Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago

Like many old bluesman, Robert Johnson's life is shrouded in mystery, myths and misconceptions. But the legends around Johnson, his life, death and deal with the devil run very deep.

About Robert Johnson

Much of the information we have on Robert Johnson has been disputed, although most agree that he was born on May 8, 1911 and died August 16, 1939.

Between 1936 (San Antonio, Texas) and '37 (Dallas, Texas) over a total of five days, he recorded a total of 29 tracks. Including the alternate takes released in 1990 on The Complete Recordings, there were a total of 41 recordings committed to disc. I've been told there were actually 42 songs in total, but this is one of the many facts about Johnson that is still in dispute.

As I said above, Johnson's life is a mystery. There are stories that he sold his soul to the devil in order to play guitar better, that he was murdered (stabbed, poisoned, beaten to death) and even his actual burial location is disputed.

It was the 1961 release of King of the Delta Blues Singers on Columbia Records and championed by producer John Hammond that in effect brought Johnson back from the grave, and introduced him to a generation of musicians who were deeply inspired by his unique playing and soulful singing style.

About Sweet Home Chicago

Although many say the Johnson wrote Sweet Home Chicago, the fact is that the song was more on an arrangement and merging of a few different songs than it was an original composition.

Listen to the songs Kokomo Blues (1928), Honey Dripper Blues (1929) and Red Cross Blues (1933), and it's clear that these songs all "inspired" Johnson's rendition. Kokomo Blues in particular bears a strong resemblance to Sweet Home Chicago.

One of my favourite elements of this song is that it starts with the refrain instead of building to it as is convention. From a songwriting standpoint, it's an interesting choice.

Over time, Sweet Home Chicago has become a blues standard. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as The Blues Brothers brought the song to a much wider audience in their 1980 film named for the band.

Mitch Ross

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Sweet Home Chicago lyrics - Robert Johnson version - Standard tuning

Oh, baby don't you want to go?

Oh, baby don't you want to go?

Back to the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

Oh, baby don't you want to go?

Oh, baby don't you want to go?

Back to the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

Now one and one is two

Two and two is four

I'm heavy loaded, baby

I'm booked, I gotta go

Cryin' baby

Honey don't you want to go?

Back to the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

Now two and two is four

Four and two is six

You gonna keep monkeyin' round with your friend-boy, you gonna get your

Business all in a trick

But I'm cryin' baby

Honey don't you wanna go?

Back to the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

Now six and two is eight

Eight and two is ten

Friend-boy, she trick you one time

She sure gonna do it again

But I'm cryin' hey, hey

Baby don't you want to go?

To the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

I'm goin' to California

From there to Des Moines Iowa

Somebody will tell me that you

Need my help someday, cryin'

Hey, hey

Baby don't you want to go?

Back to the land of California

To my sweet home Chicago

Easy version

Intermediate lesson