The cold has set in good and proper up north. I get wrapped up to go outside - hats and coats and scarves. The last two days, Sheffield has been draped in a thick grey misty rain that settled as fog this morning. It was cold, and everywhere sounded empty, voices echoing hollow in the morning chill. This is the weather for blues, for the down and out blues infront of wide log fires - since I don't have a log fire, I'll settle for the blues.
Bessie Jones was the principal in a special form of gospel singing called the 'ring shout' which was practised on the St Simon's Island where she lived with her husband. This song was one she'd learnt as a girl, along with lots others from her grandfather - an African ex-slave. This one she made up "when she was young and still 'out in the world'(not a church goer)"
Alan Lomax discovered her in 1959, and she later convinced him to record her music and her biography. 'Beggin' The Blues' is featured on the 2CD Alan Lomax Songbook, it was recorded in 1961 and as a result, the recording is pretty much spotless. Lomax captures her voice in sharp focus and almost unbearably close-up. She sings completely a capella here - her voice is rich and powerful but tied down and softened for this personal lament, tarnished by a beautiful lilt that carries off the last syllable into a dark blue wilderness.
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