Spotlight on Blind Willie McTell

The Sean Wilentz Book Bob Dylan in America discussed many of the recording artists who influenced Dylan. Several page were devoted to Blind Willie McTell.  Dylan wrote a song about him that was recorded in 1983, but not released until the Bootleg Series in 1991.  The Band covered that song in the CD called Jericho.  As you can see from the lyrics below Bob says " But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell."

I had to satisfy my curiousity and hear the man for myself.  I was able to purchase a compilation of his music from Amazon.com.  Much of it was recorded  on 78 RPM records in the 1920s and 30s.  A fine job was done in transferring the recordings to CD in very good quality.


Seen the arrow on the doorpost
Saying, “This land is condemned
All the way from New Orleans
To Jerusalem”
I traveled through East Texas
Where many martyrs fell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, I heard that hoot owl singing
As they were taking down the tents
The stars above the barren trees
Were his only audience
Them charcoal gypsy maidens
Can strut their feathers well
But nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

See them big plantations burning
Hear the cracking of the whips
Smell that sweet magnolia blooming
See the ghosts of slavery ships
I can hear them tribes a-moaning
Hear that undertaker’s bell
Nobody can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

There’s a woman by the river
With some fine young handsome man
He’s dressed up like a squire
Bootlegged whiskey in his hand
There’s a chain gang on the highway
I can hear them rebels yell
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Well, God is in His heaven
And we all want what’s his
But power and greed and corruptible seed
Seem to be all that there is
I’m gazing out the window
Of the St. James Hotel
And I know no one can sing the blues
Like Blind Willie McTell

Copyright © 1983 by Special Rider Music