Statesboro Blues

(Statesboro, GA)

I woke up this morning, I had them Statesboro blues.
I woke up this morning, had them Statesboro blues.
Well, I looked over in the corner, and grandpa seemed to have them too.

The most familiar and most popular rendition of this song was performed and recorded by the Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East in 1971.

The song was actually written and first performed by Blind Willie McTell who was born in 1901 in Thomson, GA.

For those of you familiar with the words of that song, it was written about Statesboro, GA. The song put Statesboro on the map. I tell you this bit of history because I am in Statesboro this morning.

And I think I woke up with the Statesboro blues.


Blind Willie was born blind in one eye and was completely blind by late childhood. His blues music influenced many famous blues singers including legend Bob Dylan. Dylan wrote a song about Blind Willie and performed and recorded several of his songs.

Blind Willie obviously was very proficient when it came to musical talent and was a twelve-string finger picking guitarist. He began his recording career in 1927 and traveled throughout the United States recording for a number of record labels under a variety of names singing a form of country blues.

He obviously traveled through Statesboro GA at some point and he must have caught a case of the blues when he got here.

His career was cut short due to his battle with diabetes and he died in Milledgeville Georgia in 1959.

A blues festival is held every year in his honor in his birthplace, Thomson, GA.

For you strange people who do not remember this song, you should download and listen. It’s a good one.

Statesboro Blues is a real song. Statesboro GA a real town. And Statesboro Blues is a real disease.

It’s amazing how someone from the small town of Thomson GA can have such influence.

So now you have your music trivia for the day.

Have a great Friday.