"(That) Black Snake Moan" is a song written and recorded by American country blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson and was inspired by singer Victoria Spivey's "Black Snake Blues".
Both songs are structured in the AAB blues pattern using 12 bars, a very common structure in blues music. Many Blues songs are structured using the AAB format.
Both songs use the same musical setting, but with adapted lyrics, in 1926, Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded the song as "That Black Snake Moan" on Paramount records. Some months later he re-recorded the song for the Okeh label as "Black Snake Moan".
His version sold much better than Spivey's, and therefore his recording is more widely known to this day.
Initially Victoria wasn't very happy with what Blind Lemon had done, the more they were good friends from years ago. After a good talk they could laugh about the whole thing.
Read all about this here: hadaball.pdf
SEE ALSO: That Black Snake Moan - Wikipedia
Victoria Spivey's original version of "Black Snake Blues" also credits Jesse J. (Lonnie) Johnson, although he doesn't participate in this recording.
2 years later Spivey made a new recording of "Black Snake Blues" for the Okeh-label. (SEE FURTHER ON IN THIS POST)
This time Lonnie Johnson participated on guitar and vocals, but his name disappeared as co-composer.
(o) Victoria Spivey (1926) (as "Black Snake Blues")
Recorded May 11, 1926 in St Louis, MO.
Released on Okeh 8338
Lyrics:
Mmmm Ah Ah Ah Ah Aaah Ah Ah Ah Ah
Aaah Ah Ah Ah Aahaa Ah Ah Ah
Johnny blow it just like it ain't never blown before
Some black snake been suckin my rider's, hear me cry, Lord I mean it
Some black snake been suckin my rider's tongue.
You can tell by that I ain't gonna stay here long
'Cause my left eye is jumping, my flesh begins to crawl,
I said my left eye is jumping, my flesh begins to crawl,
Bet you my last dollar, another woman's kickin' in my stall.
Oooh, I ain't gonna tell you no more,
Oooh, I ain't gonna tell you no more,
Stay from my window, don't knock at my backdoor.
I'd rather be a catfish swimming in that deep blue, low beneath a submarine, behind a floating boat,
I'd rather be a catfish, low in that deep blue sea,
Tryin to stay in Texas, treated like they wanted to do me.
Oooh, I ain't gonna tell you no more,
Oooh, swimming in that deep blue sea
Tryin to stay in Texas, treated like they wanted to do for me.
It's a mean black snake that's carried me his gate, taught me to my mistake, and hard for me to take,
It's a mean black snake that's doing me this way.
If I ever go back south, I'm going back there to stay.
Listen here:
(c) Martha Copeland (1926) (as "Black Snake Blues")
Recorded September 14, 1926 in New York City
Released on Columbia 14161-D
Listen here:
(c) Blind Lemon Jefferson (1926) (as "That Black Snake Moan")
Recorded November 1926 in Chicago
Released on Paramount 12407
Lyrics:
Aaah - I ain't got no mama now
Aaah - I ain't got no mama now
She told me late last night, "You don't need no mama no now"
Mmm, mmm, black snake crawlin' in my room
Mmm, mmm, black snake crawlin' in my room
Some pretty mama better come and get this black snake soon
Ohh-oh, that must have been a bed bug, baby a chinch can't bite that hard
Ohh-oh, that must have been a bed bug, honey a chinch can't bite that hard
Ask my sugar for fifty cents, she said "Lemon, ain't a child in the yard"
Mama, that's all right, mama that's all right for you
Mama, that's all right, mama that's all right for you
Mama, that's all right, most seen all you do
Mmm, mmm, what's the matter now?
Mmm, mmm, honey what's the matter now?
Sugar, what's the matter, don't like no black snake no how
Mmm, mmm, wonder where my black snake gone?
Mmm, mmm, wonder where this black snake gone?
Black snake mama done run my darlin' home
Listen here:
After Blind Lemon Jefferson re-worked Victoria Spivey's "Black Snake Blues" to "That Black Snake Moan", Martha Copeland also covered this version.
(c) Martha Copeland (1927) (as "The Black Snake Moan")
Recorded February 16, 1927 in New York City
Released on Columbia 14196-D
Listen here:
A few months later in March 1927 Blind Lemon Jefferson re-recorded a version for the Okeh-label.
(c) Blind Lemon Jefferson (1927) (as "Black Snake Moan")
Recorded March 14, 1927 in Atlanta, GA
Released on Okeh 8455
Listen here:
In May 1927, in Chicago, Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded another version as "Black Snake Dream Blues".
And in March 1929 as "That Black Snake Moan No. 2".
Also in May 1927, in New York City, on 2 consecutive recording sessions for the Perfect-label, recordings were made of both the Spivey version and the Jefferson version.
(c) Sis Quander (1927) (as "Black Snake Blues")
Recorded May 1927 in New York City
Released on Pather Actuelle 7530 and Perfect 130
Or here:
(c) Viola McCoy (1927) (as "Black Snake Blues")
Recorded May 1927 in New York
Released on Romeo 385
Listen here:
(c) Rosa Henderson (1927) (as "Black Snake Moan")
Recorded May 1927 in New York City
Released on Pather Actuelle 7529 and Perfect 129
Listen here:
In 1928 Victoria Spivey herself also made a new recording of "Black Snake Blues".
This time Lonnie Johnson isn't mentioned as co-composer, although he participated on guitar and vocals.
(c) Victoria Spivey and Lonnie Johnson (1928) (as "New Black Snake Blues part 1 and part 2")
Recorded October 13, 1928 in New York
Released on Okeh 8626
Listen here:
(c) Charles Underwood (1930) (as "Black Snake Moan")
accompanied by Hack's String Band
Recorded September 29, 1930 in Richmond, IND
Released on Gennett 7311 and Champion 16144
Listen here:
And in 1935 Leadbelly covered Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Black Snake Moan".
Although he retitled it "New Black Snake Moan", there was nothing new about his version.
So when his version was re-released in 1949, the correct original title was applied.
(c) Lead Belly (1935) (as "New Black Snake Moan")
Recorded January 23, 1935 in New York City
Released on Paramount 9003.
In 1949 this version was re-released with the original title.
Black Snake Moan / 'Fore Day Worry by Leadbelly (Single; Paramount; 14017): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music
Listen here:
(c) Brownie McGhee (1951) (as "Black Snake Moan")
Released in 1951 on the Folkways album: "Traditional Blues Vol. 1"
Linernotes of the album are here: FW02421.pdf
Listen here:
For his cover-version of "Black Snake Moan", Jack Elliott also throwes in the second verse from Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Match Box Blues".
(c) Jack Elliott (1964) (as "Black Snake Moan")
Listen here:
In 1967 Clifton Chenier recorded a version of "Black Snake Blues", which was undeniably inspired by Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Black Snake Moan" (especially the 2nd verse)
Listen here:
(c) Blues Goblins (2002) (as "Black Snake Moan")
wrongly credited to Leadbelly
Released on debutalbum Blues Goblins
Listen here:
(c) Samuel L. Jackson (2007) (as "Black Snake Moan")
In the movie of the same name.
Listen here:
And here's a live version of Victoria in 1963 in Germany.
More cover versions: The Originals © by Arnold Rypens - BLACK SNAKE BLUES
And: Cover versions of Black Snake Blues written by Lonnie Johnson, Victoria Spivey | SecondHandSongs
SEE ALSO NEXT DISCUSSION ON: SecondHandSongs
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