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Dead Blues Volume I

by Luther Dickinson ft. Datrian Johnson

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1.
Well, there is one kind favor I ask of you One kind favor I ask of you One kind favor I ask of you See that my grave is kept clean Well there is two white horses in a line There's two white horses in a line two white horses in a line Gonna take me to my burying ground Well my heart stopped beating and my hands cold Well my heart stopped beating and my hands cold my heart stopped beating and my hands cold Wont be long till I’m in the shady grove Did you ever heard the coffin sound Did you ever heard the coffin sound Did you ever heard the coffin sound Then you know by that the poor boy is in the ground dig my grave with a silver spade dig my grave with a silver spade Dig my grave with a silver spade lay me down with this golden chain I feel so good. one kind favor I ask of you One kind favor I ask of you One kind favor One kind favor see that my grave is kept clean
2.
I walk 47 miles of barbed wire, I use a cobra-snake for a necktie, I got a brand new house on the roadside, Made from rattlesnake hide, I got a brand new chimney up on top, Made out of human skull, Now come on, take a lil walk with me, honey , And tell me, who do you love? Who do you love? Who do, Who do you love? Mojo come to my house, a black cat bone Take my baby away from home Mojo, mojo, where you been Up your house and gone again Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind, Just 22 and I don't mind dying. I ride around town, use a rattlesnake whip, Take it easy arlene, don't give me no lip, Who do you love? Who do, Who do you love? Who do you love? Who do you love? Who do you love? Who do you love? The night was dark, but the sky was blue, Down the alley, ah ice-wagon flew, Hit a bump, and somebody screamed, You should have heard just what I seen. Who do you love? Who do, Who do you love?
3.
Mississippi River, so big and wide My Brown haired woman on the other side Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world You don’t like my peaches don’t shake my tree Get outta my orchard, let my peaches be Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world Don't come here running, holding out your hand Got me another woman, like you got your man Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world It was in the spring, one sunny day My baby left me, she went away Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world There have been days, I didn’t know my name Why should I worry, ‘cause it's all in vain Mississippi River, so big and wide My Brown haired woman on the other side Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world Don't come here running, holding out your hand Got me another woman, and you got your man Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world You don’t like my peaches don’t shake my tree Get outta my orchard, let my peaches be Now she's gone and I don't worry 'Cause I'm sitting on top of the world
4.
King Bee 04:57
Well, I'm a king bee, baby, buzzin' around your hive Well, I'm a king bee, baby, buzzin' around your hive Well, I can make honey, baby, come inside, come inside I'm young and able to buzz all night long Said I'm young and able to buzz all night long Well, when you hear me buzzin', baby You know some stingin' is going on Well I’m a king Well I’m a king, won’t you be my queen Well, I'm a king bee, won’t you be my queen Well, I'm a king, baby, won’t you be my queen? Together, we make honey better than anyone has ever seen Pull your car up in my driveway, cut your bright lights way down low Drive your car up in my driveway, cut your bright lights way down low I’m gonna wind up your transmission till your motor won't run no more Say, I’m wind up your transmission till your motor won’t go Well, I'm a king bee, baby I'm a king, I'm a king. Won't you be my queen?
5.
Train I ride, 16 coaches long Train I ride, 16 coaches long Well that long black train, carry my baby from home Well, train, train, coming round the bend Well, train, train, coming round the bend Took my baby, it’s gonna do it again Train, train, coming down the line Train, train, oh it’s coming down the line Well it's bringing my baby, ‘cause she’s all mine Well, train, train, coming round the bend train, train, coming round the bend Well it took my baby, but it never will again Train I ride, 16 coaches long Train I ride, 16 coaches long Well it took my baby, Well it took my baby, never will again Well, train, train, train, train
6.
I was born in the desert Raised in the lion's den I was born in the desert Raised in the lion's den my number one occupation stealing women from their men When you come to Memphis Please stop by Minglewood When you come to Memphis stop by Minglewood But those Memphis women Don’t mean no man no good I was born in the desert Raised in the lion's den If you can't believe in me make it hard to believe in you Cause we all need each other If you can't believe in me make it hard to believe in you it's true If you can’t believe in me make it hard to believe in you Cause we all need each other If you can’t believe in me make it hard to believe in you it’s true If you can’t believe in me make it hard to believe in you Cause we all need each other If you can’t believe in me make it hard to believe in you Yes it's true I was born in the desert Raised in the lion's den I was born in the desert Raised in the lion's den my number one occupation stealing women from their men
7.
I don't want you to be no slave I don't want you to work all day I don't want you to be true I just want to make love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you I don't want you to wash my clothes I don't want you to keep our home I don't want your money too I just want to make love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you Well I tell about the way you Switch and walk Now I can see by your Baby talk Now I can know by the way you Treat your man That I could love you baby until the Cryin' shame I don't want you to cook my bread I don't want you to make my bed I don't want you when I'm sad and blue I just want to make love to you I don't want you to be no slave I don't want you to work all day I don't want you to be true I just want to make love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you I just want to make love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you Love to you
8.
I have a little red rooster Too lazy to crow for the day I have a little red rooster Too lazy to crow for the day Keep everything in the barnyard Upset in every way The dogs begin to bark and the Hound begin to howl Oh, the dogs begin to bark and the Hound begin to howl And the hounds began to howl Oh, watch out, strange-kin people 'cause the Little red rooster is on the prowl Said theres been no peace in the barnyard Since that rooster been gone If you see my red rooster Won't you please drive him home If you see my red rooster Won't you please drive him home There's been no peace in the barnyard There's been no peace in the barnyard Come on home If you see my red rooster Won't you please drive him home If you see my little red rooster Won't you please drive him home
9.
Put on your red dress on baby 'cause we're going out tonight, Put on your red dress on baby 'cause we're going out tonight, And I’m gonna wear my boxing gloves in case some fool might want to fight. Put on your high-heel sneakers, wear your wig t high on your head, Well I'm pretty sure, pretty sure, pretty sure you're gonna knock 'em dead baby you're gon, you’re gon, you're gonna knock 'em dead. Put on your high-heel sneakers on we’re running out tonight. Well I'm pretty sure now baby, baby, baby, we gon get it right. Put your high-heel sneakers on, we’re runnin’ Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ Put on your high-heel sneakers on, and your wig on your head tight Put your high-heel sneakers on, and keep your wig on tight ‘Cause the way you jumping, jump, jump, Jumping round got me want to stay up all night. And what you doin’, do, do, do, making me feel right. Put on your high-heel Put your sneakers on Won't you put your Won't you keep yo Won't you just go yo Party all night, night long Won’t you keep yo Won’t you give yo Party all night long That's what we gonna do Put your, put your, …

about

While playing for Phil Lesh, I became friends with his son, Grahame, and we started booking shows called Dead Blues, a Phil and Friends offshoot that used the traditional blues and folk songs from the Grateful Dead catalog as a vehicle to bring new musicians from the blues and rock scene into Phil’s orbit like the Blind Boys of Alabama, Charlie Musselwhite, G. Love, JD Simo, and many others.

Dead Blues was a great concept for live shows but I never considered making an album until I met singer Datrian Johnson, one of the most moving vocalists I’ve ever worked with. John Medeski brought Datrian into the community, and we quickly became friends and collaborators, recording the songs on Dead Blues Volume I—reinterpreting the American classics.

The tracks feature North Mississippi Allstars alums Cody Dickinson and Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman, as well as old friends from Memphis: Paul Taylor (New Memphis Colorways) on drums, bass and guitars and Steve Selvidge on Space Funk guitar. I found that writing the music on bass (then adding keys and guitar) led the music down a funky, jazzy avenue, and Datrian worked his magic, reinterpreting the classic blues lyrics and melodies with his soulful vocals.

credits

released October 17, 2025

Produced by Luther Dickinson

Dedicated to Phil Lesh, the Lesh Family and the Terrapin Crossroads Crew.

Vocals recorded at Rhythm Shack Studio by Jake Eckert, New Orleans, LA + Primary Color Sound Studios by Ryan Saavedra, Nashville,TN.


New Memphis Colorways Recorded by Paul Taylor at Fantasy Landis, Door County, WI.

Cody Dickinson Drums recorded at Checkerboard Lounge, Southaven, MS.

Everything else recorded by any means necessary.

Mixed by Luther Dickinson

Mastered by Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering

Vinyl Mastered by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, Memphis, TN

Photography by Camilla Calnan

Layout + illustration by Josh Hunter

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