Death Letter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Death Letter", also noted as "Death Letter Blues", is the signature song of influential blues musician Son House. It is structured upon House's earlier recording "My Black Mama, part 2" from 1930. House performed the song on a metal-bodied National resonator guitar using a copper slide.

Lyrically, the song is about a man who learns of the death of the woman he loves through a letter delivered to him early in the morning. The narrator later views her body at the morgue, attends her funeral, and returns to his home in a state of depression.

House's lyrics draw from traditional sources. Other blues musicians recorded related songs, including Lead Belly ("Death Letter Blues"), Ishman Bracey ("Trouble Hearted Blues"), Ida Cox ("Death Letter Blues"), Robert Wilkins ("Nashville Stonewall") and Blind Willie McTell ("On The Cooling Board").

"Death Letter" is Son House's most famous song, and was the centerpiece of his live performances during the blues revival of the 1960s. House often altered the tempo and lyrics for different performances of "Death Letter", occasionally playing the song more than once during the same concert. Some renditions exceeded fifteen minutes in length.

The song has been reworked by both major bluesmen other than Son House. Robert Johnson, who was heavily influenced by Son House incorporated and reworked "My Black Mama" / "Death Letter" into his own song, "Walking Blues". Skip James reworked the music and lyrics into his song Special Rider Blues.

"Death Letter" has been recorded by several popular musicians, including John Mellencamp, Chris Thomas King, David Johansen, The Derek Trucks Band and The White Stripes. The White Stripes performed part of the song live at the 2004 Grammy Awards. It was also featured in the 2005 horror/suspense film The Skeleton Key, as performed by Johnny Farmer. The song has also been recorded by Diamanda Galás, Cassandra Wilson, and Geoff Muldaur.