The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Encyclopedia
The Ballad of Curtis Loew is a song written by Allen Collins
and Ronnie Van Zant
and performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
. The song was first released on the band's 1974 album, Second Helping
and again on their compilation, The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd
and later on All Time Greatest Hits
. It is on many of their compilation albums and before the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, was performed once live on stage. Ed King
says, "The original version of the band only played 'Curtis Loew' one time on stage. We were playing in a basement in some hotel and thought we'd try it. We never played it again until the Tribute Tour with Johnny Van Zant
." The song can be seen as a tribute to African American bluesmen and their influence on rock music. The song can also be seen as the perpetuation of black racial stereotypes that were prevalent from the nineteenth century.
guitar for the boy all day. Curtis is described as a "black man with white curly hair" and the boy idolizes him, returning despite whuppings by his mama to hear the old man play, clapping his hands and trying to stay in time. "People said you was useless," the boy recalls. "Those people all were fools." Instead Curtis is "the finest picker to ever play the blues", the boy professes.
Curtis eventually dies and the boy notes that nobody "came to pray". The song ends with a lament to Curtis: "I wish you was here so everyone would know."
The band's website says that the song is based on a composite of people who actually lived in the Van Zants' original neighborhood in Jacksonville, FL
. Specifically, the country store "is based on Claude's Midway Grocery on the corner of Plymouth and Lakeshore in Jacksonville." The business has since been renamed Sunrise Food Store, but still occupies the same location. The Loew character is sometimes thought by Skynyrd fans to be inspired by Shorty Medlock, the grandfather of Rickey Medlocke
, Lynyrd Skynyrd's drummer during their 1970 tour and one of the band's current guitarists.
numerous times. The song was also covered by country artist Eric Church
for "Sweet Home Alabama: The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd".
Allen Collins
Larkin Allen Collins Jr. was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and co-wrote many of the band's songs with late frontman Ronnie Van Zant...
and Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
and performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. The song was first released on the band's 1974 album, Second Helping
Second Helping
Second Helping is a 1974 album by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the band's second album, and featured its biggest hit single, "Sweet Home Alabama", an answer song to Neil Young's "Alabama" and "Southern Man". The song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1974...
and again on their compilation, The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd, reissued as Gold, is a two-disc compilation of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the peak years of its classic lineup .* In 1998, it was released as The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd by MCA...
and later on All Time Greatest Hits
All Time Greatest Hits (Lynyrd Skynyrd album)
All Time Greatest Hits is the compilation album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 2000. The album was certified Gold on 3/24/2003 and Platinum on 6/20/2005 by the R.I.A.A.-Track listing:#"Sweet Home Alabama" - 4:45...
. It is on many of their compilation albums and before the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash, was performed once live on stage. Ed King
Ed King
Edward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
says, "The original version of the band only played 'Curtis Loew' one time on stage. We were playing in a basement in some hotel and thought we'd try it. We never played it again until the Tribute Tour with Johnny Van Zant
Johnny Van Zant
John Roy "Johnny" Van Zant is an American musician and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and .38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant.Van Zant performed during the 1970s with...
." The song can be seen as a tribute to African American bluesmen and their influence on rock music. The song can also be seen as the perpetuation of black racial stereotypes that were prevalent from the nineteenth century.
Synopsis
A young boy wakes up "before the rooster crows" and searches for soda bottles to cash in. He gives the money to a man named Curtis Loew, who buys wine and plays his DobroDobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
guitar for the boy all day. Curtis is described as a "black man with white curly hair" and the boy idolizes him, returning despite whuppings by his mama to hear the old man play, clapping his hands and trying to stay in time. "People said you was useless," the boy recalls. "Those people all were fools." Instead Curtis is "the finest picker to ever play the blues", the boy professes.
Curtis eventually dies and the boy notes that nobody "came to pray". The song ends with a lament to Curtis: "I wish you was here so everyone would know."
Origin
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Specifically, the country store "is based on Claude's Midway Grocery on the corner of Plymouth and Lakeshore in Jacksonville." The business has since been renamed Sunrise Food Store, but still occupies the same location. The Loew character is sometimes thought by Skynyrd fans to be inspired by Shorty Medlock, the grandfather of Rickey Medlocke
Rickey Medlocke
Rickey Medlocke is an American musician best known as the frontman/guitarist for the southern rock band Blackfoot and, more recently, as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd...
, Lynyrd Skynyrd's drummer during their 1970 tour and one of the band's current guitarists.
Covers
The Ballad of Curtis Loew has been covered by PhishPhish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
numerous times. The song was also covered by country artist Eric Church
Eric Church
Kenneth Eric Church is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me that year...
for "Sweet Home Alabama: The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd".