Murder in the blues ain’t nothin’ new. Murder stories have long been a blues staple. Here are seven songs which tell the tale.
- Bob McKinney – Henry Thomas – Early Texan bluesman tells the story of Bob McKinney, a man who seems intent on shooting everyone he encounters. “Wasn’t he bad? yeah, wasn’t he bad?”
- Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday – a Grammy Hall of Fame song, this gut wrenching song decries lynching and racism. When watching the video, you’ll see how the song affects Holiday.
- I’m Gonna Murder My Baby – Pat Hare – Hare played with many of the greats (Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters) and recorded this song in 1954. Even more chilling, Hare fulfilled the song’s promise in 1962 when he committed a double murder.
- Crow Jane – Skip James – “You know I dug her grave, eight feet in the ground, Didn’t feel sorry ’til they let her down.”
- Murder in the First Degree – Victoria Spivey – a warning message to all those “triflin’” men lest they end up a notch on a spurned woman’s gun.
- Bloodstains On The Wall – Honeyboy Edwards – unflinching violent imagery which sends chills down your spine.
- Hangman’s Blues – Blind Lemon Jefferson – Texas blues legend sings about a man who exacts murderous revenge and ends up swinging from a rope: “Lord, I’m almost dyin’, gasping for my breath. And a triflin’ woman waiting to celebrate my death.”
Soon, I’ll add another list of murder blues songs for you to hear.
What blues murder songs would you add?
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