This is the song that Mark Lanegan and Nirvana covered. It is not a Nirvana song, or a Mark Lanegan song. It is a traditional song that Leadbelly was the first to record it. Lanegan and Cobain heard it and loved it.
Back in 2003, I went to visit my grandma in her rest home. She didn’t remember me, my brother, or even my father (her son). She was confused why we were there. She taught me many old blues and folk songs as a child, including this one. I started singing “My girl, my girl...” she immediately joined in, “don’t you lie to me/tell me where did you sleep last night..” We sang a couple of more bars before she asked “Young man, where did you learn that song?” I said, “You, grandma. You taught me that song.” She looked over to the caretaker and said “This kid is trying to trick me!” It was the last time I ever saw Grandma Rose. I miss her so much. ❤️
Isn't it crazy to think we can listen to someone sing a song who died before a lot of us were even alive. We had no chance of ever meeting this person but we can hear how the words roll of their tounge
crazy how Kurt knew about and was into such good music. he didn’t have internet and etc. crazy to think how he would even discover a lot of folks he admired.
Kurt Cobain first performed the song with Mark Lanegan on Lanegan’s solo album a few years before “Unplugged”. Cobain wanted Mark to perform when they did “Unplugged” but he declined. That would have been a pretty cool thing to hear.
When I was growing up, I was so in love with Nirvana's cover, I remember listening to it over and over again. It's nice to discover where it originally came from so many years later!
[Verse 1] My girl, my girl, don't lie to me Tell me, where did you sleep last night? (Come on and tell me baby) In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through [Verse 2] My girl, my girl, where will you go? I'm going where the cold wind blows (Where’s that, baby?) In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through [Verse 3] My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me Tell me, where did you sleep last night? (Come on and tell me something about it) In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through (Shiver for me now) [Verse 4] Her husband, was a hard working man Killed a mile and half from here (what happened to him?) His head was found in a driving wheel And his body has never been found [Verse 5] My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me Tell me where did you sleep last night In the pines, in the pines where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through
The Rock and Roll hall of fame is a joke! It's a popularity contest with a bunch of hacks voting on who gets to get in. Hell, loser Howard Stern gets to vote on who gets in. Totally worthless organization!
Actually, vinyl and shellac records are way better than digital. Try to record something on iPhone recorder and some old tape recorder. You will see the diffrenece.
@@nurkenrustem6044 Not going to lie, I'd choose the tape recorder. Maybe the iphone for convenience of sending the track to people, but definitely the tape recorder if I wanted a better sound
My great grandmother used to sing this or a version or this except she used to say "in the pines in the pines where the sun never shines and the cold wind shiver and shook" not exactly sure where she got the different words from and that was the only part she ever did sing. She died a couple years ago at 100 years old. She was my whole heart ❤ and I loved that woman more than anything. Oh how I miss her. She was so genuine and put everyone else a priority her whole life. I wish I could go back and have one last day with her and hear all her old songs and sayings and play cards with. This one she would sing quite often so that's what made me search for it. She was born in 1919 so I guess this was from her time. I love you grandma t miss you so much but happy you are at peice now. Watch over me until I get there. Much love ❤ from your great grand daughter ❤
This is an old traditional Appalachian song and has many variations. Leadbelly learned it listening to someone else's recording of it. It became one of the top Bluegrass standards years ago ung by Bill Monroe.
Those little melodic runs, and throughout the chord progressions, and that rich, compelling voice with that hint of gentle menace. Traditional yet timeless. It's gorgeous.
@@Corsa15DT that's exactly why I mentioned. Kurt said along the lines of "I wish I could just sit on a porch and play acoustic guitar and be taken seriously like Johnny Cash was."
I genuinely slept in the pines last night, and shivered the whole night through, I kept singin this song and it made me feel slightly better about being homeless ya know?
I got a place in March, after 6 years & 4 months of being on the streets. My roommate's boyfriend stole my wallet 2 weeks ago, leaving me penniless for the entire month. Yesterday she had a new bedroom suite delivered, mattress, box springs, the works, while I was in the yard smashing cans to recycle so I could go buy something to drink, & I realized there's worse ways to live than homeless. I'll be back on the streets at the end of the month.
When I was homeless, it was cold, but finally I was free. You should see my new home now. It was totally worth the struggle. I hope you will find your new place soon.
I have to admit... this guy did a pretty smart move by time travelling back in time and covering a Nirvana song. I bet everyone back then thought that shit was pretty hype.
It is officially listed as a traditional song so Leadbelly played this classic version of his interpretation of a traditional song. It reminds me of Whiskey In the Jar which we all probably know as a Thin Lizzy song & later a Metallica song, which was essentially a cover of the Thin Lizzy version. So Kurt Cobain shouldn’t have smoke blown up his ass for doing a worse cover of Leadbelly’s interpretation of a traditional song as Leadbelly’s version was superior musically (on one guitar) and his singing was more evocative. If Kurt didn’t go balls out on the last chorus of their unplugged rendition of this track it (and die shortly after) it would be forgotten.
This was the only song that I was like head over heels in love with on Nirvanas Unplugged and I always knew it was a cover, but I’d like to think Kurt did this man proud with his gut wrenching, soulful rendition of the song. And It’s great to know the source finally. I’ve heard so many artists play this song. Not sure if this man wrote it or if it was just a popular folk song, but this is amazing. Simply timeless. The emotion of the song in the right artists hands doesn’t fail to connect even over a century apart.
My all-Time Favorite Teacher, Miss Hodge in 5th grade played (endlessly) her collection of Leadbelly 45s. We imagined them to be fabulously Ancient; after all it was 1963 and We were in the Space Age !! Our Rocket Cars were almost certain to be here Soon !! 😊🚀
I am listening to this in 2018. With my blue tooth headphones, connected to my iPhone, connected by WiFi to the internet. Listening to a genius who died 30 years before I was born. We are living in the future. Imagine trying to explain that to him as he records this.
Near the end of leadbellys life the beatles were born. Near the end of the beatles, the nirvana guys were born. By the time kurt had passed you were all born and now youre listening to this. Full circle.
Leadbelly was not the first to record this song. His recording is from 44. Bill Monroe recorded the song under the title "In the Pines" in 1941. The song is a traditional song from the 1870s. Neither of them wrote it. Dock Walsh has the earliest known commercial recording of the song from April of 1926.
@@raptor0040 "Where Did you Sleep Last Night" was not a slave song. The Carter Family adaptation that Leadbelly sang is a combination of two separate early American folk songs "In the Pines" and "The Longest Train I Ever Saw" and is even recorded as "In the Pines (The Longest Train I Ever Saw)" Black Betty was not a slave song either. "Black Betty" was an early 20th century work song.
@@raptor0040 Not a problem at all. Just thought it was something worth clearing up. I like Leadbelly's version of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" the best of all of the renditions. When Bill Monroe or Dock Walsh sang them, it sounded like they were recording a song. When Leadbelly sang it, he sounded like he was lamenting something that actually happened.
Wow. My mom and dad had a country band growing up...got dragged gig to gig every weekend; they did a version of this song...was always one of my favorites, so haunting to my young mind.
I first heard this song in the movie "Coal Miners Daughter." Loretta Lynn was singing it to her little brother as she rocked him to sleep. In true Ledbelly fashion, it was interrupted by gunfire as a moonshiner was killed and carried off the mountain on the back of a mule.
133 years ago...but still lives! In the hearts of all who know where the roots of rock & roll first sprouted. You can hear the early Stones, Van Morrison, & Neil Young. Pure Gold
Janis Joplin said in a interview that his album was the first she ever bought, and that he greatly influenced her. You can almost hear the resemblance when you play her blues music. Glad I listened to this. I really like it.
@@bassreeves2410 Ouch that's ridiculous. Ever listened to her cover of Ball and Chain or Little Girl Blue? No? Thought not. Probably not for you anyway.
Lyrics : My girl, my girl, don't lie to me Tell me where did you sleep last night In the pines, in the pines Where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through My girl, my girl, where will you go I'm going where the cold wind blows In the pines, in the pines Where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me Tell me where did you sleep last night In the pines, in the pines Where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through My husband, was a hard working man Killed a mile and a half from here His head was found in a driving wheel And his body hasn't ever been found My girl, my girl, don't you lie to me Tell me where did you sleep last night In the pines, in the pines Where the sun don't ever shine I would shiver the whole night through
It must be a freaking irony that a guy with the confederate flag, comes in here to praise southern culture on a black man's song. If it were for your ancestor's will, you'd still be whipping these men's back. Stop being such a fool and change this ridiculous flag template
Kaynã Arruda Castor LMAO are talking about my avatar? Well it says "Don't tread on me." In other words it means don't harm me or anyone else. Racism is ignorance and your ignorant. Get the fuck out of here with your racism.
Ashamedly I've heard Nirvana do this song for 20 years and this is the first time my brain thought "Hey, you should go look up this "Lead Belly" version that Kurt keeps talking about". Beautiful! Had no idea this song dated back to the 1800s!
Really gives you some insight into Kurt's mind when you realize he picked this old blues song. Remember Kurt was into this before the internet. He must have had tapes of all different music. You're the man now, dog.
he played this song in 1990 in mark lanegan 1st lp solo,with chris novaselic and it´s not a forgotten song everyone who enjoys music buys ledbelly recordings, at least the ones with good taste
I knew about Leadbelly when I was 10. I was always looking for all types of music as a child. I played, Rock- a -Billy, Blue grass, Blues, Swing, Rock and Roll, Pyschedlic Rock, Heavy Metal, R&B, Rap...… I just liked music as an escape.
Kurt found about Leadbelly because of William S. Burroughs, an author he admirred a lot and inspired him. He was not a fun of rock n roll and Kurt not only respected that he also searched more about his music taste. Kurt Cobain: I remember him saying in an interview, “These new rock’n’roll kids should just throw away their guitars and listen to something with real soul, like Leadbelly.” I’d never heard about Leadbelly before so I bought a couple of records, and now he turns out to be my absolute favorite of all time in music. I absolutely love it more than any rock’n’roll I ever heard. R.I.P. Kurt. I wish you were here to see the amount of inspiration you gave us.. You inspired generations of people and you still do. You will never be forgotten.
Song is great. What Kurt did with it was absolutely amazing. I would think Lead Belly would be happy with what he inspired in one of the greatest musicians to ever live.
The song dates back to the 1800s but was first recorded in 1926 by a banjo player named Dock Walsh. Bill Monroe recorded it in 1941, and Lead Belly in 1944. Nirvana covered this on their 1993 Unplugged In New York album.
I play and sing this song as the last song, in my set every night, at the bar I co own here in Mexico. It is a real crowd pleaser because they love Nirvana unplugged album, here. But, I am extremely happy that I found this older version. I think that I’ll start singing it like Leadbelly, from now on, and find more of his songs. New Leadbelly fan here!
Soooo many amazing songs written and composed by black Americans that basically became popular by the 70’s 80’s etc. it is crazy!! I don’t what’s going on these days with music
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana introduced me to this song. Needless to say, I immediately loved it! But, I'm real happy to have found Ledbelly's version, the original!
Not the original tho, song is over 140 years old. Crazy there was jealousy and untrustworthy women even back then? Who knew, and what have we learned??
Damn, this man is responsible for sooo much music that people don't even know he is. I'm lucky, my mother gave me the love of the blues, and I took it and listened to a lot. But this is new to me, Kurt Cobain made me look up this one. Thanks Kurt, from the grave you still inspired me.
The song dates back to the 1800s but was first recorded in 1926 by a banjo player named Dock Walsh. Bill Monroe recorded it in 1941, and Lead Belly in 1944.
@@PeterNgola you're right, saying someone inspired you is giving them way too much credit. He should have just said "Kurt existed, and I acknowledge his existence" and left it at that. Moron.
The minor notes of his guitar and the way he says Shiver for me one time feels like a cold wind in my heart. and it draws me. Feels like a woman is about to get her ass beat down. ...like he already knows and he is just playing with her to see if she will lie to him. scary
I think its pretty damned excellent that Cobain turned me on to this fantastic musical talent. No matter who wrote what - these are just great songs sung from their hearts.
Leadbelly has been such a large inspiration to me not only musically, but in my photography. You can tell the man lived a difficult, sorrow-filled life.
@@jinfin221 ye galat baat hai na dost...bina baat ke tu faltu me bakwas kar raha hai...why unnecessary talk shit? why to be disrespectful towards another person for no flippin reason?
I have heard this song a dozen times but I just realized this is a duet. Each alternating verse is part of a conversation. "My girl, my girl, where did you sleep last night?" "In the pines, in the pines, I shivered the whole night through"
@@leemurray9330 The song is so old we don't know who wrote it, and many performers change some of the lyrics to mean different things.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Pines
@@brandondavidson4085 Right on. I am quite fond of old English folk music, which tends to be the same way with lyric changes and even different meanings or outcomes to the tales they tell. I just mean to say that I'd never considered that version to have been a dialog, and that it came as a surprise when I read your comment and realized it for the first time. Very cool.
When you can’t come up with a great song, cover the Masters. So many “new” and “classic” rock songs are covers of blues masterpieces recorded decades earlier by greats like Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, etc. Rock as we know it would not exist without them.
Leadbelly covered those songs, just like the artists that followed him. Not saying he wasn't influential to those artists... But he didn't write/create any of the songs you mentioned.
Ole Leadbelly… my dad played your music, and I’m still listening. He would have been 102 this year. May he rest in peace.💕 and may you have peace in rest.
It makes your soul quiver,that's what it does. My God. I haven't heard the original in a long while now, and I know how to shiver. It's bad you know. Kurt's rendition was moving too, especially considering what was going on in his life right about then. Thanks.
I’m glad this made it here, I searched for this song years before when one had to go to record stores, the library, or sharing the cover and hoping someone had the tune.
