Blind Willie McTell - Searching The Desert For The Blues

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You may search the ocean, you might go 'cross the deep blue sea
But Mama, you'll never find another hot shot like me

I followed my baby from the station to the train
And the blues came down like dark night shower rain

I left her at the station wringing her hands and crying
I told her she had a home, just as long as I had mine

I've got two women, and you can't tell them apart
I've got one in my bossom, and one I got in my heart

The one in my bossom, she's in Tennessee
And the one in my heart, don't even give a darn for me

I used to say a married woman was the sweetest thing that ever been born
But I've changed that thing, you better leave married women alone

Take my advice: let these married women be
'Cause their husbands'll grab you, beat you ragged as a cedar tree

When a woman say she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else

I really don't believe no woman in the whole round world do right
Act like an angel in the daytime, mess by the ditch at night

I'm going, pretty mama, please don't break this rule;
That's why I'm searching these deserts for the blues

I'm going, pretty mama, searching these deserts now
That's why I'm walking my baby home anyhow

Lord, oh Lord
Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Oh Lordy Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

When a woman say she love you 'bout good as she do herself
I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else

Lord, Lord
Lord, Lord, Lord

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Blind Willie McTell

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Blind Willie McTell, born William Samuel McTier in 1898, was a pioneering blues guitarist known for writing enduring standards such as “Statesboro Blues” and “Southern Can is Mine”. Despite being born blind in one eye, he lost his sight completely by the time he was a young man. McTell showed musical prodigy at a young age, excelling in playing harmonica and accordion before transitioning to the guitar, specifically the acoustic 12-string which became his signature instrument.

After his mother passed away in the 1920s, McTell was left to pursue a life as a wandering songster, recording for Victor Records in 1927 under various pseudonyms before settling on the stage name Blind Willie McTell. His laid-back style, tenor voice, and unique 12-string guitar sound made him a standout in the blues and ragtime music scene. Despite some success with recording deals, McTell's career was cut short due to poor sales, complications with diabetes, and ongoing struggles with alcoholism.

However, McTell continued to busk and in 1956, a record store manager in Atlanta discovered him and convinced him to record a few songs, which were later released as the Last Session in 1962. By 1957, McTell had found a new calling as a Baptist preacher at Mt. Zion Church in Atlanta, but sadly, he suffered a stroke in 1959 and passed away at the age of 61.

After his death, Blind Willie McTell's influence continued to grow, with modern rock artists such as The White Stripes, The Allman Brothers Band, and Bob Dylan paying tribute to him in their work. A blues bar in Atlanta is named in his honor, showcasing local blues musicians every night. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his life, Blind Willie McTell's music and legacy have endured, cementing his status as a legendary figure in the blues genre.