Mississippi John Hurt - Pay Day video free download

This is a gentle song showing that John Hurt improved with age. Mississippi John Hurt was tracked down by blues scholar,Tom Hoskins in 1963, from an ancient 78 recording of Avalon Blues. (Hurt was born and grew up in Avalon, Mississippi.) Hoskins encouraged Hurt & helped him be recorded by the Library of Congress. This led to the revival of the careers of numerous old Delta Bluesmen in the folk era of the US. Mississippi John Hurt was always amazed and happy that people would still come AND pay to see an old man play and sing the simple blues. (see a wonderful bio link below. It's a short bio and well worth the time to read. Hurt was a man just like he sounds in his music...a delightful person.)

An except from the definitive biography site for Mississippi John Hurt written by Bruce Eder:

Mississippi John Hurt left behind a legacy unique in the annals of the blues, and not just in terms of music. A humble, hard-working man who never sought fame or fortune from his music, and who conducted his life in an honest and honorable manner, he also avoided the troubles that afflicted the lives of many of his more tragic fellow musicians. He was a pure musician, playing for himself and the smallest possible number of listeners, developing his guitar technique and singing style to please nobody but himself; and he suddenly found himself with a huge following, precisely because of his unique style.

This is the last paragraph of a gentle history of a gentle man. You can hear his gentleness and contentment in his voice. Mississippi John Hurt. Check out the short, excellent bio: www.allmusic.com/artist/mississippi-john-hurt-p379/biography

Lyrics thanks to http://www.songlyrics.com/mississippi-john-hurt/pay-day-lyrics/

Please note this version does not have all the verses written here:

Pay Day as sung by Mississippi John Hurt

Yeah, I did all I can do and I can't get along with you

I'm gonna take you to your mama

Pay day, pay day, pay day

Well, the rabbit in a log, I ain't got no rabbit dog

And I hate to see that rabbit get away

Get away

Baby, did all I can do and I can't get along with you

I'm gonna take you to your mama

Pay day

Just about a week ago

I'm gonna keep my skillet1 greasy if I can

If I can, if I can

(You know what happened to me)

Well, the hounds is on my track and the knapsack on my back

I'm gonna make it to my shanty

'Fore day, 'fore day, 'fore day

Baby, I did all I could do, an' I

I'm gonna take you to your mama

Pay day

Well, and I ain't got no rabbit dog

Lord, I hate to see that rabbit get away

Get away

Baby, did all I can do and I can't get along with you

I'm gon'