1435 – Lynyrd Skynyrd – The ballad of Curtis Loew (1974)

 

Escrita por Ronnie Van Zant e Allen Collins, foi gravada em janeiro de 1974, no Record Plant Studios, em Los Angeles, California e lançada em 15 de abril de 1974, no disco Second Helping, o segundo da banda. Foi produzida por Al Kooper. Fala de um jovem que acorda cedo pra procurar garrafas de refrigerantes pra vender em um mercado local. Ele dá o dinheiro pra um velho negro chamado Curtis Loew, que compra vinho e toca canções de blues para o garoto o dia inteiro. E apesar de apanhar da sua mae, o menino sempre repete o mesmo ritual. O povo local diz que Curtis Loew era um inútil, mas o menino sempre o defende. Quando Curtis morre, ninguém vai ao seu enterro. O pessoal da banda disse que a canção contem personagens reais da vizinhança de Ronnie, em Jacksonville, Flórida, O mercadinho onde o menino vendia as garrafas era o Claude's Midway Grocery, na esquina da Plymouth e Lakeshore Boulevard, em Jacksonville.

A letra:

Well I used to wake the morning, before the rooster crowed
Searching for soda bottles to get myself some dough
Brought 'em down to the corner, down to the country store
Cash 'em in and give my money to a man named Curtis Loew

Old Curt was a black man with white curly hair
When he had a fifth of wine he did not have a care
He used to own an old dobro used to play it across his knees
I'd give old Curt my money he'd play all day for me

Play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
Well I got your drinking money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless, them people all were fools
'Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues

He looked to be sixty and maybe I was ten
Mama used to whoop me but I'd go see him again
I'd clap my hands stomp my feet, try to stay in time
He'd play me a song or two then take another drink of wine

Well play me a song Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew
Well I got your drinking money tune up your dobro
People said he was useless them people all were fools
'Cause Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues

Yes sir

On the day old Curtis died nobody came to pray
Old preacher said some words and they chunked him in the clay
Well he lived a lifetime playin' the black man's blues
And on the day he lost his life that's all he had to lose

Play me a song Curtis Loew, hey Curtis Loew
I wish that you was here so everyone would know
People said you were useless them people all were fools
'Cause Curtis you're the finest picker to ever play the blues

A versão do Lynyrd Skynyrd:

A versão de Austin McNeill:

A versão de Guitar Swan: