The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7232   Message #43407
Posted By: David Francis Martin
27-Oct-98 - 02:36 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Hesitation Blues / Hesitating Blues
Subject: Hesitation/Hesitating Blues lyrics discussion
Working on this song, and would appreciate any info/opinions on sources, and all versions of lyrics anyone might have. Many of us know Hot Tuna's Hesitation Blues, which I guess is more or less similar to Van Ronk's version and based on Gary Davis's, though I haven't heard the last two for years and don't have the records now. W.C. Handy wrote another version (as heard on a great cd, "Louis Armstrong sings W.C. Handy") supposedly based on the same source, which I think may have been called Hesitating Blues. I'd like to find out whether anyone recorded this earlier version, and have a look at the lyrics. Also, would like to know if Hot Tuna's lyrics differ from the Van Ronk or Davis versions. It's a beautiful melody, too good not to be heard more often.