Blind Willie McTell - East St. Louis Blues

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I walked all the way from East Saint Louis
I never had but that one, one thin dime
I laid my head in a New York woman's lap
She laid her little cute head in mine
She tried to make me bleed by the rattlings of her tongue
The sun would never, never shine
I pawned my sword and I pawned my chain
Well I pawned myself but I fell to shame
I tried to see you in the fall
When you didn't have no man at all
I'd love to meet you in the spring when the bluebird's almost ready to sing
Faree, honey, faree well
You can shake like a cannon ball, get out and learn that old Georgia crawl
Faree, honey, faree well
(play it boy...)
And I laid my head in a barroom door
And I can't get drunk, drunk no more
Now if you can't do the sugary get yourself on out of this house to me
Faree, baby, faree well
I tried to see you in the spring when the bluebird's almost ready to sing
Faree, honey, faree well
And I walked on back to East Saint Louis
Never had but that one, one thin dime

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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.