Love in Vain
Encyclopedia
"Love in Vain" is a 1937 blues
song written by Robert Johnson.
The song is noted for its sad lyrics, tone, and style. In the 1991 documentary film The Search for Robert Johnson
, John P. Hammond
plays Robert's recording of "Love in Vain" for the elderly Willie Mae Powell, the woman for whom it was supposedly written. Johnson moans "Oh, Willie Mae" in his last verse.
Johnson was an admirer of blues singer/pianist Leroy Carr
. "Love in Vain" takes its musical structure from Carr's classic "In the Evenin' When the Sun Goes Down". Both songs express a yearning and sorrow for the loss of a lover.
The Shreveport Home Wreckers (a duo of Oscar "Buddy" Woods
and Ed Schaffer), recorded their track "Flying Crow Blues" in 1932. Johnson used one set of its lyrics almost verbatim for the final verse of "Love in Vain."
In 2011 the song was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
of the Blues Foundation
.
by many musicians, most famously by The Rolling Stones
on their 1969 album, Let It Bleed
(although, in the album credits on the original vinyl LP label, the song is wrongly listed as written by a mysterious—and probably fictitious—"Woody Payne", not Robert Johnson.) The Stones also recorded a live version of the song that appeared on their 1970 album, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.
More recently it was covered by Johnson fan Eric Clapton
on his 2004 album, Me and Mr. Johnson
, along with several other Robert Johnson classics. Clapton paid homage to the song in his lyrics for the Derek and the Dominos
song "Layla
" ("...please don't say we'll never find a way, and tell me all my love's in vain").
Love in Vain is also the title of an acclaimed screenplay written by Alan Greenberg. It was the first unproduced screenplay ever published by a major house (Doubleday) as literature. According to Keith Richards, "Finally someone has captured the central feel of this master musician and his times, and that man is Alan Greenberg. Take my word for it." Bob Dylan's response to the screenplay was, "It's about time."
Walter Trout
covered the song on his Prisoner of a Dream album. Keb' Mo' covered the song on his Slow Down album.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
song written by Robert Johnson.
The song is noted for its sad lyrics, tone, and style. In the 1991 documentary film The Search for Robert Johnson
The Search for Robert Johnson
The Search for Robert Johnson is a 1991 UK television documentary film about the legendary Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, hosted by John Hammond, and produced and directed by Chris Hunt...
, John P. Hammond
John P. Hammond
John Paul Hammond is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as "John Hammond, Jr.".-Background:...
plays Robert's recording of "Love in Vain" for the elderly Willie Mae Powell, the woman for whom it was supposedly written. Johnson moans "Oh, Willie Mae" in his last verse.
Johnson was an admirer of blues singer/pianist Leroy Carr
Leroy Carr
Leroy Carr was an American blues singer, songwriter and pianist, who developed a laid-back, crooning technique and whose popularity and style influenced such artists as Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. He first became famous for "How Long, How Long Blues" on Vocalion Records in 1928.-Life and...
. "Love in Vain" takes its musical structure from Carr's classic "In the Evenin' When the Sun Goes Down". Both songs express a yearning and sorrow for the loss of a lover.
The Shreveport Home Wreckers (a duo of Oscar "Buddy" Woods
Oscar "Buddy" Woods
Oscar "Buddy" Woods was an American Texas blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.Woods, who was an early blues pioneer in lap steel, slide guitar playing, recorded thirty-five tracks between 1930 and 1940. He recorded solo and as part of the duo, the Shreveport Home Wreckers, and with a six/seven...
and Ed Schaffer), recorded their track "Flying Crow Blues" in 1932. Johnson used one set of its lyrics almost verbatim for the final verse of "Love in Vain."
In 2011 the song was inducted into the Blues 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...
of 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....
.
Cover versions
"Love in Vain" been coveredCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by many musicians, most famously by The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
on their 1969 album, Let It Bleed
Let It Bleed
Let It Bleed is the eighth British and tenth American album by English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in December 1969 by Decca Records in the United Kingdom and London Records in the United States...
(although, in the album credits on the original vinyl LP label, the song is wrongly listed as written by a mysterious—and probably fictitious—"Woody Payne", not Robert Johnson.) The Stones also recorded a live version of the song that appeared on their 1970 album, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.
- "For a time we thought the songs that were on that first album were the only recordings (Robert Johnson had) made, and then suddenly around '67 or '68 up comes this second (bootleg) collection that included Love in Vain. Love in Vain was such a beautiful song. Mick and I both loved it, and at the time I was working and playing around with Gram Parsons, and I started searching around for a different way to present it, because if we were going to record it there was no point in trying to copy the Robert Johnson style or ways and styles. We took it a little bit more country, a little bit more formalized, and Mick felt comfortable with that." - Keith Richards, 1990
- "We changed the arrangement quite a lot from Robert Johnson's. We put in extra chords that aren't there on the Robert Johnson version. Made it more country. And that's another strange song, because it's very poignant. Robert Johnson was a wonderful lyric writer, and his songs are quite often about love, but they're desolate." - Mick Jagger, 1995
- "Sometimes I wonder... myself (about how we developed that arrangement). I don't know! (laughs) We only knew the Robert Johnson version. At the time we were kicking it around, I was into country music - old white country music, '20s and '30s stuff, and white gospel. Somewhere I crossed over into this more classical mode. Sometimes things just happen. We were sitting in the studio, saying, Let's do "Love in Vain" by Robert Johnson. Then I'm trying to figure out some nuances and chords, and I start to play it in a totally different fashion. Everybody joins in and goes, Yeah, and suddenly you've got your own stamp on it. I certainly wasn't going to be able to top Robert Johnson's guitar playing." - Keith Richards, 1995
More recently it was covered by Johnson fan 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...
on his 2004 album, Me and Mr. Johnson
Me and Mr. Johnson
Me and Mr. Johnson is an album by Eric Clapton released in 2004. The album is a tribute to legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. According to Clapton's autobiography, the recordings weren't intended to become an album. The band had rented the studio, but Clapton didn't have any songs written, so he...
, along with several other Robert Johnson classics. Clapton paid homage to the song in his lyrics for the Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos were a blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, who had all played with Clapton in Delaney, Bonnie & Friends...
song "Layla
Layla
"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues-rock band, Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs...
" ("...please don't say we'll never find a way, and tell me all my love's in vain").
Love in Vain is also the title of an acclaimed screenplay written by Alan Greenberg. It was the first unproduced screenplay ever published by a major house (Doubleday) as literature. According to Keith Richards, "Finally someone has captured the central feel of this master musician and his times, and that man is Alan Greenberg. Take my word for it." Bob Dylan's response to the screenplay was, "It's about time."
Walter Trout
Walter Trout
Walter Trout is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Trout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He then decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones...
covered the song on his Prisoner of a Dream album. Keb' Mo' covered the song on his Slow Down album.