Love in Vain

1937

Love in Vain is a blues song written and sung by Robert Johnson. The song was as a 78rpm single on Vocalion released ( Vocalion 04630 ). The song was recorded on 20 June 1937 in four versions in Dallas, Texas, Take 4 was released as a single. Take 2 and 3 have not been found.

The song falls through his melancholy lyrics and sad mood on: "When the train rolled up to the station and I Looked her in the eye - Well, I was lonesome, I felt so lonesome - and i could not help but cry - All my love 's in vain "

The musical structure, Johnson Leroy Carr recording "In the Evenin 'When the Sun Goes Down." Johnson was a great admirer of Carr's music .. It is believed that the song for his then girlfriend Willie Mae Powell was written, whose name is mentioned in the last verse of the song. In the documentary The Search for Robert Johnson ( 1991) plays John Hammond Jr. before the song Willie Mae Powell.

Cover version of the Rolling Stones

The version of the Rolling Stones was released on the album Let It Bleed, a second version was released on the live album Get Yer Ya -Ya 's Out. You got to know the song, as in 1968 a bootleg collection of Johnson's songs appeared, which included Love in Vain. Since the Stones did not want to try to copy the song, they tried new ways towards more country to go, the text was not taken literally.

Cover versions (selection)

Walter Trout band, Terry Garland, Peter Green Splinter Group ( The Robert Johnson Songbook ), Keb Mo ( Slow Down ), Rocky Lawrence, Pyeng Threadgill, Eric Clapton ( Me and Mr. Johnson, already in the text of Layla Clapton referred to Johnson song: "Please do not say we'll never find a way And tell me all my love 's in vain" ), The Faces, Jubilant Sykes, Jutta Weinhold band feat. Klaus Henatsch, New Barbarians, Sammy Vomáčka, Santiago Campillo & Miguel Bañon