History day, whenever i was driving along the Mississippi Lake with the a newspaper project, I experienced a curious experience in Rosedale, Mississippi. Once i is dinner lunch from inside the an area named Leo’s Field, a waitress mentioned that Rosedale is the perfect place the spot where the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson marketed their soul toward devil reciprocally to own songs genius (a conference alluded in order to from inside the – one of other places – the Cohen brothers’ movie Oh Sis, Where Art Thou).

As if to prove they, new waitress passed myself a great wrinkled, entered transcription out-of good “vision” Svit women for marriage on the Johnson’s fateful second that had appeared to bluesman Henry Goodman as he is traveling the street regarding Rosedale to Anguila. With regard to posterity (and because We have never seen they someplace else), I am posting Goodman’s “vision” completely less than, as well as an excellent postscript by Rosedale’s Crossroads Blues Neighborhood.

Interestingly, there are other contenders on myth away from Robert Johnson’s demon-bought heart – therefore the crossroads folks 61 and you can United states 44 for the Clarksdale is the perfect place most organization tourists pay the respects (the new Romantics record album is named “” therefore). Without a doubt – as with old Roman tourists burning to acquire “sites” out-of Greek mythology – the spot out of Johnson’s crossroads isn’t precisely something can be be demonstrated. He was born for the Hazelhurst, along with his heading grave is in Quito (close Itta Bena) – however, Rosedale performed shape throughout the words for just one from Johnson’s most well-known tunes, “Travel Riverside Blues”.

Robert Johnson offered their soul on demon in the Rosedale, Mississippi

“Travel Riverside Blues” got a big influence on stone-n-move, and you can was remade while the “Crossroads” by the Eric Clapton – and that mentions Rosedale with the exact same keywords Johnson uses. It was together with protected by Led Zeppelin (whoever a lot more really-identified “Lemon Track” notoriously takes a great lyric of one to same Johnson track: “You can fit my lemon ’til new liquid operates off my personal leg”).

Not one for the proves much regarding the Robert Johnson’s crossroads, naturally, however, I for starters including the perception this happened into the Rosedale. What of “vision” observe…

Interviewing the latest Devil within Crossroads

Robert Johnson become to tackle down within the Yazoo Area and over at Beulah trying to get backup so you’re able to Helena, drive kept him on a road next to the levee, strolling in the path, keyboards inside the hand propped through to his shoulder. October cool nights, full moon completing new ebony heavens, Robert Johnson contemplating Young buck Family preaching to help you your, “Set you to keyboards down, boy, your drivin’ some one insane.” Robert Johnson searching for as always a woman and lots of whiskey. Large woods all over, black and you can flying solo street, a good crazed, poisoned dog howling and you can worrying within the an effective ditch alongside the road delivering electrified chills down and up Robert Johnson’s lower back, approaching into the a great crossroads only southern from Rosedale. Robert Johnson, impression bad and you can lonesome, understands somebody up the highway in the Gunnison. Will get a glass or two from whiskey and upwards around. People sitting over to along side it of the roadway on a beneficial record at crossroads states, “You happen to be later, Robert Johnson.” Robert Johnson falls to his hips and you can claims, “Not.”

The man stacks up, high, barrel-chested, and you will black colored because the forever-finalized sight out of Robert Johnson’s stillborn child, and you may treks out to the middle of the newest crossroads in which Robert Johnson kneels. He states, “Stand-up, Robert Johnson. You want to throw that guitar over indeed there because ditch with this bare dog and you can go on back-up to Robinsonville and you may have fun with the harp having Willie Brown and you may Young buck, as you just another guitar player as with any the others, or you must enjoy one drums such nobody ever starred they before? Create a sound no body heard in advance of? We would like to become King of Delta Organization and have got all the latest whiskey and you may feminine you want?”