Sweet Home Chicago

Covered by Eric Clapton

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moAR4Bb2QHI

 

Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Oh baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Two and two is four Baby
Six and two is eight
Come on don't ya, don't ya make me late
Hi-de-hey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

One and one is two
Two and two is four
I'm heavy loaded
I'm booked, I gotta go.
Hi-de-hey
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Come on
Baby don't you wanna go
Back from the land of California
To my sweet home Chicago

 

Sweet Home Chicago, as we learned in class, was originally a song by the iconic blues artist Robert Johnson. In 2004, Eric Clapton, who views Johnson as his biggest influence, released an album entitled "Me and Mr. Johnson". All tracks were pieces from Johnson's repertoire that were covered by Clapton. Soon after, a supplementary DVD called "Sessions For Robert J" was released, which included Sweet Home Chicago. In his version, Clapton revamped and electrified the original by including electric guitars, drums, keyboards, and other modern instruments. However, throughout the entire song, classic blues riffs can be heard in the harmony and background.

I enjoy the guitar in this song the most. The guitar riffs and solos are auditorily pleasing and are the first things I notice in any song. Clapton is an amazing guitarist, and his performances are equally impressive. The lyrics in this song are simple and repetitive (but in a good way!). Therefore, it can be difficult to figure out what Johnson was originally trying to say. He may have been pleading for someone to accompany him to Chicago. As we know from history, racial horrors and negativity were highly prevalent in the South during this time. Moving north to a big city provided many opportunities for African-Americans: They could escape racial hatred, get out of back-breaking plantation work, and obtain jobs in factories. Northern migration could have been a message of the song, as moving north would be a possitive change. Johnson is packed and ready to go ("don't ya make me late...I'm booked, I gotta go") and questions why someone wouldn't want to go/escape ("Baby don't you wanna go").