blues lyric

Rolf Steiner · Post by **Rolf Steiner** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:17 pm

Is anyone familiar with the blues song 'The Last Kind Words'? Appears to refer to WWII service, presumably from the point of view of black US serviceman? Would be interested to know the history of this song, all I know of it is that David Johansen covered it a few years ago:

The last kind words I heared my daddy say
Lord, the last kind words I heared my daddy say

If I die, if I die in the German war
I want you to send my body, send it to my mother, lord

If I get killed, if I get killed, please don't bury my soul
I p'fer just leave me out, let the buzzards eat me whole

Rohrbach · Post by **Rohrbach** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:12 pm

Great song but not about WW II. The German war of the song is WW I. It was recorded by Geechie Wiley in 1930.

Rohrbach

Rolf Steiner · Post by **Rolf Steiner** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:30 am

Hi Rohrbach

thanks for the reply - gosh, David Jo must have been digging back further than I realised! (then again, when were Robert Johnson/Son House doing their thing? Have an idea that was also 1930s).

When I first heard it I thought it was send his body to his 'mother in law'!

phylo_roadking · Post by **phylo_roadking** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:05 am

Rolf, I thought Johnston was as far back as the very early twenties...?

Rolf Steiner · Post by **Rolf Steiner** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:53 am

I think the bulk of RJ's recordings were 1930s, altho I think he may have done the rounds late 20s. Not sure when that legendary pact at the crossroads was struck up!

Veering off topic here tho! And if that moderator man don' love you none, he'll give ya a year and one day! etc.

Rohrbach · Post by **Rohrbach** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:24 pm

Johnson was born in 1911 and didn't really cut his musical teeth until the late '20s. He made his first recording in 1936 and died in 1938.

Rohrbach