The Devil and Robert Johnson

Myth, Folklore, and the Delta Blues.

"If you want to learn how to play anything you want to play and learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar and you go to where a crossroad is

Get there just a little 'fore 12:00 that night so you'll know you'll be there. You have your guitar and be playing a piece there by yourself....

A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and want." he'll tune it.IAnd then he'll play a piece and hand it back to you. That's the way I learned to play anything I want." Tommy Johnson

Robert Johnsonblew a harmonica then and he was pretty good at that, but he wanted to play guitar. He'd sit at our feet and play during the breaks and such another racket you'd never heard. Son House

In ancient lore, at the crossroads is where supernatural powers would be the most focused and strong.

The meeting and parting of ways is associated with the crossroads, and ancient peoples were suspicious of intersecting paths and their confusing merge of energies.

Johnson vanished for a year and returned, asking to play at one of the events where Son House was performing Son House recalled, "When he finished, all our mouths were standing open.

Johnson tore the guitar up and brought the house down that night. From that came the sincere belief (supported by Robert Johnson) that he had sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads to learn to play so well.

According to Hoodoo tradition, (a religious practice brought to America from Africa), LEGBA is the spirit who guards the crossroads.

Robert Johnsons death is surrounded by mystery. He died in 1938, falling ill after playing a party and dying four days later.

Some people said that Roberts deal with the devil came due and as evidence gave the fact that they had seen him on all fours, howling at the moon the

Musicians That Have Covered Robert Johnsons Music Eric Clapton Led Zeppelin The Doors Weezer Beck Lucinda Williams Red Hot Chili Peppers Allman Bros. Cream Johnny Lang Grateful Dead Jack Johnson Rolling Stones White Stripes Ben Harper Cowboy Junkies Govt Mule Blues Brothers Fleetwood Mac Keb Mo Lynyrd Skynyrd

I got those Crossroads Blues, I believe Im sinking down. Robert Johnson Crossroads