"Five Long Years" is a song written and recorded by blues vocalist/pianist Eddie Boyd

Eddie Boyd

Edward Riley Boyd known as Eddie Boyd was an American blues piano player, born on Stovall's Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States.-Life and career:...

 in 1952. Called one of the "few postwar blues standards [that has] retained universal appeal", Boyd's "Five Long Years" reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart. Numerous blues and other artists have recorded interpretations of the song.

Original song

"Five Long Years" is a moderate-tempo twelve-bar blues notated in 12/8 time in the key of C. It tells of "the history of the metal worker who, for five years, worked hard in a factory and who gave his check every Friday night to his girlfriend, who nevertheless dumped him". Backing Boyd (vocal and piano) are Ernest Cotton (tenor sax), L. C. McKinley (guitar), Alfred Elkins (bass), and Percy Walker (drums). "Five Long Years" was revisited by Boyd several times during his career, with additional studio and live recordings.

Other versions

A variety of artists have recorded "Five Long Years", including Junior Parker

Junior Parker

Junior Parker was an American Memphis blues singer and musician. He is best remembered for his unique voice which has been described as "honeyed," and "velvet-smooth"...

, whose version reached number thirteen in the R&B chart (1959 Duke 306); The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds

- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...

 from their album Five Live Yardbirds

Five Live Yardbirds

Five Live Yardbirds is the live debut album by English blues rock band The Yardbirds, released in the United Kingdom in December 1964 by Columbia Records...

(1963); Long John Baldry

Long John Baldry

John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...

 from Long John's Blues

Long John's Blues

Long John's Blues was the début album by British blues singer Long John Baldry, the album featured a track list that he would continue to play at live shows throughout his career....

(1964); B.B. King from Guess Who

Guess Who (album)

- Track listing :# "Summer in the City"# "Just Can't Please You"# "Any Other Way"# "You Don't Know Nothin' About Love"# "Found What I Need"# "Neighbourhood Affair"# "It Takes a Young Girl"# "Better Lovin' Man"# "Guess Who"# "Shouldn't Have Left Me"...

; Colin James

Colin James

Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...

 from Colin James

Colin James (album)

Colin James is the debut album from Canadian rock/blues musician Colin James, released in 1988 . The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida.The album earned James a Juno Award for "Most Promising Artist"....

(1988); Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy

George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...

 from Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

Damn Right, I've Got the Blues is a studio album by Blues guitarist Buddy Guy. The album has been described as Guy's commercial comeback album after limited recording for 10 years.- Track listing :# "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" 4:29...

(1991); and Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...

 from From the Cradle

From the Cradle

From the Cradle is a blues cover album by Eric Clapton. Released on 13 September 1994 by Reprise Records, the album was Eric Clapton's long awaited follow-up to his massively-successful live album, Unplugged...

(1994).

Accolades

In 2011, Eddie Boyd's original "Five Long Years" was inducted into the Blues Foundation

Blues Foundation

The Blues Foundation is an American nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, that is affiliated with more than 175 Blues organizations from various parts of the world....

 Hall of Fame

Blues Hall of Fame

The Blues Hall of Fame is a listing of people who have significantly contributed to blues music. Started in 1980 by the Blues Foundation, it honors those who have performed, recorded, or documented blues.-1980:*Big Bill Broonzy*Willie Dixon*John Lee Hooker...

, who called it "a true-to-life blues in 1952 that hit home with many a working man".