Hi all,
I had occasion to figure out John Hurt's version of "All Night Long" recently and it got me to thinking of how his version compared with Burnett & Rutherford's version. Here are the two versions. Leonard Rutherford's fiddling on his version has always seemed to me to be about as good as Old-Time fiddling gets.
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
I'm going to the depot, look 'pon the board
If the train ain't here, somewhere on the road
Somewhere on the road, somewhere on the road
If the train ain't here, somewhere on the road
All night long, all night long
All night long, well, all night long
I'm going to the depot (fiddle finishes verse)
If I'd a-minded, what mama said
I could-a been a-sleeping in mama's bed
Me being young, and foolish, too
I left my home on the 'count of you
On the 'count of you, on the 'count of you
I left my home on the 'count of you
I'd druther be dead and in my grave
Than be in this town, treated this-a-way
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
H'ain't got no woman, h'ain't got no kin
H'ain't got nobody to be bothered with
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
So if I live and don't get killed
Gonna make my home in Louisville
All night long, all night long
All night long, from midnight on
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
It's great the way, as the rendition goes along, more space is devoted to the fiddle until finally Leonard Rutherford is given three consecutive solo passes through the form.
Here is John Hurt's version:
It's all night long (guitar)
It's all night long (guitar)
If I hit it can I get it, baby, all night long
(Guitar finishes verse)
It's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
And it's all night long (guitar)
And it's all night long (guitar)
And it's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
It was just 'fore day (guitar)
And it's just 'fore day (guitar)
When the rooster crows (guitar finishes verse)
My baby (guitar)
Oh my baby satisfy my soul
And it's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
John Hurt's version of the song, in contrast, is so much more trancey, with a great amount of repetition and lots of elided lyrics. I'd appreciate help with the bent bracketed line.
Skip James also did a version of "All Night Long" and there are other Old-Time versions of the song, as well.
Edited 9/8 to pick up correction from uncle bud
All best,
Johnm
I had occasion to figure out John Hurt's version of "All Night Long" recently and it got me to thinking of how his version compared with Burnett & Rutherford's version. Here are the two versions. Leonard Rutherford's fiddling on his version has always seemed to me to be about as good as Old-Time fiddling gets.
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
I'm going to the depot, look 'pon the board
If the train ain't here, somewhere on the road
Somewhere on the road, somewhere on the road
If the train ain't here, somewhere on the road
All night long, all night long
All night long, well, all night long
I'm going to the depot (fiddle finishes verse)
If I'd a-minded, what mama said
I could-a been a-sleeping in mama's bed
Me being young, and foolish, too
I left my home on the 'count of you
On the 'count of you, on the 'count of you
I left my home on the 'count of you
I'd druther be dead and in my grave
Than be in this town, treated this-a-way
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
H'ain't got no woman, h'ain't got no kin
H'ain't got nobody to be bothered with
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
So if I live and don't get killed
Gonna make my home in Louisville
All night long, all night long
All night long, from midnight on
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
It's great the way, as the rendition goes along, more space is devoted to the fiddle until finally Leonard Rutherford is given three consecutive solo passes through the form.
Here is John Hurt's version:
It's all night long (guitar)
It's all night long (guitar)
If I hit it can I get it, baby, all night long
(Guitar finishes verse)
It's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
And it's all night long (guitar)
And it's all night long (guitar)
And it's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
It was just 'fore day (guitar)
And it's just 'fore day (guitar)
When the rooster crows (guitar finishes verse)
My baby (guitar)
Oh my baby satisfy my soul
And it's all night long (guitar finishes verse)
John Hurt's version of the song, in contrast, is so much more trancey, with a great amount of repetition and lots of elided lyrics. I'd appreciate help with the bent bracketed line.
Skip James also did a version of "All Night Long" and there are other Old-Time versions of the song, as well.
Edited 9/8 to pick up correction from uncle bud
All best,
Johnm