Karen Dalton "Blues Jumped The Rabbit"

"Blues Jumped The Rabbit" - Summerville, Colorado 1970. From Karen Dalton's "Cotton Eyed Joe" double CD & DVD U.S. release on Delmore Recordings.

[@superwolf76]

I don't care what anyone says. She is one of the sexiest women ever. Missing tooth and all. Authentic and mysterious. Listen to the sadness and depth! Unreal.

[@seaghanmackinnon7677]

i always listen to this when i'm having panic attacks. the calmest music on earth

[@jjpalomo1994]

You're a blessing

[@iguanasdf563]

I also recommend Vashti Bunyam

[@jamesreese2363]

Me too ☺️

[@wallyjames7825]

Literally why I’m here right now

[@andromedapalazzolo3535]

♾🙏♾

[@noddyguevara]

I love this . America is always a strange country that we in England really dont understand at all, but I and many others here love the music thats at its heart , and the books from Grapes of Wrath to On the Road to Kill a Mocking Bird to, you name it. And Karen Dalton.

[@marcanthony9750]

"...while the quality isn't professional, the tape is bursting with feeling. And it has an ethereal quality - you feel like you're listening in on a fragile dispatch from some Utopian, counterculture Land of the Lost" - Steven Rossen

[@robertburr9612]

nice projection...I wish I were that rabbit, only safe...

[@user-sv9vy2wp7l]

This brilliant document, filmed by Roviros Manthoulis, great greek cinematographer, for the public television of France. Amazing..

[@SnehanBorn]

ONE OF THE VERY BEST AUTHENTIC AMERICAN TREASURES! I have loved Karen Dalton's music for so many years. Thank you for this archival footage I never saw before. We are blessed to have it.

[@seldomseenslimfat4758]

Music descended from another realm to soothe my ever worried mind, just when it was needed most! I guess Karen Dalton will never get to know the healing power of her rendering of this blues song still has - now more than ever, in truth. Love her beautifully relaxed 12 string playing on this almost as much as her warming, soulful voice. This music can save lives, literally.

[@scatteredstars80ad52]

This song is so so precious. I’ll always come back to it. 🐇

[@mickyhurd5394]

Amazing wasn't she ☺

[@DavidSandilands]

Beautiful song and amazing this video exists. Apparently it may have it's roots in Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Rabbit Foot Blues" recorded in 1926 A verse,that was not in the Blind Lemon Jefferson song, and may be original to Karen Dalton, made it's way, in slightly amended form, into the Grateful Dead's version of "I Know You Rider" ie Wish was a headlight On some Southbound train I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain became Wish was a headlight On the northbound train Wish was a headlight On the northbound train I'd shine my light through the cool Colorado rain Thanks to the Grateful Dead Lyric And Song Finder for helping me find this out and , as a result, finding my way here to this terrific video.

[@Robbie--Baker]

Only recently discovered after a song appeared in Mayans MC. What a voice!!!!!

[@vanishinglyyy]

Discovering her music recently has reawakened something in my days this week and it seems so perfectly appropriate for this time of year as fall fades into winter.

[@geoffreywatts2846]

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

[@patricklopez4255]

Has a lot of Billie Holiday in her !! 👍👍

[@honoriussoularians1887]

I keep coming back to this video because of Karen and the time and place. Colorado in the '70's was a special time for me as well. I know the cabin in Summerville very well and used to drive by it on my way to Gold Hill. I never knew who lived there and who she was. Now that knowledge is bitter sweet for me.

[@marcanthony9750]

+Honorius Soularians that's amazing. how do you know which cabin she resided at in Summerville?

[@honoriussoularians1887]

there are some land marks around that you can still see in the film. Sadly, some of the buildings in Summerville were wiped out in the 2013 flood.

[@marcanthony9750]

+Honorius Soularians I also just read that her cabin supposedly burned down in 2009

[@honoriussoularians1887]

possibly - there was a big fire up there that year. I just recall seeing it the last time I was up there, probably in 2004 or 2005.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

I'm going to Summerville tomorrow.

[@tiagotiton2061]

Simplesmente o melhor vídeo do KZbin! Não existe nada mais encantador do que uma simplicidade natural

[@gentleeyes]

everything about this video is one of the most beautiful things ive ever seen. so graceful, she was.

[@alanconway2006]

A beautiful voice

[@jdimarti]

This, my friends, is reality...

[@jjpalomo1994]

You're a blessing

[@raushkanaush]

this is way too beautiful...why have i never heard this before?!?!!?!!??!

[@plemgrubern]

this is simply one of the most amazing videos on youtube. thank you.

[@cpq2nrjh]

***** I agree but don't know why - so intrigued by Karen Dalton

[@babybuttcool039]

***** prob cuz its raw beauty....& who doesn't appreciate that seriously

[@robertburr9612]

Couldn't agree more....love the b&w shadows...and the slow, slow loving pace...Want to pick up an instrument and just be able to do it, too.

[@louisvanrenen947]

I walked those same hills at the same time, built a cabin in Gold Hill, but never met her. Passed through Summerville many times, so this video and song is very touching for me

[@friendlier]

I'm absolutely stunned. Thank you.

[@AbsintheDream]

What a talent & true artist

[@markhh99]

i just looked up the history of this song and i love what Dalton did with it, lyrically and overall. deep yet breezy, easy to relate to. perfect.

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

When the blues jumped up a rabbit Rabbit he’ll run a mile O’ little rabbit cryin like a newborn child. Wish I was a headlight on some western train. I’d shine my light on cool Colorado rain. Wish I was in cool Colorado up on some mountain, high. I see my darlin’ as he went riding by, as he went riding by. Some want white or yellow. Some crave black or brown. But the man I’m cravin’ ain’t never turn me down, won’t ever turn me. Blues jumped up a rabbit Rabbit he’ll run a mile O’ little rabbit cry, cryin like a newborn child.

[@pataphysician66]

How come I missed her? I was very much into music then, I was about 16 when this song came out and she got no airplay, that I can remember. Such a pity.

[@Jahnink]

Very nice song. She sings deep from the ❤. I love her sound.

[@mmrio2023]

Que voz maravilhosa, que batida de violão mais lindo.

[@BurnedVideos]

LYRICS: When the blues jumped up a rabbit Rabbit he'll run a mile Poor little rabbit Crying like a new born child Wish I was a headlight On some Western train I'd shine my light on Cool Colorado rain Wish I was in cool Colorado Up on some mountain high I'd seen my darling As he went riding by As he went riding Some like white or yellow Some crave black or brown The man I'm craving Won't never turn me down Won't never turn me Blues jumped up a rabbit Rabbit he'll run a mile Poor little rabbit Crying, crying

[@timwebber8630]

Thank you!

[@hdfatboy2k]

Hiragabaka, Ahhh Karen Dalton I wish there was more, but it is what it is. In some ways, the meagerness of Karen's song book makes each tune that remains all the more cherished. In that regard, In some ways I am glad there is just a small songbook, like Robert Johnson, not much in quantity but each is nonpareil. The want for more of her tunes makes me ache a bit more when I hear what is there. Peace to you. Slan abhaile

[@cousinr6214]

The French translation is way off base. It interprets "the blues" as "ma tristesse" -- "my sadness." In this case though that is not what "the blues" means. Here the term refers to a type of dog, a hunting dog, known as a "blue." This type of dog used to be common in the Southern mountains and out West. People could manage to survive on whatever small game they could hunt in the woods if they had one or more good hunting dogs to sniff out the game, chase it down, and pin it until the master came up and took it, then rewarded the dog. So in the song, when the hunting dogs jump the rabbit, the rabbit cries because it is frightened, it is trapped by the fierce hunting dogs, "the blues." That is the sense of the song. It got lost in translation to French!

[@hugeyboss]

do you happen to have a source for dogs referred to as "blues", genuinely curious.

[@radschliski1143]

@@hugeyboss en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetick_Coonhound

[@Talentedtadpole]

It works both ways. The further meaning you illuminate for us shows the richness of her artistry.

[@patrickoneill8047]

Thanks for the knowledge you share , I love and can never have enough truth in my mind.

[@TheElizabethLee]

beautiful!

[@pongufogu9457]

You too😲🥰🤩

[@timwebber8630]

When the blues jump up a rabbit, Rabbit he'll run a mile, Poor little rabbit, Cries like a new born child Wish I was a headlight, On some western train, I'd shine my light on, Cool Colorado rain Wish I was in cool Colorado, On some mountain so high, I'd see my darling As he went riding by. As he went riding Some like white or yellow, Some crave black or brown When the blues jump up a rabbit, Rabbit he'll run a mile, Poor little rabbit, Cries like a new born child

[@BazookaJo0]

this song just gave me a milion gosebums for bout one minute strait. wonderfull !!

[@cousinr6214]

Another problem with the translation is the lines, "I wish I was a headlight/On some Western train/I'd shine my light on/Cool Colorado rain." These are some of the most beautiful lines ever written in folk music, I think. But the French translator misunderstood and rendered "my light" as "ma vie -- "my LIFE." Oops! That makes no sense at all. Just a mishearing, easy to do when someone is singing in a language that is not your first language. The thing is, trains coming from the west of Colorado are coming from hot desert areas in Utah, and before that, Nevada. When the train hits Colorado at night, and its headlight is on, the rain and trees and coolness of Colorado that you can see and feel are truly gorgeous, a great relief -- one reason this lovely song is known as "Cool Colorado."

[@Talentedtadpole]

It's nice to get the local perspective (as a foreigner). Another example of where there are more than one level of meanings beyond the obvious & literal. That's great art.

[@billmcanally7782]

yeah! love this little bit o' karen!

[@tomboysongs]

best thing i've seen in ages. an absolute gem of a video. thank you!

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

One of the only videos I've ever seen of her.

[@multicaruana]

unbelievable really, thanks.

[@MotherFlower666]

I love this video shes so beautiful her voice is so haunting

[@JamesRaymondgivelivelovego]

amaizing, amaizing. so glad I found her.

[@RubenCamachoZ]

Thanks for upload it. I love her. I really love her.

[@torbjornbrunzell5060]

I saw a program about her tonigth in Swedish TV, she sounds a bit of Janis Joplin and a bit of Eartha Kitt, love he voice.. givs me goosebumps!

[@JONASANDERSONVIBE]

Torbjörn Brunzell what was the program called?

[@torbjornbrunzell5060]

@@JONASANDERSONVIBE It was a documentry about her journey from Colorado to Woodstock, I don´t know where they bought it, it was a lot of interwies wiht people who knew her . Sorry I can´t give you a better answer..

[@JolieBlonLA]

Interesting music from one born in 1937 !!!!

[@hirundine]

Before the yuppies found the backwoods .... great song, lovely singer!

[@spinnact]

Is there any way to find the full documentary? It's so beautifully put together.

[@wallyjames7825]

🤞

[@Batboy1712]

'The rabbit' almost made me cry...never heard of her before now. What a fascinating woman, like a white Billie Holliday, the same pain...

[@princeminski47]

Fred Neil used to do this (he wrote liner notes for her album). What an amazing artist. (Karen OR Fred)

[@notstupid12446]

Ihave in my possesion two reel to reel tape masters featuring Karen Dalton. What would something like that be worth.

[@ghostmodern3081]

Kendomusic Please get them into the right hands to be released to the public.

[@JONASANDERSONVIBE]

Kendomusic PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! find a way to upload them to youtube

[@aimeejutz4992]

Monetary? Why don't you find out if she has an estate and send tapes to them. Worry about financial gain with your own talent and not another's.

[@lastrada52]

Did Billie Holiday's spirit simply jump into Karen Dalton? She is so incredible. Yeah, she can't sing like Julie Andrews -- but then Julie Andrews can't sing the blues or jazz effectively, can she? Karen has an astonishing grip on this type of music. Sounds as if she lived every word. Billie Holiday comparison's aside -- Karen is excellent. Her sincerity comes through with every note. Rare with today's singers.

[@ritchieg.galvez5126]

my favorite

[@ArkRed1]

This song was recorded back in the late fifties or early sixties by Charlotte Daniels and Pat Webb. I first heard this song called, "When The Blues Chase Up A Rabbit". Great song. Don't know who the composer is. Her fingerpicks look like the ones that ProPik puts out. You can superglue fake nails on metal fingerpicks to cut down on the "metal to metal" sound.

[@johnwesleycolemanIII]

great video

[@johnnymurray8008]

she is my mother glad you like her music

[@EliZevin]

Is she really?!

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

I will be driving around Summerville tomorrow playing her music.

[@twenteetoo]

I just found my new love

[@junkyardvodka]

in love

[@neacht]

This is great stuff - and like everyone else, am wondering how I never heard of Karen before. She joins the very short list of more than decent female guitar players.

[@fynkey]

Her voice is wonderful it is too bad she has passed, but I have found a young artist with similar soul and beautiful brass tones. ----> Radio Keys: While the Sun's in Your Eyes.

[@BooNube]

Agreed.

[@guitarchic100]

If blues had not jumped the rabbit, I would have had the blues all my life.

[@calendulabbra]

❤

[@Unis_Qadir]

🖤🌟

[@guillaumegelot]

I like how the translation gives allusions to her (or her pain) being the rabbit. I wonder if they meant to do that.

[@mjbialas]

Amy LaVere does a nice version of this in a side project called The Wandering with Shannon McNally and Luther Dickinson that will be released on May 8.

[@gamoonbat]

The real thing!

[@letsgocamping]

I actually think that she looks a little like Catherine Zeta-Jones.

[@dag77c]

Traduzcan estos temas por favor.

[@9brmc]

Obra cumbre :3

[@jocieleboaventura2799]

[@princeminski47]

'Fraid not. I heard him do it a couple times in Miami, but it's not on any of the various compilations or his original albums. I've heard (as the saying goes) that there's still material in vaults, but I suspect that this was just something he pulled out once in awhile for variety's sake.

[@Kivalt]

She reminds me of a sixties/seventies Joanna Newsom.

[@flagstone149]

thank you ben stiller, for the recommendation *greenberg*

[@jobro2837]

voix surprenante elle me rappelle celle toute aussi déroutante de Billie Holiday

[@deanruiz3967]

SUBLIME

[@Pytshan]

hello, can anybody tell me what these brass things on here right fingers are? some sort of finger plec, thats easy to see. but can you purchase stuff like that or is it probably hand made? thanks

[@iloton]

You don't happen to know if Fred ever recorded his version of this song do you? I'd love to hear that.

[@drybonesband]

Blind Lemon Jefferson is a hard act to follow -- but I do love her voice

[@philipchek]

To cedririric You say the translation is crap... For me it's a honnest work, the translation tells what it is said in the song. But I agree, in translations, a better work is always possible. As it seems you can do it here: send us your work. It would be nice from you to help us to have a better understanding of american songs. Thanks for your translation work that will come soon. Merci d'avance.

[@pongufogu9457]

😆😁❤️

[@philipchek]

@@pongufogu9457 😁

[@bazookabullet101]

The guitar strumming of this song reminds me of Jeff Buckley hallelujah, just a little bit

[@pastry7322]

fucks me up this isn't on spotify

[@babybuttcool039]

@noddyguevara ah nice! if u lik Kerouac u prob hav read HunterSThompson's 'Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas' ifnot better later than never..hav u read AllenGinsber's 'Howl'? Ginsberg is more from Kerouac's time wit the beatniks & hunter was more durin the age of the hippies..that was probably the only time i would be proud to be an american or actually just proud to be a human in general. Hey what ever happened to those days? ..Where it was all bout love and the beauty in the simplicity of life.

[@stricher667]

is she on xtc or with osho? maybe both, or?!

[@jamesreese3209]

Anybody know the chords for this?

[@gregsageisdead]

any one know the chords?

[@mocanudanmihai93]

sec c

[@opalomni1745]

Does anyone else think this is about heroin? Because the white/yellow/black/brown could easily be a drug reference.

[@patrickoneill8047]

This is not so much music or song as it is a story. The most calming and captivating thing a person can do to another is read a story out loud. As for her destiny its a roll of the dice no rhyme or reason.

[@teflonmagnet]

@babybuttcool039 Can u say naive? I bet u can.

[@reelincoln7747]

Who are these French people?

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

Docu/film makers.

[@nonstopdemo]

Wow this translation seems to be way off :\

[@Wardup04]

is that dog still alive?

[@charlottahayes7310]

Of course it is.

[@algeorgeperez8732]

ca m'amuse que les sous-titles pour les francais diront tout a fait n'importe quoi

[@eddieschneider1947]

Give this woman dental care

[@bacfrere]

i think french is a beautiful language but it spoils the video. not much chance to see this amazing woman. please get rid of the text. most french people speak better english than english and americans!

[@Rachegotter]

+Freewheeling Frere Well, this is a documentary made by French journalists for French TV. Forgive them for using their preferred language. If American journalists had given a shit about her, they sure could have made your dream documentary. Meanwhile, enjoy what you've got instead of complaining it ain't to your perfection.

[@seBcopTer]

Ha! Yes! Perfectly said. Subtitles or no, what a beautiful video

[@knivesandpeppers]

She ruined the modern woman for me.

[@MightyAlz]

The very fact that you think any of those artists listed are "folk music" just exposes how utterly ignorant you are of the genre. Try some Uncle Dave Macon, Blind Lemon Jefferson (who did the original of this song), Jimmie Rodgers, etc...

[@ruthking5994]

French don't work for blues songs

[@riversidepete6128]

lost her teeth due to excessive drug addiction

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

WRONG!

[@MightyAlz]

No offence, but I fail to see the genius here: She's taking a classic blues song, changing the lyrics a bit, giving a much more simple melody and playing very amateurish guitar. So what?

[@liquidlibrary6996]

You try it

[@pongufogu9457]

She is a legend, you were a comment.

[@deanruiz3967]

You're lost...you.fail.to see.

[@deanruiz3967]

And furthermore is your heart that numb?