Leadbelly (Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways)

Silver Level
A peer a pedal
The truth is severed
For rage is better
Goodnight Irene, Irene Goodnight
I’ve shot to kill

I’ve Stabbed to Kill
I’m Huddie Leadbetter

The first time I heard about Leadbelly was back in about 2004 or 2006 my Granny bought me collectors stamps with notable African Americans. There was Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Charles Richard Drew, B.B. King, Martin Luther King, Ma Rainey just to name a few. The stamps came stuck on an informational pamphlet, noting their date of death and birth, and also what they were known for. So when I saw the name Leadbelly, my interest was immediately ignited. In my 10-year-old mind, I said, “Who the heck would name themselves Leadbelly?

This is not the stamp. I think my mom still has the stamp collection somewhere, but I remember the strong lived-in look he had on his face. The white hair, the dark skin, the upturn of his lips embodies a blues that is never to be among us again.

Somebody with a superhuman ability to down early 20th century moonshine.

Did you know that Leadbelly stabbed a man and went to prison and worked on a legitimate chain-gang?

You can hear the blue in his songs, and his deep accent might have lead to confusion about his name.

Like a Huddie William Ledbetter from Shreveport, became Huddie Weem Leadbelly from Freeport sorta thing.

Anyway the story goes that Leadbelly actually gained his freedom by singing his texas blues to guards and prisoners alike, and that he was so good the warden gave him a pardon. (even though it’s debated who gives a shit, its a nice story)

Much like many of the blues musicians of the early 20th century he was a “musicianer” before he was discovered

Stay Woke

Leadbelly probably even invented the term “stay woke” in a song called Scottsboro Boys about 9 black men falsey accused of rapng a white woman.

Other songs of his always strike a note with me, like the legendary recording of “Midnight Special”. I find myself stuck on this line

Yonder come Miss Rosie
How in the world did you know?
By the way she wears her apron
And the clothes she wore
Umbrella on her shoulder
Piece of paper in her hand
She come to see the gov’nor
She want to…