Mika Wathén - Slide Guitar

Ladies and Gentlemen! May I present: Musician Mika Wathén from Hämeenlinna Finland playing the slide guitar.

This blues was originally an old religious hymn from Finland. This blues version is instrumental, but the original lyrics told more about loneliness and suffering than something religion oriented.

E. A. Hagfors (1827-1913) is told to be the original composer, his song was originally named "Minne käy tuulen ilmassa tie" (could be translated something like "Where does the wind blow?")

1903 Wilhelmi Malmivaara turned that song to religious hymn named "Oi Herra, jos mä matkamies maan". 1920 Mikael Nyberg recomposed the hymn.

First known blues version of this hymn was performed by Tuomari Nurmio ja Köyhien Ystävät 1979. He made also new blues lyrics and gave a new name: "Kurja matkamies maan". Famous Finnish guitarist Esa Pulliainen played the slide guitar that time.

Was this piece of music a hymn or a blues it anyway tells how lonely humans life can be.