Lead Belly - 'They Hung Him on the Cross' (version 2)

[hotfroganimations]

Thanks Kurt for helping me discover this!

[burtbloom]

Absolutely terrific. See Koerner, Ray and Glover's homage to Leadbelly version on their 1963 album "Blues, Rags and Hollers". Track titled "Mumblin' Word"

[KrioK]

When I listen to this I feel closer to Jesus

[diseasedanddisfigured]

i'm glad leadbelly likes this song too. i like it a lot

[jakepersay]

i love this man.leadbelly is the best of the best

[kartaiglesias]

They hung him on a cross for me lovely music

[joshdiaz]

You got love that guitar playing. Go 12 strings!!

[baboulettebaboulette]

On trouve vraiment des pépites d'or sur youtube ; ) Un grand Merci au SmithsonianFolkwaysRecordings pour ce magnifique partage : )

[GTAVIGameguy]

Thank you Kurt Cobain for introducing me to this song!

[codyanderson]

Its funny bcuz their are no dislikes. If you've come this far you have no time that..

[johnbambrough]

Hell yeah! Only line Kurt didn't use was "He's coming back again for me."

[jordanduperon]

I love this song, I listen to it on Sunday before and after watching pastor John Hagee. And I can play it on the guitar and sing it. You're guitar has to be tuned to open g though, same as for gallows pole.

[robertcreighton]

I all thought his name was ledbelly not lead belly. I get so confused at times.
Love this track despite being an atheist

[dougsondrugz]

Is he saying “on a Easter Sunday he rouse”??

[demention]

He never said a mumbling word is reference to Mark 15 towards the end of the chapter where Jesus of Nazareth has been hung on the cross already and labeled with “King of Jews” (an insult) and while he’s hanging from the cross fighting for breath every second his own people insult and mock him deny him and call him a liar. And though they say and insult him and watch him hang up on the cross blood and bruise from being whipped not to mention how he other has nails through his hands pining him to the post or they are tied there loosing circulation in his arms
Through all this he is baring Jesus hangs to rescue the people who are having him killed from hell and even though he knows he’s doing it for them he’s listening to all these insults and yet never says a word back

“Not even a mumbling word”

“He never said a mumbling word”

[darlenekinninger]

Music is subjective in nature, so there is no right or wrong, better or worse, it's up to the individual ... But to me, to even hint that the Nirvana version of this song is better would be laughable if no so absurd. Anyone, with the ability and talent capable of playing three chords and carrying a tune, even myself, could belt out a version as good as Nirvana's demo. At 63 years of age having been a fan of everything from Jimmy Rogers and Mississippi John Hurt in the twenties to the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and even some of the Alternative Rock and new music, I find it interesting that people often elevate mediocrity like the Nirvana demo tape to the top of the mountain when refering to any so-so performer with a cult following where a popular individual like Cobain is involved. If Cobain were alive today, he would be the first to admit my comment is true as he often downplayed his skill level as a muscician and performer; he was even quoted as saying he could just not figure out why he was so popular. Lead Belly was way ahead of his time and much of today's music was built on the shoulders of these truly iconic musicians and performers like him from generations ago. If you like Nirvana's version better, hey that's ok, to each his own, but for crying out loud give Lead Belly his dues for helping to start it all back in the day.