Samson and Delilah (song)
Encyclopedia
"Samson and Delilah" is a traditional song based on the Biblical tale of Samson
and his betrayal by Delilah
. Its best known performer is perhaps the Grateful Dead
, who first performed the song live in 1976, with guitarist Bob Weir
singing lead vocals. It was frequently played live by the Dead. The 1977 album Terrapin Station
. featured a studio recording of the song.
Although Weir learned the song from Reverend Gary Davis
, several earlier versions were recorded under various titles, including "If I Had My Way, I Would Tear This Building Down" by Blind Willie Johnson
in 1927. Rev. Gary Davis's recording can be heard on the compilation album
The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead
. The song has since been performed by a wide variety of artists ranging from Charlie Parr
, Ike
and Tina Turner
to Peter, Paul and Mary
, The Washington Squares
, Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band (in Verona, Italy 2006),and Garbage
frontwoman Shirley Manson
, whose version appeared in the second season premiere episode (also titled "Samson and Delilah") of the Fox
television show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Grammy Award-Winning artist and producer Art Greenhaw
recorded a version of the song backed by The Jordanaires
and Larry "T-Byrd" Gordon and released in 2005 as a lead song on the Grammy-Nominated album "Southern Meets Soul: An American Gospel Jubilee".
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
and his betrayal by Delilah
Delilah
Delilah appears only in the Hebrew bible Book of Judges 16, where she is the "woman in the valley of Sorek" whom Samson loved, and who was his downfall...
. Its best known performer is perhaps the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, who first performed the song live in 1976, with guitarist Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
singing lead vocals. It was frequently played live by the Dead. The 1977 album Terrapin Station
Terrapin Station
Terrapin Station is the ninth studio album by the Grateful Dead, and was originally released on July 27, 1977.This album was the first time since Anthem of the Sun that the Grateful Dead used an outside producer...
. featured a studio recording of the song.
Although Weir learned the song from Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis, was an American blues and gospel singer and guitarist, who was also proficient on the banjo and harmonica...
, several earlier versions were recorded under various titles, including "If I Had My Way, I Would Tear This Building Down" by Blind Willie Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson
"Blind" Willie Johnson was an American singer and guitarist, whose music straddled the border between blues and spirituals....
in 1927. Rev. Gary Davis's recording can be heard on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead
The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead
- Credits :*Produced by Henry Kaiser and David Gans*Mastered by Paul Stubblebine*Notes by Blair Jackson*Front cover design by R. Crumb*Art direction by Joan Pelosi- References :*Strauss, Neil. , The New York Times, October 19, 1995...
. The song has since been performed by a wide variety of artists ranging from Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr
Charlie Parr is an American country blues musician, born in Austin, Minnesota, United States. He started his music career in Duluth, Minnesota. His influences include Charlie Patton, Bukka White, Reverend Gary Davis, and Dave Van Ronk. He plays a National resonator guitar, a fretless open-back...
, Ike
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
to Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers...
, The Washington Squares
Washington Squares
The Washington Squares were a 1980s neo-beatnik folk revival music group. Modeled after early 1960s groups like The Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary, the group was named after New York City's Washington Square Park, emblematic of Greenwich Village...
, Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band (in Verona, Italy 2006),and Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
frontwoman Shirley Manson
Shirley Manson
Shirley Anne Manson is a Scottish recording artist and actress, best known internationally as the lead singer of the alternative rock band Garbage. For much of her international career Manson commuted between her home city of Edinburgh to the United States to record with Garbage but now lives and...
, whose version appeared in the second season premiere episode (also titled "Samson and Delilah") of the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Grammy Award-Winning artist and producer Art Greenhaw
Art Greenhaw
Art Greenhaw is a Grammy Award-Winning recording artist, producer and mixing engineer, having won the Grammy Award in 2003 in New York City for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year" for the album WE CALLED HIM MR. GOSPEL MUSIC: THE JAMES BLACKWOOD TRIBUTE ALBUM...
recorded a version of the song backed by The Jordanaires
The Jordanaires
The Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, which formed as a gospel group in 1948. They are best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley, in live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972...
and Larry "T-Byrd" Gordon and released in 2005 as a lead song on the Grammy-Nominated album "Southern Meets Soul: An American Gospel Jubilee".