Blues Classics: Skip James – “Devil Got My Woman”

I’d rather be the devil, to be that woman man
I’d rather be the devil, to be that woman man
Aw, nothin’ but the devil, changed my baby’s mind
Was nothin’ but the devil, changed my baby’s mind
~Skip James (Devil Got My Woman)

Coupling an oddball guitar tuning set against eerie, falsetto vocals, James’ early recordings could make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
~Cub Koda (allmusic.com)

Skip James (June 9, 1902 – October 3, 1969) was an American Delta blues singer. He is regarded by most blues writers as a very important artist.

He is one of 3 blues artists to featured in Wim Wenders great documentary film The Soul of a Man (2003). 

Devil Got My Woman is his most famous & best song.

Here is a combination of alt guitar playing, a beautiful falsetto vocal & a killer blues tale..

Original (& best) version:

1968 version:

I laid down last night, laid down last night
I laid down last night, tried to take my rest
My mind got to ramblin’, like a wild geese
From the west, from the west

The woman I love, woman that I loved
Woman I loved, took her from my best friend
But he got lucky, stoled her back again
And he got lucky, stoled her back again

–

Cover versions:

Greg Allman (Audio):

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (Video from “The soul of man” documentary)

Bonnie Raitt (Video)

Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder (Rising Sons) (audio)

-Egil