Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad – A brief history of this timeless song and memories of my second Dead show. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #WoodyGuthrie #HenryWhitter #DelaneyandBonnie #GratefulDead

Today’s post is less about my discussion and more about how a song can evolve through the years. This is part of what intrigues me about the songwriting process and the reason why I began writing Ted Tocks.

‘Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad’ seems to be traced to a song called ‘Lonesome Road Blues’ back in 1924. This version was written by Henry Whitter.

Through the years ‘Lonesome Road Blues’ and its twin version ‘Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad’ have become standards in the bluegrass, folk, blues and jam band genres. In short, the song cuts a wide berth and nearly one hundred years later it brings an audience to its feet when performed live.

My introductory post is a version by the legendary Woody Guthrie. His version had a strong connection to the folk scene and as a voice of the people in his day it had a real affinity to the struggles of Americans who lived during the Great Depression and wartime.

This song came into the Ted Tocks radar because one of the many great versions that exists is by Bonnie and Delaney. Unfortunately Delaney Bramlett died on this day in 2008 after complications from gall bladder surgery. Bramlett had a distinguished career which saw him perform with many of the legends of his time including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, JJ Cale, Janis Joplin and the Everly Brothers. Here is their version of the song with Boz Scaggs and Duane Allman in a soulful rendition that borders on a religious experience.

I became aware of ‘Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad’ in the mid ‘80s thanks to my friend Steve who is a music encyclopedia. He played me a handful of versions by the Grateful Dead and I could feel the excitement as the song built over the course of their jam. Nothing prepared me for actually witnessing them play it live though. The one and only time I saw the Dead play this song was July 4, 1986 at Rich Stadium in Buffalo (Orchard Park) New York. It was a very humid and overcast day, but the Dead were literally on fire. A portion of the show had been simulcast live for the second annual Farm Aid and the band had brought their best energy and musicianship for that audience and the 4^th of July festivities. Late in the second set Brent Mydland performed a sizzling version of ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ that had the 80,000 Deadheads in a state of euphoria but they managed to turn it up a notch when they followed with today’s classic song. I reflect back in awe as I picture the massive crowd bopping up and down in unison. Rich Stadium was like a giant popcorn popper and every human was ready to explode. What a scene! The song and the moment were powerful enough but as the song was finishing the clouds opened up and it began to rain. It was like the Dead performed a rain dance and fulfilled their mission. The rain was so welcome as it provided relief from the heat and by the time their set closed with ‘Turn on Your Love Light’ the sun burst through the clouds. It all sounds like hyperbole thirty two years later but people all around were shaking their heads in amazement and proclaiming “the Dead made it rain.” That’s the story we are going with anyway. One of many concert highlights in my life from the many shows I have attended.

Here is the Grateful Dead performing ‘Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad’ from Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. It is not as good as the Buffalo version in my opinion but unfortunately no live video seems to exist from that day. The simulcast to Live Aid ended after ‘Gimme Some Lovin’. The bonus of this version is you get a very animated Jerry Garcia enjoying his incredible interplay with Brent Mydland.

If you find this lineage of a song interesting go to Youtube and check out the many versions of ‘Lonesome Road Blues’ and ‘Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad’. It is a fascinating song and an interesting trip through music history.