Comments on: Q&A Series: “I Went Down To St. James Infirmary,” by Robert W. Harwood

By: Dylan deconstructor « NO NOTES

Dylan deconstructor « NO NOTES — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:06:40 +0000

[...] “Dyin Crapshooter’s Blues,” recall that friend of no notes Robert W. Harwood has shown that McTell borrowed that tune from somebody [...]

By: Q&A Series (5): “I Went Down To St. James Infirmary,” by Robert W. Harwood « NO NOTES

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:44:47 +0000

[...] interview with Robert W. Harwood about his book I Went Down To St. James Infirmary. Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here, Part 3 is here, and Part 4 is here. This may or may not be the last installment [...]

By: Q&A Series (4): “I Went Down To St. James Infirmary,” by Robert W. Harwood « NO NOTES

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:46:05 +0000

[...] interview with Robert W. Harwood about his book I Went Down To St. James Infirmary. Part 1 is here, and Part 2 is here, and Part 3 is [...]

By: New book about “St. James Infirmary” –

New book about “St. James Infirmary” – — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:14:59 +0000

[...] researchers seem to be on good terms, as Walker recently featured on his blog a two-part interview (here and here) with [...]

By: nonotes

nonotes — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:47:02 +0000

bottle tops: Use the search feature on this site to read several posts that deal with the White Stripes. This is the main one:
http://nonotes.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/263/

You might also read the essay linked in the right hand column, under the Gambit Weekly cover, for an overview of many versions. Or just poke around this site, the versions have been tweaked many times in many ways. That’s kind of a running theme here.

By: bottle tops

bottle tops — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:41:22 +0000

what about the white stripes version of “st. james infirmary”?
it has verses that i don’t hear in any other version.

here’s a link:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ArS_et9gX-0

By: Mark Cullen

Mark Cullen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:43:05 +0000

As for Dylan (and McTell), I’d say he’s just contributing to the Folk process. It’s an old tradition, while the idea of copyright is an invention of the last few centuries.

It would be interesting if there was some way to cut through the red tape of copyright and leave credits to preexisting recordings on new records. Something like the Creative Commons “Attribution By” system.

Of course sometimes songwriters can’t name their sources, but they weigh heavy just the same. In any case, the commodification of music shouldn’t place limits on songwriting, experimentation and reinvention.

By: Mark Cullen

Mark Cullen — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:35:42 +0000

“When I learned about the authorship of “Crapshooter’s Blues” I was excited, of course. But I was simultaneously dismayed. By all reports, McTell was an honest, bright, and well-intentioned man. He did not, however, write that song, and yet he was adamant that he did.”

You could reasonably argue that through the folk process he made it his own song. A song never comes from nothing, especially back then.

I remember reading anecdotes about McTell claiming to be Blind Willie Johnson to interviewers (Lomax maybe?), so he was definitely quite a hustler. His version of the song is definitely one of the best interpretations, to me it isn’t diminished by the fact he didn’t write it.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:56:35 +0000

Fascinating stuff. Looking forward to the continuing interview.

This symbolically underscores the relationship we have with everything of potentially commercial value. If something — be it an object, an idea, or a song — can be “owned,” it can be sold.

And of course this brings to mind the neverending controversy over whether Bob Dylan’s appropriation of material from earlier songs, books, poems written by other people is and act of theft… or love.

regards,

Fred

By: Q&A Series (2): “I Went Down To St. James Infirmary,” by Robert W. Harwood « NO NOTES

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:26:55 +0000

[...] [Part 1 is here.] [...]