Death Letter Blues

from Church of the Fallen Reverend by VAN TASTIK

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about

People don't realize it but this is an old standard.

No one knows who actually wrote it.

The most famous version was done by Son House, of course, but there have been so many other earlier versions I've found from before his time and that was just at a glance.

The oldest recorded version I could find dates back to 1924 believe or not.
Check it out at the US Library of Congress here: www.loc.gov/item/jukebox-674733/

This song carries weight for me on many levels, perhaps most because I recently lost my father and the words "didn't know I love [him] til they laid [him] in the ground" have never rang more true.

lyrics

Got a letter this morning how d’ya reckon it read
It said hurry hurry the girl you love is dead x2

Packed up my suitcase and went on down the road x2
When I got there she was laying on the cooling board

Thought I only loved three women in my life
Oh my mother, my kid sister and my wife
But when I saw her on the cooling board I got on my knees and cried

Oh look like 10,000 people standing around that burying ground x2
When I got there I didn’t know I love her x2

And I didn’t know I loved her until they laid her in the ground yeah!

(Guitar outro)

credits

from Church of the Fallen Reverend, released October 27, 2023
Vocals, Resonator slide guitar, Kick Drum & Foot Tambouring played by VAN TASTIK

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about

Van Tastik

Descending from noblemen, paupers, tradesmen & sailors shrouded in mystery - The Reverend VAN finds solace in music through many personal trials and using every muscle in his body shares that with his audiences. A suitcase and a resonator in hand, VT hit the road in 2017, winning over fans all across the globe. VAN’s debut album “The Church Of VAN TASTIK” will be out this quarantine. ... more

vantastik.com

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