History times, when i is driving along the Mississippi Lake on a paper project, I experienced a curious experience with Rosedale, Mississippi. Whenever i is actually eating lunch into the a place entitled Leo’s Field, a waiter asserted that Rosedale is the place where in fact the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson ended up selling their spirit into demon inturn to possess songs genius (an event alluded to help you during the – certainly other places – brand new Cohen brothers’ film Oh Sibling, In which Ways Thou).

As if to prove they, the newest waitress handed me personally a wrinkled, keyed in transcription regarding a great “vision” from the Johnson’s fateful time that had appeared to bluesman Henry Goodman when he is travel the trail of Rosedale to help you Anguila. In the interest of posterity (and since I’ve never seen they elsewhere), I am publishing Goodman’s “vision” completely lower than, and a beneficial postscript from the Rosedale’s Crossroads Blues Society.

Surprisingly, there are many more contenders on misconception regarding Robert Johnson’s demon-purchased heart – together with crossroads folks 61 and Us 49 in Clarksdale is the perfect place really organization travelers pay the areas (the fresh new Romantics album is known as “” ergo). Obviously – like with ancient Roman tourists lighting discover “sites” from Greek myths – the spot of Johnson’s crossroads is not precisely something that can be proven. He had been created within the Hazelhurst, along with his going grave is during Quito (near Itta Bena) – but Rosedale performed profile throughout the lyrics for starters out-of Johnson’s most well-known tunes, “Travel Riverside Organization”.

Robert Johnson offered his heart towards the devil for the Rosedale, Mississippi

“Take a trip Riverside Blues” got a large effect on material-n-move, and you will is remade just like the “Crossroads” by the Eric Clapton – hence states Rosedale with similar terminology Johnson uses. It absolutely was in addition to included in Added Zeppelin (whoever alot more better-understood “Orange Song” famously steals a lyric out-of one exact same Johnson track: “You could potentially squeeze my personal orange ’til the fresh new fruit juice works down my leg”).

Nothing regarding the shows much regarding the Robert Johnson’s crossroads, however, but I for starters for instance the belief that it taken place from inside the Rosedale. The text of “vision” pursue…

Meeting with the Demon on Crossroads

Robert Johnson been to play off in the Yazoo Town as well as in the Beulah applying for support so you can Helena, trip kept him on a course beside the levee, walking within the street, keyboards in his hands propped through to his neck. Oct chill nights, full moon filling the brand new black heavens, Robert Johnson thinking about Young man Home preaching to your, “Set you to keyboards off, boy, you drivin’ some body insane.” Robert Johnson looking for bear in mind a female and several whiskey. Larger trees all over, black and you may lonesome highway, an excellent crazed, poisoned dog howling and you will moaning in the a forget together with the roadway delivering electrified chills down and up Robert Johnson’s spine, coming up to your an effective crossroads merely southern area away from Rosedale. Robert Johnson, perception bad and you can lonesome, understands anyone within the road for the Gunnison. Will get a glass or two of whiskey and right up here. Guy sitting out to the side of your road for the an excellent record at the crossroads says, “You are later, Robert Johnson.” Robert Johnson drops so you’re able to their knee joints and you may claims, “Maybe not.”

The man compares, tall, barrel-chested, and you will black just like the permanently-signed vision off Robert Johnson’s stillborn little one, and strolls out over the center of the brand new crossroads in which Robert Johnson kneels. He says, “Remain true, Robert Johnson. You want to toss one to electric guitar more truth be told there for white man and peruvian women the reason that abandon with this hairless dog and you may embark on back-up so you can Robinsonville and you will play the harp with Willie Brown and you can Young man, because you just another guitarist like all others, or if you must play one to keyboards for example no body ever starred it ahead of? Create an audio not one person have you ever heard just before? We want to function as the Queen of Delta Organization and you can have all the brand new whiskey and you may feminine you want?”