Death Letter Blues performed by Son House

[@jungleninja8415]

"I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around " that lyric hasn't left me yet years

[@Fernwald84]

Music is all about expression and there's nothing more expressive than the Delta Blues and no Delta Blues more expressive than Son House and Death Letter Blues.

[@Songguy1985]

My goodness. This version is even more heartbreaking. Son House was so theatrical. He starts this version singing in the third person, before finally, after the funeral we hear him sing in the first person and realise that the heart-broken protagonist of the story was him all along. Possibly denoting that the protagonist could not deal with the amount of raw emotion and thus had to sing as if the tragic events happened to someone else 💔 A masterclass in storytelling right there.

[@bukowski1934]

There will never be another Son House.

[@laservampire]

There is more soul in that first note than some musicians entire discographies.

[@davidwalker5054]

Love all the old black blues guitarists they had an edge and a certain class and style you do not see today. You can keep all those bullshit 200 notes a second technical shredders. Give me son playing straight from the heart. Anytime

[@coravisser3846]

He was brilliant brilliant and still yet his Blues.I never heard such a great legend who plays like this way,

[@spaghettisandwiches]

Him doing the drumming rhythm like a heartbeat to his sick guitar playing is so captivating. I will always come back to this song

[@yaserarafat2517]

1

[@elgallopunky]

Son House starts at 0:00

[@trunliving4567]

Son house hitting those rhythms with that simple guitar...G.O.A.T

[@jamescantu6500]

The way he utilize the whole guitar while playing is remarkable

[@HerringboneRecords]

For the youngsters.....This is...Authentic....

[@andrewpearson1903]

All these old blues guys are so much fun to watch

[@ladygadava1]

Nobody sang like Son House...sooo much feeling! Love it!!!!

[@wilsonmillerjr9817]

This Is Real Blues !!! That DEEP DOWN SOUL WRENCHING BLUES

[@jungleninja8415]

There's many different forms of it this is raw no doubt but magic sam sounding different is also raw and deep pain but also joy a d power not all blues is sad nor meant to be

[@davem8836]

"You know I ain't never loved but four women in my life...my mother...my sister...my dead gal and my wife." The greatest one line ever written, no teeth, tuning optional. To quote Sam Philips, "Perfect imperfection." Welcome to the blues boys and girls.

[@MaharajaBlues]

Having a "Son House" moment - and still love this...

[@sonnyblack71]

Muddy said when I was coming up this man was king!!!

[@davidturner7363]

Now tat is real blues .

[@Wiegler]

The "Whew" at the end is all I need.

[@iehudim]

the blues makes you cry in 2020 ! Cya in the judgement day Mr House !

[@kimberlyann5869]

Son House in color. A legend of the blues.

[@Boviss1Bovis]

Muddy Waters - no mean judge - said the The Great Son House was the best blues guitarist that ever lived. Maybe Johnson is The Man for some people or Skip James - both were mentored by SH. This is a great version but he miss out the last verse and starts in the 3rd person 'he' instead of 'I' I didn't feel so bad till the good old sun went down I didn't have a soul to throw my arms around Guitar I went into my room and I bowed down to pray But the bluuuees came along and stole my spirit away. As SH began to deteriorate about 2 years after his rediscovery by the blind owl. - he began to mix up songs and lyrics and he slowly fell apart. Parkinsons and Alzheimer's and an 80 year alcoholism. But he was the man. I watch these versions on the edge of sorrow. I really do.

[@pl0xr0blux89]

I say Johnson is the man for me, most certainly. But yes, Son House is definitely one of the best, possibly even the best. Most say it's Jimi Hendrix.

[@Boviss1Bovis]

@@pl0xr0blux89 I think that my reasons for preferring Son House are probably emotional/irrational. Most of his best music was lost and all we have left are like a shadow on the wall. Musician friends of mine all say the Johnson was their guy. Its probably the sensible point of view.

[@oscarlandag1831]

He didn’t miss it it’s his song he was improvising

[@Boviss1Bovis]

@@oscarlandag1831 Time is a liar yeah, time is a thief. It'll take you down and roll the ground, from underneath your feet. It was his song to do what he 'wanted' with, but one year later he did a session with Stefan Grossman and not only did he jumble up the lyrics between different songs, he also played whole verses of different songs into the tune he was playing - on guitar. Eventually Grossman did all the guitar playing and they hit a sweet spot when SH remembered the lyrics to the tune he was singing. They made definitive versions of New Pony Blues and Empire State Express - a lyric from which finds its way in here. There's an album of SH recorded 'live' in London at the end of his 'comeback' tour. Blind Owl is playing 2nd guitar - and at different points the song he's playing falls apart when he 'improvises' the tune and the lyric and mixes up what he's playing with another of his songs. Within 2 years of him making his 'comeback' he had already deteriorated so badly because of Alzheimers and Parkinsons and alcohol that people were begging him to stop playing. There's a film of Howling Wolf at the Newport Festival - doing a gig at a small venue (probably as a rehearsal) and Son House is there totally drunk and heckling the musicians. Eventually, booze will mess you up - and by the time it brings on Alzheimers and Parkinsons it's too late for you to be able to perform in public - especially if you continue drinking several bottles of spirit every day.

[@Beachboy-sg4qx]

👍

[@stevetessier6568]

Thank You, very very much for posting this great film....!!

[@larry1824]

Chilling just chilling

[@simonfrederiksen104]

Well I'll be damned - Haven't seen that recording Where ever that man performed, a piece of his soul must still be lingering - He poured it all out.

[@michaelswaim5177]

Pure, distilled and aged blues.

[@0patience4flz]

More than music...this is a religious experience

[@davelynas5561]

Such energy and vigor. Breathing the blues.

[@Philo68]

I bought my first Son House recording 1980, along with a Rev Gary Davies LP. The record shop in Manchester would let you play the stuff before you bought it. The guy was a mine of info about the blues. Great days!

[@perrycadue7615]

Oh my goodness you have just witnessed words cannot explain wow deep down inside the man son house and his rendition his version you can't get that on this modern-day digital who blah truly a gifted talented artist real real time oh my goodness now back to the show

[@xendava7217]

One of the kewlest songs I've ever heard.

[@jimmygray4072]

Eddie lived the blues............ A true legend!

[@jamescarter4175]

Mesmerizing.

[@JoshFreilich]

First saw this clip on Music Central 96 from Microsoft, but that was totally low-res video, so I had no idea where he got that pounding downbeat rhythm, or his fast slide vibrato on the fretboard, until I saw the full thing right here on KZbin. And my jaw just DROPPED.

[@brandonedwards371]

He was one of the founders of the blues him and Charlie Patton and Leadbelly. They use to play with Johnson Son House was his idol his favorite.

[@cheayunju]

Ah god dang it, the humanity in this.

[@xenorasmusson2462]

wow - longtime listener but first time seeing Ras Son House - right hand magic! I see now where Baby Gramps and many others really got their style.

[@kaecake9575]

The good side of KZbin is looking good:)

[@MrMadisonBill]

An absolute giant.

[@Wiegler]

Thanx for putting this up, sir...giddyup!

[@kaecake9575]

Pre-War Blues is the main go-to:)

[@robertozanconi1360]

Immortal

[@joshuarosenblatt]

Epic in every way.

[@giannimaximilian.bennett6124]

LIKE JOHÄN SEBASTIAN BACH. A FUCKING GENIUS.

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

just love this guy,rip bro

[@danielale7712]

Son house fue uno de los pioneros del blues rural

[@liamardo007]

boom! foxfire love 🎉🤣

[@surfleopard]

gorgeous. More intense than Robert Johnson, in my opinion

[@JhudsonHNY]

This man was & IS Amazing. If you listen closely, when he uses his slid, he's still playing other notes & theres other music coming from the guitar along with the sliding. Thats just awesome. Not may, if any, can do that. @ hek7 yeah, the man really knew how to work that dobro.

[@extrasalt4595]

Hoomeyow!! A lot of musical truth in this rendition.

[@travishaynes2648]

when i watchedthis one i realized i had only flurted with the B , L , U , E , S till then. after , I fell in love. un fucking beleavable !!!

[@Paulo-vi7qs]

E.V.E.R AND FOREVER ❤️❤️❤️

[@dabble778]

wow

[@camronbay1]

Some spirit moves son house.

[@camronbay1]

@Davis Edison Probably Son House was heavy.

[@ThePduncan742]

Lord Jeesus that was strong!!

[@jamesagwe2981]

Rip Mr House

[@MrDannysuzy]

@hek7 I know man, its like his hand is posesed by the music gods!

[@124Musick]

Jack White brought me here.

[@marcrobitaille4159]

WOW !!! 😵‍💫

[@aidanmaxwell1019]

What program is this from? And does anyone know when it was recorded? Edit: never mind, it says at the beginning: March of 1968

[@joed_1]

Desperate Man Blues :)

[@laylonveatch3339]

The eleven thumbs down know nothing about the blues and have obviously never faced the death of a wife like i did

[@bridgetharris698]

scacred music here if you dont love this your not a real blues lover just a poser

[@MrDannysuzy]

music starts at 1:33

[@jamesagwe2981]

1:33

[@darryld9719]

5 thumbs down?....disgusting

[@jaygill5582]

I like son house, but I rather be Just "in" beaver...if you know what I mean!

[@user-lp9hu2ef1n]

That was the Americans that could be saved. What happened? He tells the scary truth and it heals our souls. I'm sorry I love American culture but I hate industry

[@Total1Now]

Son House > Muddy Waters > Jimmi Hendrix