History day, when i try riding along the Mississippi Lake to the a paper task, I experienced an interested experience with Rosedale, Mississippi. Once i was food supper into the a place named Leo’s Markets, a waitress mentioned that Rosedale is where where in actuality the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson marketed their heart towards the devil inturn to have sounds wizard (an event alluded so you can in – certainly one of other areas – the newest Cohen brothers’ movie Oh Cousin, Where Artwork Thou).
As if to show they, the brand new waiter given me a wrinkled, typewritten transcription out of a “vision” on the Johnson’s fateful second which had appeared to bluesman Henry Goodman as he is actually traveling the road out of Rosedale so you’re able to Anguila. In the interest of posterity (and because I’ve not witnessed they someplace else), I’m posting Goodman’s “vision” entirely below, plus good postscript by the Rosedale’s Crossroads Blues Society.
Surprisingly, there are many more contenders throughout the myth of Robert Johnson’s demon-purchased heart – together with crossroads of us 61 and you will You forty-two when you look at the Clarksdale is the place extremely blues travelers spend the respects (the new Romantics record album is named “” hence). However – just as in old Roman visitors setting off discover “sites” of Greek mythology – the location off Johnson’s crossroads is not just something that can be become proven. He was created in Hazelhurst, and his awesome supposed grave is during Quito (near Itta Bena) – but Rosedale did shape regarding the words for example regarding Johnson’s most famous music, “Travelling Riverside Blues”.
Robert Johnson ended up selling their spirit to your demon in Rosedale, Mississippi
“Travel Riverside Blues” had a big effect on material-n-roll, and you may was remade as “Crossroads” by Eric Clapton – and therefore mentions Rosedale with the exact same words Johnson spends. It actually was along with covered by Provided Zeppelin (whoever significantly more better-identified “Orange Tune” notoriously takes an effective lyric regarding you to definitely same Johnson tune: “You could squeeze my personal lemon ’til the fresh new juice runs down my personal leg”).
Nothing of the proves far from the Robert Johnson’s crossroads, of course, however, We for 1 including the sense it took place within the Rosedale. The text of your own “vision” uses…
Interviewing the new Demon on Crossroads
Robert Johnson been to try out down within the Yazoo Area as well as during the Beulah making an application for support so you can Helena, trip kept him out on a road near the levee, walking up the highway, drums inside the hand propped through to their shoulder. October chill nights, full moon completing the fresh black heavens, Robert Johnson thinking about Young buck Home preaching in order to him, “Place one keyboards down, boy, you drivin’ people nuts.” Robert Johnson looking for as usual a lady and several whiskey. Big woods all-around, dark and you may lonesome road, an effective crazed, poisoned puppy howling and you can worrying inside an effective dump alongside the highway delivering electrified chills along Robert Johnson’s lower back, planned for the a beneficial crossroads just southern out of Rosedale. Robert Johnson, impression crappy and you may flying solo, knows some body within the road for the Gunnison. Will get a drink off whiskey plus right up there. Guy resting off to the side of one’s path on a great log within crossroads claims, “You will be late, Robert Johnson.” Robert Johnson drops so you’re able to his legs and you can says, “Perhaps Miramar in Peru hot women not.”
The person compares, tall, barrel-chested, and you may black because forever-signed attention of Robert Johnson’s stillborn child, and treks off to the center of the fresh new crossroads where Robert Johnson kneels. According to him, “Stand, Robert Johnson. We need to put that drums more than here in that abandon with that hairless puppy and you may carry on backup to Robinsonville and you may have fun with the harp that have Willie Brownish and you can Child, because you yet another beginner guitarist like all others, or if you need certainly to gamble one keyboards including not one person actually ever starred it ahead of? Generate a sound no one have you ever heard in advance of? You want to end up being the Queen of Delta Blues and you will have got all the fresh new whiskey and you may female you prefer?”