Post by Admin on Jul 5, 2015 13:58:21 GMT
See That My Grave is Kept Clean, is one of Blind Lemon Jefferson's most influential songs, recorded in 1928 (although this date is somewhat in dispute - can anyone provide more information?) and re-issued on LP 3 [Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music, track No. 76].
Library of Congress collected two different versions... in Texas, by Smith Casey (Two White Horses Standin' In Line, 1939...) and Pete Harris (Blind Lemon's Song, 1934), both clearly based on Jefferson's recording.
Harry Smith, in his liner notes to Anthology of American Folk Music claims that the song was recorded in 1928 as Paramount 126088 (matrix No. 20374-1). Paul Oliver, in his The Meaning of the Blues (cf. next paragraph) lists the original issue as Paramount 12608, recorded Feb 1928.
Paul Oliver, The Meaning of the Blues, New York, 1972, p. 304
Library of Congress collected two different versions... in Texas, by Smith Casey (Two White Horses Standin' In Line, 1939...) and Pete Harris (Blind Lemon's Song, 1934), both clearly based on Jefferson's recording.
Harry Smith, in his liner notes to Anthology of American Folk Music claims that the song was recorded in 1928 as Paramount 126088 (matrix No. 20374-1). Paul Oliver, in his The Meaning of the Blues (cf. next paragraph) lists the original issue as Paramount 12608, recorded Feb 1928.
After a life of hard toil..., of sweat and tears, death comes as a welcome release for many of the poorest Negroes... For years they may cherish the prospect of a splendid funeral... in which every sign of affluence and expense is evident, and in which the hearse is drawn by "white horses standing in line," and the coffin is lowered on a chain of gold.
Paul Oliver, The Meaning of the Blues, New York, 1972, p. 304