot him but whether he died or not was up to God. Damn good answer. He did a great live album I have.

[@gotechi4569]

What’s the record?

[@gooders7366]

I just read James H. Cone’s book ‘The Cross and the Lynching Tree’. He suggests there is a very real correlation between the two and quotes some old bluesmen. I feel that the title of this is in the same vein, See My Jumper Hanging on the Line. He’s not talking about his clothes, is he? Peace x

[@awarewolves1712]

@@gooders7366 Yes he is talking about an item of clothing in my opinion. No offense intended, but the book you mention smells of the lamp and sounds retarded. Have you read "At the Hands of Persons Unknown?" If you haven't then you should. Peace to you as well.

[@gooders7366]

@@awarewolves1712 kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5ezoGuhjZJ2fK8 Mr Cone features prominently in this enjoyable, informative documentary on Malcolm X. He doesn’t come across as overly laboured, even less, retarded. The book you mention looks excellent. In the vein of exposing the horror of the black American experience. These blues men found courage to speak of horrific things in poetic language. That way you have spoken the injustice without being explicit - under the radar, so to speak. To speak of a jumper rather than a corpse, this gets under the radar. For black people under Jim Crow, it was all about being under the radar. Cone writes for the ‘Christian’ audience primarily. He is a black theologian. He points out that both people groups claimed to be Christian but that the one of them had a major plank in their eye, and were actually hypocrites. They used St Paul to justify slavery and keep black people oppressed. This is not good, certainly not ‘Christian’. Those who composed the negro spirituals and even blues songs like this here, are, really, ‘Christian’ in contrast to the majority group who claimed to be but were complicit in horrible atrocities against fellow humans. Cone equates the horrible atrocities perpetrated in those days as parallel to the cross of Christ, which cross is so profound as to provide reconciliation, in the end, for these two people groups. Thus, the cross of Christ is a ‘double cure’ - healing both the sinner and the sinned against, so that the one can face his trespass and be wrecked, and the other can face his fears and be wrecked and on the other side of fear he can compose a song of lament like this one. xxx Peace from the UK ✌🏻

[@samjohnson3219]

In another interview he said “rl did you shoot him in self defence? I said no I shot him in the leg and he jumped the fence”

[@zacdrinkel2255]

This is why I love the blues, there was just so much of it waiting to be discovered, and such a modest genre, all of the artists just looked like ur average guy until they whipped out the guitar and blew the hats off everyone

[@theper4sho]

one of the best descriptions of blues ive seen lol

[@bizzarroworld1518]

The blues is REAL......sad that many young people will never know real music....

[@heyokaikaggen6288]

@@bizzarroworld1518 but great that the medium we're all watching this on gives people the opportunity to discover it.

[@dougteske1382]

You can hear it when a man truly has the blues

[@jgrullon32]

He saw some shit

[@joeholland4936]

I save it and watch it. I been watching it for 7-8 years.

[@IsaacFilikitonga-g7k]

I liked so you can come back again just jn case you forgot but I'm sure you'll never forget

[@dorothyzentgraf7475]

i love hearing and seeing this i am 82 from missssippi itawamba county share croppers daughter white that old blue farmers jumper i can see it blowing in the wind what i really like about this is he is happy and so proud of his song makes you feel good

[@UncleFishbits]

One of the best youtube comments ever. Cheers to you.

[@22.NUU.DRU.22]

Dorothy, you are 82 my dear?

[@gabriellaarango9100]

SO beautiful!!!😊❣️

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

Yes ma'am.

[@UnitedElectric]

God bless YOU Dorothy!

[@marybrowns7296]

Fuck, this guys guitar riffs are beyond blues. I can 100% say he is now my top motivations for music and this is the first time I’m listening to him!

[@Technician_One]

*You have **_exquisite tastes_** Mary Browns. This video is a true **_masterpiece,_** and that is an understatement, I think. So glad that you **_felt the man,_** too. He was a genius.*

[@rickmathews9749]

Being born and raised smack dab in between birthplace of jazz and delta blues country if you don’t feel this when you hear it your soul is broken. One of my favorite raw recordings with all the unintentional sounds recorded just adds to it. Mississippi hill country life at the time :) while rl was from (what we called Mississippi hill country) he didn’t limit his influences to blues. Many influenced his style. Spent a lot of time right at the state line of La/Ms off hwy 61. There was a Li’l juke joint there, black as things were still pretty segragated there at the time. Juke joint was one place that didn’t really matter on Friday Saturday night. We were too young but we’d go sit close enough to hear the music play :)

[@stle-jayyy]

Yes.

[@KrakenShivers9292]

R.L was born in my hometown and his grave is still here. Legend

[@GiProHD]

Where is he buried? I would like to visit one day

[@JerseyMiller]

Are you sure they didn't move it yet?

[@gavinvalentino1313]

Seriously: "still here" like it's being rented or the lease is almost up.

[@KrakenShivers9292]

@@GiProHD Harmontown, MS

[@GiProHD]

@@KrakenShivers9292 thanks man

[@_The_Captain]

As a fellow lover of the blues... from this day on, there will be a special place in my heart reserved just for R.L. Burnside.

[@teebro2373]

We saw this guy's amazing grandson, Cedric Burnside, in Brisbane, Australia last night - he was amazing!!!

[@myboythom]

Tee Bro perhaps that very babe that cries 3 mins in!

[@5oclockshadowbanned154]

Yup, it is.

[@johnhendricks8140]

I'm have to check out his grand son's music.

[@itsirrelevant4565]

It's astonishing how few blues pieces use this rhythm. Loved burnside for years, it's interesting how often this rhythm is used by African artists like Ali Farka Tur. They said when they first heard American blues they were shocked to hear rhythms of Africa, but so few blues pieces are arranged in THIS style.

[@beechkatkal]

what you said! the rhythmic style has this modal 'time-capsule feel' to it that makes this one of my favorite records of American music

[@LeoTheComm]

The Mississippi hill country blues is the place to find it although you need to go back to the ones that came before him to hear more.

[@CristiNeagu]

And this is why anyone complaining about "cultural appropriation" can get stuffed. We all have a lot to learn from eachother.

[@CristiNeagu]

@@danielperry7132 1. This is not African music, whether brought with them, or picked up in the meantime. Blues was created by the melding between African and Western music. 2. The point I was making is that the concept of "cultural appropriation" would not only have made blues music impossible to create, but it would also have restricted it to the black community. Either way you look at it, if these people we're woke enough to consider cultural appropriation a bad thing, as some do today, we would not have had blues and probably no one would have heard about R.L. Burnside. And that is my point.

[@CristiNeagu]

​@@danielperry7132 That is what they like to tell people about cultural appropriation. But in practice that is not the case. The privileged class is always white people, so it is a racial distinction. It doesn't matter if you're on the Forbes 500 or living in a trailer park, if you're white they think you're privileged. And it has nothing to do with "taking an already formed melding and profiting from it as their own while completely divorcing it from its original context/meaning". I think there was someone that took the idea of tacos and adapted it to local cuisine. So all they had in common with actual tacos was that they had fillings inside a tortilla. They weren't being sold as authentic Mexican tacos. That didn't stop the cultural appropriation gang to launch a campaign. Either way, my problem with how cultural appropriation is defined and handled in real life is the cancel culture. People have a right to not like them, to consider them crass, or ignorant. That's all fine. But the problem is that they immediately start screaming racism, and try, in some cases, to completely destroy that person's livelihood. And that is wrong, in my opinion. Even if some examples of cultural appropriation are born out of ignorance to a culture, at the end of the day it still shows some appreciation. Like some people that are obsessed with anime, and they use Japanese phrases even though they don't speak Japanese. They're cringey. They are ignorant by definition. But they do appreciate Japanese culture. It is better to encourage them to fix their ignorance than to label them as racists and demolish them socially. So I am all for cultural appropriation, of all kinds. I want people to learn from my culture, and I want to learn from theirs, so that we can all be better people for it.

[@bibtebo]

I love the fact the babies cries are for a few seconds in harmony

[@vikramad36]

It adds to the beauty of the song somehow

[@nocturnalferalguitarist]

@@vikramad36 oh hell yeah , great comment

[@JuanMorales-cr2tj]

Still listening 2025!

[@saintholmes6647]

Me too brotha

[@johngarcia8827]

Me too !

[@Psychedelic_TimeTraveller86]

😁👍 Still listening from the U.K

[@flipflopfloridian543]

Seen him 3x's in my lifetime, luckiest days of my life...Got to hang with him and chat and thank him for all the years before he left us here on earth. RIP you you awesome wise man. Florida loved you brother from the heart...

[@PlayingForChange]

wow hes amazing! his passion is so pure. definitely a classic

[@sinceagesago5258]

Playing For Change gold!

[@spoderman15]

Playing For Change really?? love your music man. Been wearing my PFC charge T shirt for years

[@TheSynchu]

worth to record a cover, isn't it?

[@fabrizio3880]

Playing For Change pm

[@ScoriacTears]

Oh fucking shut up yeh flowery pink fluff ball! he's a cool and interesting dude, and if he heard you talking about him like that he'd run away holding his arse and laughing at you.

[@OriginalCouber]

This is awesome. Even his shirt is awesome man.

[@rodbenson8850]

Couber 3$s

[@jermainerace4156]

The 70's got some things right.

[@Richard44077]

I re visit this song throughout my life. It’s magic . Like I’m home.

[@dougsthang]

To fellow gee-tar players listening to this, R.L.'s tuning is unique in that I'm sure he just tuned by ear. It's an open E tuning but raised up a half step plus a nudge. So if you have a tuner you'll want to tune each note +50 cent over the 0'd note. Starting from the low 6th string you'll have F2 (+50), C3 (+50), F3 (+50), A3 (+50), C4 (+50), F4 (+50). I know it's odd to be so exact with a loose blues tuning but if you want to play to the track that's the tuning. Now add a crap load of feel and looseness with vague phrasing and you'll be on you way :)

[@franklarouche8612]

you, sir, are wrong. tuning is STANDARD, but way sharp (as you put it, as semitone and a half higher than EADGBE)

[@EdgeOfFate]

sounds like you both have listened to colter wall

[@franklarouche8612]

Colter who?

[@dsm5d723]

I hear the fluid "fretless" aspect to the playing. No musicianship for me, I hear too well to play.

[@bluemeadows40]

wtf mate its just music

[@stonedwookie9916]

this may be the coolest video ever made, the shirt, the guitar, the backdrop, the song, the man, k'in amazing. holy molie

[@carrieanneatreides6240]

Truth.

[@roberttaylor9149]

Its from a movie.

[@The1920sChannel]

These blues musicians demonstrate the purest form of musical expression

[@unclesy4360]

I came looking for this, and found exactly what i was looking for

[@andreww2319]

Look at that smile - the guy's talent just carries his spirit along.

[@mattc4970]

Just one of the great blues men of all time, sittin’ on a bucket

[@TaylorSmith-godbucket]

Its gold nuggets like this I'd like to show anyone who thinks Joe Bonamassa is a legendary "blues guitarist"

[@TaylorSmith-godbucket]

@Danny Mathis yeah dammit, I should have put the quotes around 'legendary', my bad

[@wayno2333]

Finally ... for for the life of me I can't see why everyone says. He's so good . Now this fella , I believe what he's saying .

[@restlessyouthproductions]

Wayno Walden Joe is technical and very knowledgeable, but he’s not very authentic. He’s studies and performs blues.... he don’t live it.

[@restlessyouthproductions]

Blues'n with the Bird yeah, I think that’s the thing about blues guitar that has to be real. In its purest form, it’s about life and pain , the tough roads, etc. I like my guitar heroes to be technically sound enough to be ear pleasing. But all the pyrotechnics... nah, keep that in heavy metal.

[@wulyf4lyf]

100 % agreed. Joe is technically incredible, studied a ton, knowledgeable as hell, but his stuff feels too slick and soulless. He also gained attention at a pretty young age from doing fairs, and talent gigs when he was 12? Years old. He’s definitely an incredible , technically talented blues guitarist, but he’s almost in the Vai, Satriani, Malmstein category of so technical that there’s just no soul in the music. Too technical almost always sounds robotic to me, in any genre. Not knocking Joe, bc he is a phenomenal player, just not legendary.

[@Nola-y6p]

Regularly visit this page. Love this man.

[@fbiagent2848]

I’ve been listening to metal all my life and this hit me harder than any metal riff has

[@mikekaatman3194]

This is the very root....of metal.

[@trailbossx2]

@@mikekaatman3194 Mr Fblagent,,,,,welcome to the blues, son,,,,nothing badder than this exists!!!!!,,,,metal is awesome,,,but this is THE ORIGINAL DEVILS' MUSIC!!!!!!😎

[@chezztone]

Welcome to the blues

[@TheJofrica]

Excellent shirt

[@xpuser577]

Even better BOOTS

[@abujalagoss8155]

Batik shirt

[@earlleeray6490]

TheJofrica Versace

[@jeffmccomas2784]

TheJofrica 70s style just the greatest huh?

[@lactate8008s]

That's actually part of the reason I clicked on the video

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

My mans don’t even need a pick, just a skinny ole blues finger and a power source. Love this guy forever

[@wavestarglitch]

even the babies cry in tune. that's the blues - thanks for the portal RL Burnside

[@rootsinmotion2865]

This sends shivers down my spine... What an unbelievably talented musician.

[@muece]

I strongly believe the world would be a better place if we all were this musically gifted

[@leary_93]

muece then music this would just become mediocre and that’s tragic

[@domtron8873]

Put the blunt down man. Go outside

[@toby7442]

muece Well, “if everyone is a superhero, no one will be”

[@SamAsgari]

@Degree7 Well, except from Hitler, Franco, Khomeinei and others, of course

[@oscarlolage]

It would be a better place if everyone just appreciated good music

[@raymondmassey1]

Mr Burnside was a friend and neighbor (next county over) who liked to go over to Fred and Annie Mae McDowell's house and play with Fred and talk farming..

[@Frip36]

fuck you talkin

[@jkitty.]

What a blessing

[@TheRealDarkSpark]

Of course we’re still here in ‘24. You know the blues never dies 😉

[@DarkSpade511]

The other end of that amp was plugged into to a nearby pond...you can’t get much more southern than this...old leather shoes without any socks...gotta love it!

[@jontyhawkes5332]

best comment here- plugged into a pond- lmao!

[@kcovington5798]

BONA FIDE 100 % SOUTHERN DAPPER

[@grants5554]

this man plays exactly what he wants. Each note so deliberate...a true blues master

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

That baby in the background sounded like it was mouthing a harmonica!

[@adamstanley4778]

Just watched your video thank!you

[@skuiff7578]

that or a kazoo

[@aniquinstark4347]

They synced up pretty well at 3:05

[@AgingBoner]

Yeah, the baby is in tune.

[@dante666jt]

Yes the baby wailing in tune

[@Dad-Gad]

This is the heaviest riff you're going to hear today by a mile 👍

[@chezztone]

Or tomorrow.

[@AnonYmous-be9vw]

The song, the sounds of the kids in the background... His smile digs right into my soul and brings it sunshine... Everything about this is magic

[@clvrcre8v829]

R.L. was one in a million. He was underrated and should’ve been a lot more celebrated/well known. Amazing guy

[@phuckyew11]

But what if all his talent came from being the under dog? Sometimes success can affect an artists work in a negative way, especially when it comes to singing the blues.

[@clvrcre8v829]

@@phuckyew11 Its been my experience that talent isn’t something that’s present due to popularity or not; it’s innate. You have it or don’t. We’ve seen artists who’s popularity has seemingly made them suddenly talentless, but that’s because they’re following advice from a record company/ label or they just want to take the easy road, so they’ve sold out so to speak. RL did gain a little fame in later years, but he was still a humble guy and his talent never waned.

[@blueblur6447]

Not sure he gave two f***s. Would love to hear a interview where they ask him about his fame, and where he is at. Did he feel robbed? Did he not care? Lots of questions

[@clvrcre8v829]

@@blueblur6447 You’re right, he probably didn’t give a shit, and that’s what I liked about him. He kept it totally fucking real.

[@joshuadowling8778]

The shame is now that he's more recognized by being sampled and by his guitar riffs. Nobody knows this man's talent by name.

[@jumboshrimp5193]

That's some real shit right there.

[@clumsiii]

for real that's all i thought - knew if i scrolled down i'd find it. barbed wire butterfly collar working hands grey hair sockless boots two finger pickin no solos. what a voice

[@brain8484]

i thought it was really good , what dont you like about ir ?

[@alimantado373]

@@brain8484 haha :) are you serious?

[@annrupel36]

Brain Sample - I do believe "That's some real shit right there" MEANS it's really good!

[@JCHaywire]

Damn straight.

[@marystacey4796]

I have terrible arthritis and my body is like a statue but listening to the blues makes me want to dance. 😊

[@yungfrogleg]

You should eat some poke berries❤

[@armarq8091]

Try cbd

[@BorisNoiseChannel]

The kid cries perfectly in tune ( 3:05 ) Great song, great rhythm!

[@viperblackalpha]

well spotted brother

[@collingwoodfan72]

hes got blues in his blood!

[@tonyconner4035]

Good call.......lol

[@joshua9097]

yesssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BA-vv4jy]

Boris B Thats the bloodline of a musician...taught to cry in key from an early age.

[@hardrockerdave94]

His rhythm is incredible!

[@exxumma]

ya mun,,,,id b all bout de riddim,,,widout riddim der be no music,,,yacan excaape,,,we all be 'slaves to da riddum'

[@matoldershaw4157]

The Mans smile is so infectious, love His guitar playing so unique and style is quality !!!!

[@gresleymccaslin5948]

Absolutely brilliant……great guitar playing,..can listen to him over and over…whoever recorded this,thank you!…

[@Magnificientfalcon]

This man could play world class music on a rubber band if he wanted to

[@davidn503]

Not sure which is older, the guitar or the boots. The music is timeless, hands down.

[@Istari_01]

That’s the musical equivalent of observing an element of nature. Magic. 👏🏻👏🏻🍻

[@natedogg5708]

Damn this sounds so much better than whats on spotify 😢

[@hankigoe829]

thank God that this exists, and that YT lets us still find it

[@PlanktoniusRex]

Just hope Trump doesn't like it or YT will delete it.

[@milesschmidt3285]

Everything about this 3 minutes and 56 seconds of time is amazing.

[@Saurischian]

Heard for the first time today a song by Mr. Burnside. A gift to the ears this man's musical talent is

[@joe56474]

This is easily one of my favorite musical performances. Ever.

[@C10wn_sec]

Whilst listening to this my guitar just walked out my house and slammed the door.

[@Edge21190]

LOL. Good one! He didn't even need a band with the way he could play guitar.

[@aqua6613]

And she ain't never coming back 😆 put your dog on a leash and maybe the wife too just in case 😆

[@berthadaniels5373]

Lu Cypher: Best Comment . Too funny LoL. 😂😂

[@curiousaboutanything2454]

@@aqua6613 that was nasty

[@aaronverico1396]

😂😂🤣🤣 You guitar left you for R.L. Burnside. Too bad he's dead though. #Legend #Blues 🎸🔥🔥🔥🔥🐐🙌🏿🙏🏿👌🏿💯

[@jakovbacica6300]

Simply amazing. If someone ever asks me to define what art is, ill just send them right here. One man, sitting on a bucket in the middle of a field, making music unparalleled to this day. One of the best bluesmen to ever walk this earth, you dont even need to hear him play to know he has some badass music in him. His face says it all.

[@sep69]

Amazing video ! I have watched it at least 50 times by now and I still get the chills. I love everything about it. The music, the guitar and amp the back drop, his shirt. Pity you can only click the like button once. lol

[@johngarcia8827]

I was blown away when I saw this 6 years ago. Finally learned to play it

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

His shoes also, and that baby crying in the same key 🙂

[@ashtonfrett2536]

And this music is still alive today...I listened to this song on repeat one night and developed an alter ego...in went out that night as a different person.... And damn.... What a night

[@martilives3694]

Guys like this don’t get enough credit for being the reason rock and roll was born

[@chezztone]

This is important and fabulous music regardless of its influence on another genre

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Just stumbled upon this man. Never knew he existed until now.

[@str8blzd1]

Wow sorry

[@alanmalcheski8882]

it's a stumbling experience

[@shanghunter7697]

@@alanmalcheski8882 More like a humbling experience !!

[@sartainja]

Raw as 10 acres of onions ~ Masterpiece Viva the memory and music of R.L. Burnside! 👍

[@judekristo]

gives me goosebumps. every. single. time.