Cross Road Blues

Robert Johnson

About Cross Road Blues

"Cross Road Blues" (also known as "Crossroads") is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Robert Johnson in 1936. Johnson performed it as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the Delta blues-style. The song has become part of the Robert Johnson mythology as referring to the place where he supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his musical talents, although the lyrics do not contain any specific references. Bluesman Elmore James revived the song with recordings in 1954 and 1960–1961. English guitarist Eric Clapton with Cream popularized the song as "Crossroads" in the late 1960s. Their blues rock interpretation inspired many cover versions and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it as one of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Rolling Stone placed it at number three on the magazine's list of the "Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" in recognition of Clapton's guitar work. 


Year:
2004
2:38
72 

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I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above "have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please"

Ooh, standin' at the crossroad, tried to flag a ride
Ooh-ee, I tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody seem to know me, babe, everybody pass me by

Standin' at the crossroad, baby, risin' sun goin' down
Standin' at the crossroad, baby, eee-eee, risin' sun goin' down
I believe to my soul, now, poor Bob is sinkin' down

You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown
You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown
That I got the crossroad blues this mornin', Lord, babe, I'm sinkin' down

And I went to the crossroad, mama, I looked east and west
I went to the crossroad, baby, I looked East and West
Lord, I didn't have no sweet woman, ooh well, babe, in my distress

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Robert Johnson

Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–37 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend, including the Faustian myth that he sold his soul at a crossroads to achieve success. As an itinerant performer who played mostly on street corners, in juke joints, and at Saturday night dances, Johnson had little commercial success or public recognition in his lifetime. more »

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Written by: Robert Johnson

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Creation
"Cross Road Blues" was written by Robert Johnson in the 1930s. It is one of his best-known works.
Recordings
The song was recorded in two different versions. The first was recorded on November 23, 1936, in San Antonio, Texas and the second on June 20, 1937, in Dallas, Texas.
Musical Notation
An interesting fact about the song's structure is that it doesn't adhere strictly to the traditional 12-bar blues form. Johnson employs an 8-bar structure with variations.
Lyrics
The song lyrics depict a man at a crossroads, begging the Lord for mercy and to catch a ride, which is why it is popularly associated with the myth of Johnson making a deal with the Devil.
Faustian Myth
This song has contributed to the Faustian myth around Robert Johnson. The story goes that Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the Devil at a crossroads at midnight in exchange for his mastery of the guitar.
Cover Versions
Many artists have covered "Cross Road Blues" including Led Zeppelin and Cream. Eric Clapton with Cream is known for their 1968 version of the song, retitled "Crossroads".
Induction
In 1998, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, marking its significance in recording history.
Cultural Impact
The crossroads mentioned in the song has been speculated to be in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The town has embraced this part of their musical heritage by commemorating the location with a marker.
Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame
In 1983, "Cross Road Blues" was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame as a "Classic of Blues Recording".
Influence
Robert Johnson's emotive vocal delivery in "Cross Road Blues" has been cited as a significant influence on the development of rock music, particularly in shaping the vocal styles of later singers such as Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger.
Genre
The song is generally classified as Delta Blues, a subgenre of the blues that originated in the Mississippi Delta.

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