Behind the Folklore - Crossroad Blues

by Sammie

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Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson was born May 8, 1911, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, to Julia Dodds and Noah Johnson.
He didn’t stay in Hazlehurst long; his mother took him and his baby sister Carrie and signed on with delta labor supplier. After a couple of very hard and unsettling seasons in migrant labor camps, they all were living in Memphis with, and as, the family of Charles Spencer.
In his early teens Robert took an interest in music. His initial attraction to the Jew’s harp was soon supplemented by harmonica, which became his main instrument for the next few years. The guitar became an interest during the late 1920's. He made a rack for his harp out of bailing wire and string and was soon picking out appropriate accompaniments for his harp and voice.
Leroy Carr's 1928 "how long - how long blues" in recalled as being one of his favourite songs at the time. Robert Johnson was protective about his style of playing music and was acutely aware of overly watchful eyes. He wouldn’t show aspiring musicians how to play his songs - that was his business and his living. If he was asked how he played something, he might say, “Just like you" and be through with it. If someone was eyeing him too closely for his comfort, he might set up in a middle of a song and leave and be gone for months.
In having to learn the many kinds of music he had to play, Robert developed a very unusual talent. He could hear a piece just once over the radio or phonograph or from someone in person and be able to play it. Robert Johnson died on Tuesday, august 16, 1938. In truth Robert Johnson had been poisoned for getting too close to somebody else's women one to many times. Such artists has covered his songs e.g. Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The rolling stones etc.


LEGEND

Those who saw Johnson play may have also heard the rumours. Like anyone possessing extraordinary talent and skill, jealous peers circulated vicious rumours about Johnson. In fact it was the great Son House who stated "He sold his soul to play like that". In southern black communities it was a well - known notion that one could go to the crossroads and sell one's soul to the devil. The concept dates back to African Folklore. The deity Esy was believed to be the guardian of the crossroads, and was an intermediate between gods and humans. When Christianity was brought to African Culture, these pagan gods were labelled as being similar to the devil. Hence, the concept that one could find the devil at a crossroad. In Celtic tradition, the bodies of the unholy were buried outside of town near crossroads to preserve consecrated ground.
Witchcraft and the devil are prominent topics in early blues. Johnson’s lyrics are no exception. With songs like "Hell-hound in my trail", "Me and the devil blues" and "Crossroad blues", it is no wonder that he caused such wild speculations.


CROSSROADS

A crossroad is literally an intersection where two or more roads meet. In its metaphorical sense, however, the term can refer to any sort of abstract place, location, event, or forum where people meet and share ideas.
In addition, crossroads play a key role in the religion, folklore and magic traditions of many cultures. A crossroads is seen as no-man's land, not owned by anyone, and, as such, is a perfect place to conduct a ritual, cast a spell, or creates a makeshift altar. The crossroads is a location "between the worlds"; a site where supernatural spirits can be contacted and paranormal events can take place. Symbolically, it can mean locality where two realms touch and therefore represents liminality, a place literally "neither here nor there".


BLACK DOGS/HELLHOUNDS

A black dog is a spectral being found primarily in British folklore. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal spectre, and its appearance was regarded as a portent of death. It is generally supposed to be larger than a physical dog, and often has large, glowing eyes.
It is often associated with electrical storms (such as Black Shuck's appearance at Bungay, Suffolk), and also with crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways. Its Welsh form is confined to the sea-coast parishes, and on the Norfolk coast the creature is supposed to be amphibious, coming out of the sea by night and travelling about the lonely lanes.
The origins of the black dog are difficult to discern. It is impossible to ascertain whether the phantom originated in the Celtic or Germanic elements in British culture. Throughout European mythology, dogs have been associated with death. Examples of this are the Cwn Annwn, Gram and Cerberus, all of whom were in some way guardians of the underworld. This association seems to be due to the scavenging habits of dogs. It is possible that the black dog is a survival of these beliefs.
Black dogs are almost universally malevolent, although few (like the Barghest) are held to be directly harmful. Most are a potent of death, or are in some way associated with the Devil. Some, however, like the Gurt Dog in Somerset and the Black Dog of West Peak are benevolent.


BLACK DOGS BT LOCALE

* In the Isle of Man it is styled Mauthe Dooge, or Moddey Dhoo (Black dog of Manx). People believe that who sees the dog clearly will die soon after the encounter.
* In Tring, Hertfordshire, a fierce-looking black hound with red eyes is said to haunt the middle of the road in the area where the gibbet once stood. Locally it is known as Lean Dog, and is the spirit of a chimney sweep executed for murder. When approached, the lean dog sinks into the ground.
* The Black dog of Winchester.
* Packs of black dogs with glowing yellow eyes are rumoured to prowl U.S Route 666, slashing the tires of passing motorists with their sharp teeth.
* Along Sweet Hollow Road on Long Island, NY, there is said to be a black dog apparition that walks in its hind legs and has glowing red eyes. Making eye contact with it is supposed to cause death within a month.

Here are some lyrics from some Robert Johnson songs:
"I went down to the crossroads and fell down on my knees, asked the Lord up above for mercy, save poor Bob if you please". CROSSROAD BLUES
"You may bury my body down by the highway side so my old evil spirit can get a greyhound bus and ride". ME AND THE DEVIL BLUES


GOOFER DUST

Used in voodoo practices, it is a mixture of natural ingredients that can be used to cause harm, trouble, or even kill. The word goofer comes from the Kikongo word “kufwa,” which means “to die.” As late as the 1930s, “goofering” was a regional synonym for voodooing, and the meaning of the term was broadened beyond spells of damage, illness, and death to include love spells cast with dominating intent.



(Thanks for the notes DeeDee)