My Friend Blind Lemon

Album: Leadbelly Volume One (1935)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title of this short tribute song can be rendered "Blind Lemon - My Friend" or simply "Blind Lemon." Lemon Henry Jefferson (1893-1929) was known as the Father of the Texas Blues, and when Leadbelly wasn't in prison, he spent some time traveling with him. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • Leadbelly first recorded this song in 1934 when the folklorist John Lomax brought recording equipment to Angola prison in Louisiana, where Leadbelly was doing time for attempted murder. Lomax was doing work for the Library of Congress, trying to get folk songs sung by Black Americans on tape before they were lost to history. Leadbelly got out of jail later that year, and in 1935 Lomax made a more proper recording that was entered into the Library of Congress and appears on many compilations.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

TV Theme Songs

TV Theme SongsFact or Fiction

Was a Beatles song a TV theme? And who came up with those Fresh Prince and Sopranos songs?

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.