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30 Famous Blues Songs that Everyone Should Know

Blues is a music genre and they are said to have originated in the Deep South of the United States in the 1860s. Blues includes work songs, Shouts, chants, spirituals, and simple narrative ballads from the Africa- America culture. They are accompanied by instruments such as the guitar, piano, drums, and harmonica. For a long time now, blue songs have been known to express feelings of sadness, loss, struggle, or even heartbreak rather than telling stories.

They have a raw and soulful quality with lyrics that can capture the attention of the audience. There are some Blues songs that you will find that the writer is not the recorder or even has been recorded by different musicians in different styles. Today, blues music has become a phenomenon and many artists are contributing to its growth and keeping its legacy alive.

1. Cross Road Blue by Robert Johnson

Cross Road Blue was a blue song released on May 1937 by a famous American blues artist called Robert Johnson. In this song, he was expressing his grief for being unable to catch a ride at an intersection before the sun sets.

Also, he has been accused of having used the song to sell his soul to the devil so that his musical ability may grow. The song has a length of 2: 39 minutes.

2. Born Under a Bad Sign

Born Under a Bad Sign is a famous blue song of all time that was released in 1967 by the American blues singer and guitarist called Albert King. It was listed at number 49 on Billboard Magazine鈥檚 Top Selling R&B Singles chart.

The song generally talks of situations of bad luck and trouble that are caused by 鈥淲ine and Women 鈥渋n life and now there was a need for a change

3. I鈥檇 Rather Go Blind

I鈥檇 Rather Go Blind was released in 1967 in FAME Studios, Muscles Shoals, Alabama. It was written by Ellington Jordan and sung by Etta James. 

He got the idea for the song from Ellington when she visited him in prison and he later completed the song. It has been number 10 on the Billboard R&B charts and also 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

4. Wang Dang Doodle

Wang Dang Doodle’s song was written and released by Willie Dixon in 1961. Willie says that the phrase Wang Dang Doodle means 鈥淎 good time, having balls and a lot of dancing. The song has a length of 2: 20 minutes.

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5. I鈥檓 Tore Down

I鈥檓 Tore Down is a great blue song that was recorded and released on October 1961 by Freddie King also known as Freddy. The song was recorded at Federal Records and used the instrumental 鈥淪en- Sa- Shun鈥� as the B-side. Upon its release as a single song, it was ranked number five on Billboards Hot R&B Sides.

6. Help Me

Help Me is a famous blue song that was first recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson on 11th January 1963. It has a length of 3: 07 minutes. It is classified as a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues that is credited to Williamson, Willie Dixon, and Ralph Bass.

After its release, it was well received by the audiences and reached number 24 on the Billboard R&B chart.

7. I Can鈥檛 Quit You, Baby

I Can鈥檛 Quit You, Baby, was written by Willie Dixon and was recorded by Otis Rush in 1956. The lyrics of the song talk about how a relationship ends as a result of one partner committing adultery.

After its release, the song went viral and became a record chart hit and also a blues standard. The song has a length of 2: 56 minutes.

8. Match Box Blues

Match Box Blues is a great blue song that was written and recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson and also released in the same year, 1927.

Later Carl Perkins rewrote and changes some lyrics of the song and gave it the name鈥� Matchbox鈥�. The song has a length of 2: 10 minutes.

9. I Just Want to Make Love to You

 I Just Want to Make Love to You is a blues song that was written by Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters recorded the song in 1954 and he released it as a single and gave it the title 鈥淛ust Make Love to Me鈥�.

Upon its release, the audience received it positively, went viral, and reached number four on Billboard magazine鈥檚 R& B Best Sellers Chart. The song has a length of 2: 49 minutes.

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10. Stormy Monday Blues

Stormy Monday also known as 鈥淐all it Stormy Monday鈥� is a great blue song that was written and recorded by one of the most known American blues electric guitar pioneers called T-Bone Walker. It became one of his best and known songs. The song has a length of 3 minutes.

11. I鈥檓 a King Bee

I鈥檓 a King Bee is a great Blue song classified under swamp blues. The song was first written and recorded by Slim Harpo in 1957. After its release, many artists have performed and recorded the same song in different versions.

The original song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2008. The original song by Harpo has a length of 2.55 minutes and incorporates some musical instruments such as a guitar making it an awesome song.

12. The Sky Is Crying

The Sky is Crying Is a great blue standard that was initially written and recorded by Elmore James in 1959. The writer of the song was inspired by the weather, while in the studio doing the song recorded In Chicago there was a great downpour and that鈥檚 how the lyrics were founded. The song has a length of 2: 47 minutes and great instruments are detected.

13. Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground

Dard was the Night, Cold Was the Ground is a gospel blue that was originally written and recorded on 3rd December 1927 by a great musician called Blind Willie Johnson. Many musicians later used the song to make covers and has also been used on the soundtracks of several films.

The original song has powerful instruments played like a guitar. Johnson is a great guitar player and for so many years in the industry, he has played blues and gospel music.

14. Nobody Knows You When You鈥檙e Down and Out

Nobody Knows You When You鈥檙e Down and Out is a blues standard that was written by pianist Jimmie Cox in 1923. The song was later recorded by Bessie Smith in 1929.

The lyrics talks of someone who was so rich and continues to talk of how after the wealth was gone, how he lost friendship with so many people. In short, it talks about material wealth and how friendship comes and goes. The song has been used by other musicians in their versions.

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15. Spoonful

https://youtu.be/6jW5kUZk0WQ

Spoonful is a great blues song that was originally written by Willie Dixon. It is one of his best famous songs. The lyrics of the song talk about how men do many things to satisfy their cravings.

Spoonful is used as a metaphor for the pleasures of things such as sex, love, and drugs. It has a length of 2: 45 minutes

16. Hellhound on My Trail

Hellhound on My Trail is Robert Johnson’s greatest Blue song. He recorded the song on 20th June 1937 in Dallas, Texas. He got inspiration from earlier blues songs, and from the inspiration he produced an awesome song. 

The song is his solo performance with slide guitar and vocals. The song has a length of 2: 35 minutes

17. Sweet Home Chicago

Sweet Home Chicago is a blues standard song that was originally recorded by Robert Johnson on 23rd November 1936. The song is an anthem for the people of Chicago.

Many musicians have used the song and recorded it using their styles and has become popular known all over. The original song has a length of 2: 59 minutes.

18. Evil

Evil is a great blues song that was written by Willie Dixon.  The original song has a length of 2: 55 minutes. It gained wide recognition for its unique beats and many instruments which were used.

The song is about people who relax and think that everything is just okay and assume that everything is okay. It鈥檚 a warning that one should not assume that everything is just okay for evil things might be happening behind it all.

19. I鈥檓 A Man

I鈥檓 A Man is a blues song that was written and recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955. It was one of his first blues songs that had a classical hit and was well-known.

The original song has a length of 2: 05 minutes. It has been recorded by many musicians using their style. The song reached number one on the R&B chart.

20. Crazy Blues

Crazy Blues is a song that was renamed from the original song called 鈥淗arlem Blues鈥� which was originally written by Perry Bradford in 1918. In 1920 Mamie Smith recorded the song.

The song came with great things, they were able to fight racism and the writer Smith was made the first black artist to record a commercial song.

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21. Working Man

Working Man is a great blues song that was written and recorded by Otis Rush in 1969 and it became a great hit. The lyrics of the song talk about a man who spends most of his time and comes home late and one time asked himself if there is anything else in life other than working. Otis Rush is well known for his unique guitar style. The song has been listed as one of his best songs.

22. Got My Mojo Working

Got My Mojo Working a Blues song was originally written by Preston Foster and was recorded by Ann Cole in 1956. In 1957, Muddy Waters released the same song but now with different lyrics and other musical arrangements.

The lyrics of the song talk about a man who is frustrated with his unrequited love for an unnamed woman. The song has a length of 2: 50 minutes.

23. See That My Grave鈥檚 kept clean

See That My Grave is Kept Clean was recorded by American Blues musician known as Blind Lemon Jefferson in two different versions. The song has a length of 2: 54 minutes.

The song was used by other artists like Bob Dylan who recorded it in different versions and now with a Band in 1962. In the lyrics, the singer predicts his death and urges the audience to maintain his grave.

24. Hide Away

Hide Away Blues song was originally produced by Freddie King in 1960. The song is a blues guitar instrumental and has become a standard for countless blues and rock musicians performing today.

It has been used by other musicians and recorded in their versions. It has been featured in the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and on Rolling Stones.

25. Baby Please Don鈥檛 Go

Baby Please Don鈥檛 Go is a traditional blues song that was recorded on 31 October 1935 by Big Joe Williams a Delta Blues musician. After the release, many other versions followed.

Muddy Waters recorded the song in 1953 as an electric Chicago- ensemble blue piece. The lyrics of the song talk about a man in prison who asks his lover to wait for him until he finished to serve his term.

26. Ball And Chain

Ball and Chain was written and recorded by blues artist Big Mama Thornton. It has a length of 2: 25 minutes. Although the song did not reach the record charts, it attracted the attention of Janis Joplin who made it famous and got some listing. It is one of Big Mama Thornton’s best songs.

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27. The Seventh Son

The Seventh Son is a rhythm and blues song that was written by Willie Dixon. In 1955, Willie Mabon became the first to record. Willie Dixon is a great influencer and composer of blues songs but end up being recorded by other musicians such as Muddy Waters. The lyrics of the song tell of how in a family the seventh child always has unusual luck. The song has a length of 3.01 minutes.

28. Boogie Chillun

Boogie Chillun is a great blues song that was originally recorded by John Lee Hooker in 1948. It is his solo performance song that features electrical guitar, rhythmic foot stomps, and Hooker鈥檚 vocals.

The instruments in the song make it an awesome song and an example of electric blues.  It is considered to be at least partly autobiographical. The song has a length of 3: 11 minutes.

29. Dimples

Dimples is a blues song written and recorded by John Lee Hooker in 1956. It was his first song to appear on the British record charts. It has a length of 2:09 minutes.

The lyrics describe the things that he loves about his lover and continues to say how he can stay watching her all day. It is one of his most famous songs.

30. I鈥檇 Rather Go Blind

I鈥檇 Rather Go Blind was originally written by Ellington Jordan and was first recorded and released by Etta James in 1967 and worked with his friend Ellington Jordan to make sure that they gave the best.

The song is classified as a blues and soul classic. The song was recorded at FAME studios in Shoals, Alabama. It has a length of 2: 32 minutes.