The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #32508   Message #3873366
Posted By: Jim Dixon
23-Aug-17 - 06:29 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Richland Woman Blues (John Hurt)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Richland Woman Blues (John Hurt)
Marcia Palmater: "Isn't it Richland WOMAN?"

I wish it were easy to give a definitive answer. It seems record publishers have not been consistent in how they report the title of this song.

This very long and detailed discography (including complation albums) has "Richland Woman Blues" 10 times and "Richland Women Blues" 10 times.

Among the recordings available at Spotify, all 8 of those by MJH are consistently called "Richland Woman Blues," while on MJH tribute albums, 2 out of 3 instances have "Richland Women Blues." Among recordings done by others but not on tribute albums, 21 out of 26 are called "Richland Woman Blues."

I have heard one live recording in which MJH introduces the song himself, saying: "This is the Richland Women Blues." Within the song itself, he sings: "The Richland women says....".