Lonesome Road :: Samuel Stiles Song Series :: Post 4
This is my version of an old, southern, Mississippi Delta spiritual. The song was first recorded by “Cryin” Sam Collins in 1927. It is a year in time that I have become quite fascinated with. I have modified the lyrics slightly from the original.
Recorded to a 1953 Webcor Royal Coronet Tape recorder and the ribbon microphone that accompanied the machine.
Samuel Stiles: Vox, Classical Guitar, Banjo, Shaker
You will be hearing two separate takes of the song fused into one. I performed the song once with guitar and voice, and then again with banjo and voice.
Both times, I was listening to a shaker recorded for a click track. I couldn’t decide which version I like better, so I just got experimental and fused them into one. On the left speaker, you will hear the guitar/voice take, and the right speaker you will hear the banjo/voice take.
While tricky, I am proud of the way it turned out.
Enjoy!
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www.samuelstiles.com
LONESOME ROAD BLUES
I’m walking down that lonesome lane
Hung down my head and cried
I weeped and I cried under a willow tree
‘n’ my fate’s in the deep blue sea
My mama’s dead, papa can’t be found
And my brother’s on the county road
You did cause me to weep you did cause me to mourn
You did cause me to leave my home
I cried last night and the night before
And I swore not to cry no more
I got no money and they call me no honey
I have to weep and moan
In eighteen hundred in that ninety nine
He got killed on that streetcar line
You did cause me to weep you did cause me to mourn
You did cause me to leave my home
Your fast mail train comin’ round the curve
It done killed my little blue-eyed girl
Her head was ground in that driver wheel
And her body it done never been seen
Says I done been to that long plank walk
And I’m on my way back home
You did cause me to weep you did cause me to mourn
You did cause me to leave my home
Beauty caused me to weep Beauty caused me to mourn
Beauty caused me to leave my home
