Worried Life Blues
Encyclopedia
"Worried Life Blues" is a song that has become one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. Originally recorded by Major "Big Maceo"
Merriweather in 1941, "Worried Life Blues" was an early blues hit and Maceo's most recognized song. It was inspired by an earlier song and has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including several who had record chart successes with their interpretations of the song.
in 1935 (Decca
7279). Estes' song is performed as a vocal and guitar country blues, whereas Maceo's is a prototypical Chicago blues. To illustrate the lyrical differences of the originals, the first few verses are as follows:
Over the years the differences have become blurred by various cover versions of the songs, which use elements from both songs, often combined with new lyrics and variations in the music.
8827) and he was joined by frequent collaborator, guitarist and fellow recording artist, Tampa Red
. "Worried Life Blues" is a moderate-tempo eight-bar blues, with Maceo (vocal and piano) accompanied by Tampa Red (guitar) and Ransom Knowling (bass). It became "a major hit" and "eclipsed the song that inspired it". Several other versions soon followed, including those by Bill Gaither (1941), Sonny Boy Williams (1942), and Honeyboy Edwards (1942). In 1945, Maceo recorded a second version with additional lyrics, also accompanied by Tampa Red. Titled "Things Have Changed", it reached number four in the Billboard R&B chart.
Hall of Fame in 1983 in the "Classics of Blues Recordings" category, alongside "Stormy Monday
," "Sweet Home Chicago
," "Dust My Broom
," and "Hellhound on My Trail
"). In 2006, the song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award
.
Big Maceo Merriweather
Big Maceo Merriweather was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer, active in Chicago in the 1940s.-Career:...
Merriweather in 1941, "Worried Life Blues" was an early blues hit and Maceo's most recognized song. It was inspired by an earlier song and has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including several who had record chart successes with their interpretations of the song.
Earlier song
"Worried Life Blues" is based on "Someday Baby Blues" recorded by Sleepy John EstesSleepy John Estes
John Adam Estes , best known as Sleepy John Estes or Sleepy John, was a American blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist, born in Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee.-Career:...
in 1935 (Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
7279). Estes' song is performed as a vocal and guitar country blues, whereas Maceo's is a prototypical Chicago blues. To illustrate the lyrical differences of the originals, the first few verses are as follows:
- "Worried Life Blues" Big Maceo (1941):
- Oh lordy lord, oh lordy lord
- It hurts me so bad, for us to part
- But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life anymore
- "Someday Baby Blues" Sleepy John Estes (1935):
- I don't care how long you go, I don't care how long you stay
- But that good kind treatment, bring you back home someday
- Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my mind anymore
Over the years the differences have become blurred by various cover versions of the songs, which use elements from both songs, often combined with new lyrics and variations in the music.
Big Maceo song
Big Maceo recorded "Worried Life Blues" June 24, 1941, shortly after arriving in Chicago. It was his first single (BluebirdBluebird Records
Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best...
8827) and he was joined by frequent collaborator, guitarist and fellow recording artist, Tampa Red
Tampa Red
Tampa Red , born Hudson Woodbridge but known from childhood as Hudson Whittaker, was an American Chicago blues musician....
. "Worried Life Blues" is a moderate-tempo eight-bar blues, with Maceo (vocal and piano) accompanied by Tampa Red (guitar) and Ransom Knowling (bass). It became "a major hit" and "eclipsed the song that inspired it". Several other versions soon followed, including those by Bill Gaither (1941), Sonny Boy Williams (1942), and Honeyboy Edwards (1942). In 1945, Maceo recorded a second version with additional lyrics, also accompanied by Tampa Red. Titled "Things Have Changed", it reached number four in the Billboard R&B chart.
Other versions
Over the years numerous artists have covered "Worried Life Blues" or some mixture of it, "Someday Baby Blues", and other elements. Some of these versions include (all titled "Worried Life Blues" except as noted):- 1949 Charles BrownCharles Brown (musician)Charles Brown , born in Texas City, Texas was an American blues singer and pianist whose soft-toned, slow-paced blues-club style influenced the development of blues performance during the 1940s and 1950s...
as "Trouble Blues" (Aladdin 3024) (spent 15 weeks at R&B #1) - 1955 Muddy WatersMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
as "Trouble No MoreTrouble No More (song)"Trouble No More" is an upbeat blues song first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1955. The song was a hit the following year, reaching #7 in the Billboard R&B chart...
" (Chess 1612) (R&B #7) - 1958 Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
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(also recorded later version) - 1960 Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
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(Minit 32080 1969) (R&B #34) - 1970 B.B. King as "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore" from Indianola Mississippi SeedsIndianola Mississippi SeedsIndianola Mississippi Seeds is a 1970 album in which B. B. King mixed elements of blues and pop/rock. Producer Bill Szymczyk decided to follow up on the success of the hit "The Thrill Is Gone" by matching King with a musical all-star cast...
(also recorded 1960 version as "Someday Baby," which his former record label released in 1970 as "Worried Life Blues," which reached R&B #48; also recorded 2000 version with Eric Clapton on Riding with the King) - 1971 Mississippi Fred McDowellMississippi Fred McDowellFred McDowell known by his stage name; Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American Hill country blues singer and guitar player.-Career:...
as "Someday Baby" from Live in New YorkLive in New York (Fred McDowell album)Live in New York is the final album recording by the American country blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell. American independent Oblivion Records released the first edition in the Spring of 1972, months before McDowell's death in July 1972...
(also as "Fred's Worried Life Blues" from Fred McDowell: Mississippi Delta Blues) - 1979 Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
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Accolades
Big Maceo's "Worried Life Blues" was in the first batch of songs inducted into the Blues FoundationBlues Foundation
The Blues Foundation is an American nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that is affiliated with more than 175 Blues organizations from various parts of the world....
Hall of Fame in 1983 in the "Classics of Blues Recordings" category, alongside "Stormy Monday
Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)
"Call It Stormy Monday " is a blues song written by T-Bone Walker and first recorded in 1947. Confusingly, it is also sometimes referred to as "Stormy Monday Blues", although that is the title of a 1942 song by Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine...
," "Sweet Home Chicago
Sweet Home Chicago
"Sweet Home Chicago" is a popular blues standard in the twelve bar form. It was first recorded and is credited to have been written by Robert Johnson...
," "Dust My Broom
Dust My Broom
"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom"by Robert Johnson, the Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03475, ARC 7-04-81 and Conqueror 8871...
," and "Hellhound on My Trail
Hellhound on My Trail
"Hellhound on My Trail" is a blues song recorded by Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson in 1937. It was the first song recorded during Johnson's last recording session in Dallas, Texas on Sunday, June 20, 1937 and the first single released from that session...
"). In 2006, the song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award
Grammy Hall of Fame Award
The Grammy Hall of Fame Award is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance"...
.