*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" — Blind Lemon Jefferson (1928)

*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" — Blind Lemon Jefferson (1928)


The year has turned into something a year of review of the folk revival of the 1960s. In November I featured a posting of many of the episodes (via “YouTube”) of Pete Seeger’s classic folk television show from the 1960s, “Rainbow Quest”. I propose to do the same here to end out the year with as many of the selections from Harry Smith’s seminal “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” in one place, as I was able to find material for, either lyrics or "YouTube" performances (not necessarily by the original performer). This is down at the roots, for sure.



See That My Grave Is Kept Clean



Traditional OR by Blind Lemon Jefferson
recording of 1928
from Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1928) (Document DOCD-5019) & King of the Country Blues [LP] (Yazoo 1069) & Matchbox Blues (Indigo 2075), copyright notice



Well, there's one kind of favor I'll ask of you
Well, there's one kind of favor I'll ask of you
There's just one kind of favor I'll ask of you
You can see that my grave is kept clean

And there's two white horses following me
And there's two white horses following me
I got two white horses following me
Waiting on my burying ground

Did you ever hear that coffin' sound
Have you ever heard that coffin' sound
Did you ever hear that coffin' sound
Means another poor boy is under ground

Did you ever hear them church bells tone
Have you ever hear'd them church bells tone
Did you ever hear them church bells tone
Means another poor boy is dead and gone

Well, my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold
And, my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold
Well, my heart stopped beating and my hands turned cold
Now I believe what the bible told

There's just one last favor I'll ask of you
And there's one last favor I'll ask of you
There's just one last favor I'll ask of you
See that my grave is kept clean

__________
Note: see also One Kind Favor. Blind Lemon Jefferson's most famous folk song contains a wish that has been fulfilled by some of his many admirers. A group of contemporary artists came together to get him a new headstone. The grave is in the segregated section of the Wortham, Texas, cemetery on Highway 14, some 85 miles south of Dallas. So, if you're in the 'hood... This is a picture of his grave. For more info and pictures see this site.