Last Kind Words Blues Explained

Last Kind Words Blues
Artist:Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas
Genre:Delta blues
Label:Paramount Records

"Last Kind Words Blues", more commonly known as "Last Kind Words", is a 1930 blues song, written by Geeshie Wiley, and performed and recorded by Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas. It was released on the Paramount Records label in July 1930, with "Skinny Leg Blues" as the B-side.[1]

History

"Last Kind Word Blues" was sung and performed on guitar by Geeshie Wiley, with Elvie Thomas providing additional guitar accompaniment.[2] The lyrics reflect on the singer's father, who went to serve in the "German War" (World War I) and before he left, told her: "If I die (...) I want you to send my body to my mother." However, he also told her that he did not want a burial and preferred to be left outside, to "let the buzzards eat me whole." The female protagonist in the song went to the depot, but cried as "some train don't come, there'll be some walkin' done." The song then concludes with the last words of the protagonist's mother. She told her daughter to "not be so wild", and commented that the Mississippi River is "so deep and wide I can stand right here, see my babe from the other side." The dying woman then concluded: "I may not see you after I cross the deep blue sea."[3]

The song's haunting lyrics and atmosphere have been praised by many listeners and music critics.[4]

Crumb

"Last Kind Word Blues" gained more notability after being featured in the 1994 documentary film Crumb by Terry Zwigoff, about cartoonist Robert Crumb.[5] In one scene, Crumb talks about his love for old blues, country and jazz music from the 1920s and 1930s and puts a record on the needle. The soundtrack then plays "Last Kind Words" over a series of strange and disturbing images from Crumb's comics. Yet, as Crumb himself pointed out in interviews, he does not actually own "Last Kind Words" on shellac, since original pressings of this record are extraordinarily rare.[6] On Crumb's official website, he declared "Last Kind Words"; "the greatest female vocal.". Crumb was also interviewed in 2014 for a New York Times article about Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas.

Thanks to Crumb, music historians such as Greil Marcus have tried to find out more about the identity of Wiley and Thomas.[7] "Last Kind Word Blues" itself has also been included on several compilation albums, including the official soundtrack album of the film, Crumb,[8] but also blues compilation records including The Rough Guide To Delta Blues (World Music Network, 2002),[9] Mississippi Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927-35 (Yazoo Records, 2007),[10] (Sony Legacy, Lo-Max, 2017) and (Sony Legacy, Third Man Records, 2017).

"Last Kind Words" was also included on the compilation record Chimpin' The Blues (East River Records, 2013), for whom Robert Crumb illustrated the album cover.[11]

Covers

"Last Kind Word Blues" has been covered by several artists:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geeshie Wiley - Last Kind Words Blues / Skinny Leg Blues. 4 July 1930. 4 November 2023. Discogs.com.
  2. Book: Sullivan, John Jeremiah . Best Music Writing 2009: Unknown Bards. Seal Press. 2009. 31. 978-0-306-81782-3.
  3. Web site: 2021-02-22 . Poems after Geeshie's tune . 2023-06-19 . Fortnightlyreview.co.uk . en-US.
  4. Web site: Rhiannon Giddens: Cultural Curiousity . Stephen M.. Deusner. February 17, 2015. 2023-06-19 . Paste Magazine . en-US.
  5. News: Sullivan . John Jeremiah . 2014-04-12 . The Ballad of Geeshie and Elvie . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-06-19 . 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: Crumb on Others - Part Eleven . 2023-06-19 . Crumbproducts.com.
  7. See My Face from the Other Side . Daphne A.. Brooks . 2023-06-19 . Oxford American. 95, Winter 2016. February 7, 2017 . en.
  8. Web site: Various - Crumb - Original Soundtrack . 2019-09-27 . Discogs.com . 2023-06-19 . en.
  9. Web site: Various - The Rough Guide To Delta Blues . 2002 . 2023-06-19. Discogs.com . en.
  10. Book: Russell , Tony . 1997. The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Carlton Books. Dubai. 1-85868-255-X. 210.
  11. Web site: Discogs.com . Jerry Zolten & R. Crumb - Chimpin' The Blues . 2013-11-29 . 2023-06-19 . en.
  12. Web site: Shaker - David Johansen & the Harry Smiths | Songs, Reviews, Credits. 11 May 2021. AllMusic.
  13. Web site: Release "Mississippi & Piedmont Blues 1927-1941" by C.W. Stoneking - MusicBrainz. Musicbrainz.org. 11 May 2021.
  14. Web site: Dex Romweber Duo Featuring Jack White Discography - USA - 45cat. 45cat.com. 11 May 2021.
  15. Web site: Tomorrow Is My Turn - Rhiannon Giddens | Songs, Reviews, Credits . 11 May 2021. AllMusic.
  16. http://www.whosampled.com/cover/334783/The-Kronos-Quartet-Last-Kind-Words-Geeshie-Wiley-Last-Kind-Words-Blues/ "Last Kind Words"
  17. Web site: Home. Hoganandmoss.com. 20 May 2019.
  18. Web site: Alison Krauss / Robert Plant: Raise the Roof . . 2021 . AllMusic . November 21, 2021.
  19. Web site: Discogs.com . Robert Plant Alison Krauss - Raise The Roof . 2021-12-17 . 2023-06-19 . en.