| "Love in Vain" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Robert Johnson | |
| Released | 1937 |
| Recorded | June 20, 1937 |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 2:26 |
| Writer | Robert Johnson |
| Producer | Don Law[1] |
| "Love in Vain" | |
|---|---|
| Song by The Rolling Stones from the album Let It Bleed | |
| Released | December 5, 1969 |
| Recorded | May 1969 |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 4:22 |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller |
| "Love in Vain" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Eric Clapton from the album Me and Mr Johnson | |
| Released | March 3, 2004 |
| Recorded | 2003-2004 |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 4:02 |
| Producer | Eric Clapton, Simon Climie |
"Love in Vain" is a 1937 blues song written by Robert Johnson.
The song is noted for its sad lyrics, tone, and style. In the 1991 documentary film The Search for Robert Johnson, John P. Hammond plays Robert's recording of "Love in Vain" for the elderly Willie Mae Powell, the woman for whom it was supposedly written. Johnson moans "Oh, Willie Mae" in his last verse.[2][3]
Johnson was an admirer of blues singer/pianist Leroy Carr. "Love in Vain" takes its musical structure from Carr's classic "In the Evenin' When the Sun Goes Down". Both songs express a yearning and sorrow for the loss of a lover.
The Shreveport Home Wreckers (a duo of Oscar "Buddy" Woods and Ed Schaffer), recorded their track "Flying Crow Blues" in 1932. Johnson used one set of its lyrics almost verbatim for the final verse of "Love in Vain."[4]
In 2011 the song was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame of the Blues Foundation.[5]
"Love in Vain" been covered by many musicians, most famously by The Rolling Stones on their 1969 album, Let It Bleed (although, in the album credits on the original vinyl LP label, the song is listed as written by "Woody Payne", a pseudonym of Robert Johnson's.) The Stones also recorded a live version of the song that appeared on their 1970 album, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.
More recently it was covered by Johnson fan Eric Clapton on his 2004 album, Me and Mr. Johnson, along with several other Robert Johnson classics. Clapton paid homage to the song in his lyrics for the Derek and the Dominos song "Layla" ("...please don't say we'll never find a way, and tell me all my love's in vain").
Love in Vain is also the title of an acclaimed screenplay written by Alan Greenberg. It was the first unproduced screenplay ever published by a major house (Doubleday) as literature. According to Keith Richards, "Finally someone has captured the central feel of this master musician and his times, and that man is Alan Greenberg. Take my word for it." Bob Dylan's response to the screenplay was, "It's about time."
Walter Trout covered the song on his Prisoner of a Dream album. Keb' Mo' covered the song on his Slow Down album.