Belton Sutherland: I Got Trouble (1978)

Belton Sutherland (vocal and guitar) on Clyde "Judas" Maxwell's porch. Shot by Alan Lomax, John Bishop, and Worth Long at Maxwell's farm in Madison County, Mississippi, September 3, 1978. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit culturalequity.org. [02.19.16]

[@Gorboduc]

In case you didn't know, the guy who filmed this, Alan Lomax, also recorded the first version of this song under the title "I Be's Troubled" on the Muddy Waters plantation recordings back in 1941 - the first time Muddy ever got his voice put on disk. We owe him more than we can possibly repay.

[@deVon30241]

God damn what a sound. That riff he does on the 5th string, the low 6th string rumbles on out of tune like rolling thunder in the background of the rhythm.

[@zoso1980]

In our our age of manufactured and synthesized this and that. "Blues" being abused by people who think Joe Bonamassa with his sterile guitar shredding is blues - this sets the record straight. Takes it home to what blues is AND where it came from. It's great people want to reconnect with realness and rawness of blues. That aint SRV or Bonamassa and those that push rock as blues. Rock can't hold a candle to the real down home and heaviness of raw blues. Mr. Belton proves it in spades.

[@Uncle_Jun]

Amen to that.

[@larryslemp9698]

Extremely well said!! Thank you!!

[@brucifer0]

Preach Sister

[@willrich3908]

agreed

[@EliZevin]

Stephanie Sandlin agreed. I hate the joe. Bonamassa shred blues, soulless

[@patriceh-tissier6425]

As french American it,s the blues who caught me thank thank you very much my loving country to adopted me ❤blues for ever❤

[@Daakman]

It can't get any more badass than this.

[@dante666jt]

@Evan Hodge piles?

[@Daakman]

@Evan Hodge Just because you don't understand it, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a 'fucking idiot word'.

[@kevincotterell3644]

It’s the shoes man, and the sock😊

[@papaedda]

Absolute legend!!! Thank you, Alan Lomax, for immortalizing these wonderful renditions for all of us to enjoy!!!

[@Odin029]

Somebody said once that Muddy Waters was one of the rare musicians who influenced the music that influenced him. I think this tune by Mr. Sutherland is testament to that.

[@johnareece9619]

Love this sonr

[@rozakos85]

Belton is a badass ...

[@ladyleesutter]

"You got a boy chile comin', gonna be a rolling stone." Great lyric.

[@Operos]

“Lookin for my baby” “Didn’t see a dog gone thing” “Now I got trouble”

[@kennethguitarfiend4493]

This is in incredible

[@OldSethOnetooth]

I like those green socks.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

The atmosphere and emotion here is outstanding. It's on a level all its own. This cannot be duplicated. Amazing blues music, from the heart and soul.

[@tjkinney561]

Grew up in the South, just outside of Memphis. How I miss those summer nights, full of crickets and distant thunder. I wish more people saw this video; this man is an artist.

[@johndoppleguard]

No doubt you crazy kat!! 10 4 and all that

[@liljimitwofeatherz9735]

Mississippi delta down by the riverside..

[@007007niki]

this man is a national treasure

[@craigcalland6933]

No Digital.Just heart and soul. Music.

[@StephanieSmith-tx4oo]

Muddy waters lyrics! Dude’s sick! Little Robert Johnson in there! I love how blues guys don’t mind singing someone else’s songs and Vice versa! Could you imagine people using others songs NOW? Blues will never die!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

I think blues music will be around for a very long time.

[@michaellorah9051]

Blues is the only genre that really doesn't punish cover artists.

[@Jimmy-up2xk]

they probably werent muddy's lyrics to begin with

[@MishimaToshiro]

In many traditional music this happens, in Mexico we have interchangeable lyrics in son jarocho and other sones , in indonesia they call this kind of lyrics pantun, u can even listen lyrics randomly in songs not related to the main title:)

[@lukecashin]

Whoever documented this guy is genuinely amazing. Raw as it comes, watched loads of these videos now. Mega.

[@user-us4nr6gv7f]

Alan Lomax.

[@matthewp3709]

Alan Lomax and his father dedicated their life to capturing the sounds of folk music. Yup, genuinely amazing especially considering the technology of their time

[@sonjadietz5297]

It Is TOOOOOO GOOD !

[@johnanthonycafe2993]

A lot of early bluesmen did this song - great version by Belton. He captures the West African feel where the blues came from.

[@chlcdny]

☆• Alright...His short, "To the Point": words, story...and the accompaning "foot work"; flowed perfectly together...in my opinion; Presentng a "PictureVision" of His "Troubles"; No Cussing-No Swearing; Just His "Lament". ☆•Bravo!•°

[@BKsblues]

Awesome rendition-my favorite

[@geoffreyharlow]

He's got trouble, I believe it.

[@dickwhiskey8041]

Awesome...I love that hill country drone!

[@TheBluesmanBlue]

That is how country Blues is meant to be played Raw good version Muddy Waters can't be satisfied👍

[@joomlaserviceprovide]

The soul!

[@barristanselmy2758]

Slow this version may be, But heartfelt, and very warming blues. Heavy stuff.

[@jimihd1]

+Christopher Hitchens this is a true blues lover, I always see you commenting around. Cheers for the blues!

[@zoso1980]

Heavy as hell and deep as you can get with the blues. Amazing, amazing stuff.

[@antonmikofsky2073]

Reminds me of Harry Oster collecting folk blues in Louisiana (?) and some local bluesman performed Smokestack Lightning for him. Guess he had learned it off the jukebox from Howlin' Wolf! But that's the folk process. Oster did not know Wolf, apparently. But I love this local acoustic guitarist / blues singer -- his Blues #1 and #2 are wonderful. This is the richness of the traditional blues. All around great. You could mention Fred McDowell or Robert Pete Williams, too. Or, among white musicians, equally idiomatic, those mountain ballads that predated bluegrass and C&W.

[@tuckerrhall67]

can't get much better than that

[@estufaquente]

how can ANYONE dislike (up here) this???

[@joseescobar76]

great job Mr. Lomax!!!

[@philiplambert1245]

Anddddd. Hi voice is just fantastic!😮

[@tillitsdone]

Truly American music

[@latheragels4216]

I think I may have just found my new favorite KZbin channel! ❤

[@penguinatedthings305]

God damn man.

[@KoolTasteOne]

YES!!!

[@RlowE100]

Man,I get to watch a great blues player as well as a free guitar lesson! Nice

[@johnywalke7357]

Magnific! Greetings from Brazil

[@JohnGreen_US]

Thank you, Belton.

[@papoumkl7118]

Rien que du génie

[@jumperontheline]

Thank you !!! That is so lovely : ) I Love Belton

[@jonathanlechman]

Thank you ABQ,NM

[@dinhobluesvulgoze4322]

máximo respeito

[@gummy1188]

Blues has a lot of traditional lines, lingo and concepts and this song doesn't borrow from Muddy or anyone else. it just encompasses the blues tradition

[@gummy1188]

@Evan Hodge Congratulations, you replied to a comment from 4 years ago but couldn't even form a coherent argument

[@judgemental9237]

@Evan Hodge Are you okay? I’ve looked at the replies for like 10 different comments and you’re hating on each of them. Lol are you that sad and bored??

[@jaystretch01]

I love that out of tune, rubber-band sound on the low string!!! It sounds so crappy but so undeniably perfect. Tuning would be Open G, but tuned DOWN *about* three half-steps first...so in the key of E. But then it seems like he's tuned the 6th string down an EXTRA octave to get that wonderfully awful low note...In standard pitch, low to high, (low)Ggdgbd.

[@onethreesix]

Screenshot

[@marccarter7844]

Thanks for the up load :-)

[@jamesebola1250]

Mind blowing...

[@jonathanlechman]

I love you Adrian let's keep our mission

[@cwxdaf152]

I think I have some socks like that somewhere

[@MortenRodneGuitar]

The song is called «I cant be satisfied» by Muddy Waters

[@tommyau2006]

priceless..................

[@HyperionHQ]

❤️

[@wolfelmor]

exelente!!!!!!!!!!!!no lo conocia. Gracias por ponerlo.

[@convite123]

Love it!

[@RandyStrubleBackingTracks]

Yeah!!!!

[@johnnybourgeois13]

Once is never enough. Muddy would know, sitting still in silent reverence, nodding slowly in sacred time---less---ness. This is as Real as it gets, people. As real as it ever gets. Peace.

[@mindisaction]

I believed this song was called "can't be satisfied" wrote by Muddy Waters 😳... But I don't know so much about... You're the expert. Can you explain what about?... 👍🏼 Thank you so much

[@dubbbkb]

American Indian music at its finest.

[@dubbbkb]

@Jack Fisher everything has already been changed clown face. You are of the last generation who believes and Bullwinkle stories. You stretch your child like mine to believe that millions of people were transported 7681 Mi on handmade wooden sailboats 500 years ago LMAO! It's impossible today but it was possible 500 years ago. People like you are hilarious because you remind me of those Goofy black and white comedy figures from the 1950s. Long Live you!

[@dubbbkb]

@Jack Fisher hurry up and turn on your TV. There's a dude with a tie that can't wait to tell you how to think!

[@liljimitwofeatherz9735]

Indian

[@melvinwren]

this ones standard tuning...but a couple the other ones seem to be down step and a half. (low to high) C♯-F♯-B-E-G♯-C♯

[@laterisaferondii1435]

❤✊🏿

[@areguapiri]

Pure black folk music. Greatness.

[@liljimitwofeatherz9735]

Ppl of a nation of tribes

[@Mamlishmike]

I once saw a feller at a crossroads sing real horse music backwards.

[@bertjansch7343]

😂👍

[@SimoMazzo95]

Can't be Satisfied (Muddy Waters) ?

[@M535turbo]

o yes :):)

[@TheMfmccarthy]

I think that's a short-sighted take on the reality of how song families evolve. Most likely it's probably the other way around.

[@jonathanlechman]

Pearly May Elise: I got it bad. Please come home!❤ Paco + U = True Love Always!

[@matthewp3709]

Bends that 5th string almost right off the neck!

[@inadaptado88]

wow men..the best cover of this song i ever heard, and this nigga dont do any concert in his life..Belton for MTV right now.

[@liljimitwofeatherz9735]

Nigga wat are you

[@SchnitzelMIC]

This song is called Rolling Stone and it's from Muddy Waters!

[@jonathanlechman]

I forgive you Steven Thomas Lechman...

[@freccia329]

Can someone write down the lyrics of this Song? I'm Italian i can't understand all words. Thanks a lot

[@MarkWitucke]

How’s that guitar tuned?? The low string really rumbles

[@Mamlishmike]

Open g tuned down I think

[@jonathanlechman]

Who is the greatest guitar player, I dont know ask wes Montgomery...keep it here...

[@kevincotterell3644]

Excuse my total musical knowledge, but is he pushing the top string up with his left hand?

[@DucksDeLucks]

1978 is pretty late in the game for uncontaminated delta blues. His version sounds just like Muddy Waters'. Did Muddy copy this guy or vice versa or did they both copy a third guy?

[@jimihd1]

muddy waters medley

[@BluesTripleThreat]

what tuning?

[@sayerma]

Standard, but tuned down a few steps. A lot of mississippi hill country blues was c# or D (standard) to get that real pulsing bass on the lowest string.

[@againsthesky]

as far as who borrowed what from whom in respect to this song and many blues standards period... There will never be a way to tell. Maybe Belton borrowed from muddy, maybe it was the other way around. I can guarantee you this though, whichever one of them it was, borrowed from someone before. Whoever it was borrowed from, they borrowed it someone, who borrowed it from some else who I can guarantee you've never heard of. #RobertJohnson #CharleyPatton #HenrySloan

[@robsgirl6465]

againsthesky : Yes, back in the day, before greed and copyright laws, many of these old tunes, and bits and pieces of them, were used (borrowed) by other bluesmen. Son House used to take one phrase from half a dozen songs to make just one song. Honeyboy did too. The blues were alive! The songs evolved. They were a living thing, pulsating with life.

[@ladyleesutter]

No, you CANNOT guarantee we've never heard of such people as Robert Johnson. I'm happy for your listing Patton and Sloan's names. Will check them out.

[@jonathanlechman]

Adrian ,Pearly Mae, Jon is the name,i

[@deVon30241]

Such filth. I love it.

[@bigben5071]

That cricket or whatever in the background is making a rhythm sound like a maraca listen careful

[@severini8153]

Why y'all elitizing whats the Real Deal back then and whats not today? I'm happy if it gets a wiggle or hop(e) on me. the movings of that emotion will or would always be there for everybody in every frame of time. Pretentive music from the 60s did not age very well imo, so why would todays melodic debree Pose a threat :-)

[@mikekeller3802]

@Evan Hodge shut up

[@amyasseektruth8246]

2 people need help...

[@jonathanlechman]

I'm a broken hearted man Perlie may....the Father God of Israel hates divorce...

[@QuintinPenola]

what a weird tuning

[@michaeljmccurdy9449]

Someone needs to auto-tune this guy. Just kidding. Auto-tune is killing music. This is real stuff here.

[@jonathanlechman]

I forgive you Jacksonian Democrats....

[@bonscotto]

❤