"Man of Constant Sorrow" (also known as "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow") is a traditional American folk song first published by Dick Burnett, a partially blind fiddler from Kentucky. It was titled "Farewell Song" in a songbook by Burnett dated to around 1913. A version recorded by Emry Arthur in 1928 gave the song its current titles.
Several versions of the song exist that differ in their lyrics and melodies. The song was popularized by the Stanley Brothers, who recorded the song in the 1950s; many other singers recorded versions in the 1960s, including Bob Dylan. Variations of the song have also been recorded under the titles of "Girl of Constant Sorrow" by Joan Baez and by Barbara Dane, "Maid of Constant Sorrow" by Judy Collins, and "Sorrow" by Peter, Paul and Mary. It was released as a single by Ginger Baker's Air Force with vocals by Denny Laine.
Public interest in the song was renewed after the release of the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, where it plays a central role in the plot, earning the three runaway protagonists public recognition as the Soggy Bottom Boys. The recording used in the film, with lead vocal by Dan Tyminski, was featured on the highly successful, multiple platinum-selling soundtrack, from which this song won a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2002. (The entire soundtrack, and other individual songs and performers on it, also won Grammys.)[1]
Excerpt of a recording of "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" by Soggy Bottom Boys An editor has nominated the above file for discussion of its purpose and/or potential deletion. You are welcome to participate in the discussion and help reach a consensus.
The song was first published in 1913 with the title "Farewell Song" in a six-song songbook by Dick Burnett, titled Songs Sung by R. D. Burnett—The Blind Man—Monticello, Kentucky.[2] There exists some uncertainty as to whether Dick Burnett is the original writer. In an interview he gave toward the end of his life, he was asked about the song:
Charles Wolfe: "What about this "Farewell Song" – 'I am a man of constant sorrow' – did you write it?"
Richard Burnett: "No, I think I got the ballad from somebody – I dunno. It may be my song ..."[3]
Whether or not Burnett was the original writer, his work on the song can be dated to about 1913. The lyrics from the second verse—'Oh, six long year I've been blind, friends'—would hold true with the year he was blinded, 1907. Burnett may have tailored an already existing song to fit his blindness, and some claimed that he derived it from "The White Rose" and "Down in the Tennessee Valley" circa 1907.[4] Burnett also said he thought he based the melody on an old Baptisthymn he remembered as "Wandering Boy".[2] According to hymnologist John Garst, though, no song with this or a similar title had a tune that can be identified with "Constant Sorrow".[5] Garst nevertheless noted that parts of the lyrics suggest a possible antecedent hymn, and that the term 'man of sorrows' is religious in nature and appears in Isaiah 53:3.[5][6] The song has some similarities to the hymn "Poor Pilgrim," also known as "I Am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow," which George Pullen Jackson speculated to have been derived from a folk song of English origin titled "The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea".[7]
Emry Arthur, a friend of Burnett's, released a recording of the song in 1928, and also claimed to have written it.[5] Arthur titled his recording "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow", which has become the usual name for the song. Arthur's lyrics are very similar to Burnett's, with only minor variations. Although Burnett's version was recorded earlier in 1927, Columbia Records did not release Burnett's recording;[2] Arthur's single was thus the earliest widely heard recording of the song, and it is the ultimate source of most later versions.[5]
Several similar songs were found in Kentucky and Virginia in the early 20th century. English folk-song collector Cecil Sharp collected four versions of the song in 1917–1918 as "In Old Virginny", which were published in 1932 in English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians.[2] The lyrics were different in details from Burnett's, but similar in tone. In a version from 1918 by Mrs Frances Richards, who probably learned it from her father, the first verse is nearly identical to Burnett and Arthur's lyrics, with minor changes like Virginia substituting for Kentucky.[4][8] The song is thought to be related to several songs such as "East Virginia Blues".[8] Norman Lee Vass of Virginia claimed his brother Mat wrote the song in the 1890s, and the Virginia versions of the song show some relationship to Vass's version, though his melody and most of his verses are unique. This variant was thought to be influenced by "Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies"/"The Little Sparrow".[4][5]
An older version described by Almeda Riddle was dated to around 1850, but with texts that differ substantially after the first line.[5] John Garst traced elements of the song back to the hymns of the early 1800s, suggesting similarity in its tune to "Tender-Hearted Christians" and "Judgment Hymn", and similarity in its lyrics to "Christ Suffering", which included the lines "He was a man of constant sorrow / He went a mourner all his days."[9]
On October 13, 2009, on the Diane Rehm Show, Ralph Stanley of the Stanley Brothers, whose autobiography is titled Man of Constant Sorrow,[10] discussed the song, its origin, and his effort to revive it:[11]
"Man of Constant Sorrow" is probably two or three hundred years old. But the first time I heard it when I was y'know, like a small boy, my daddy – my father – he had some of the words to it, and I heard him sing it, and we – my brother and me – we put a few more words to it, and brought it back in existence. I guess if it hadn't been for that it'd have been gone forever. I'm proud to be the one that brought that song back, because I think it's wonderful.
Variations
Many later singers have put new and varied lyrics to the song. Most versions have the singer riding a train fleeing trouble, regretting not seeing his old love, and contemplating his future death, with the promise that he will meet his friends or lover again on the beautiful or golden shore.[4] In most variants the first verse is very similar to Burnett's 1913 version, often modified to suit each singer's gender and home state, along with other minor changes:[12]
I am a man of constant sorrow,
I've seen trouble all of my days;
I'll bid farewell to old Kentucky,
The place where I was born and raised.
The 1928 recording by Emry Arthur is largely consistent with Burnett's lyrics, with only minor differences.[12] The reference to blindness in the second verse of Burnett's lyrics, "six long year I've been blind", is changed to "six long years I've been in trouble", a change also found in later versions that contain this verse.[13]
In around 1936, Sarah Ogan Gunning rewrote the song, shifting "Man" to "Girl" in the usual way but significantly changing the whole song as well. Gunning remembered the melody from a 78-rpm hillbilly record (Emry Arthur, 1928) she had heard some years before in the mountains, but after a first verse similar to the original, her lyrics are considerably different.[12][14] The change of gender is also found in Joan Baez's "Girl of Constant Sorrow" and another variant of the song similar to Baez's, Judy Collins's title song from her album A Maid of Constant Sorrow.[15]
In 1950, the Stanley Brothers recorded a version of the song they had learned from their father.[13][15] The Stanley Brothers' version contains some modifications to the lyrics: one verse of Burnett's version is absent, the last line is different, and the 'parents' in Burnett's second verse have been changed to 'friends'.[12] Performances of the song by the Stanley Brothers and Mike Seeger contributed to the song's popularity in urban folksong circles during the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s.[14]
Bob Dylan recorded his version in 1961, which he based on versions performed by other folk singers such as Joan Baez and Mike Seeger.[16][17] He omitted a verse from the Stanleys' version, and significantly rearranged and rewrote other verses. Dylan also added personal elements, changing 'friends' to 'mother' in the line 'Your mother says that I'm a stranger' in reference to his then-girlfriend Suze Rotolo's mother.[18] In Dylan's version, Kentucky was changed to Colorado;[13] changing the state of origin in this song is common,[4] for example, Kentucky is changed to California in "Girl of Constant Sorrow" by Joan Baez and "Maid of Constant Sorrow" by Judy Collins.
Aside from the lyrics, the melody also shows some significant differences between versions.[15]
Burnett recorded the song in 1927 with Columbia; this version was unreleased and the master recording destroyed.[2] The first commercially released record was by Emry Arthur, on January 18, 1928. He sang it while playing his guitar and accompanied by banjoist Dock Boggs.[19] The record was released by Vocalion Records (Vo 5208) and sold well,[20] and he recorded it again in 1931.[21] As the first released recording of the song, its melody and lyrics formed the basis for subsequent versions and variations.[5] Although a few singers had also recorded the song, it faded to relative obscurity until The Stanley Brothers recorded their version in 1950 and helped popularize the song in the 1960s.
The use of the song in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? led to its renewed popularity in the 21st century. The song has since been covered by many singers, from the Norwegian girl-group Katzenjammer to the winner of the eighth season of The VoiceSawyer Fredericks.[15][22]
On November 3, 1950, the Stanley Brothers recorded their version of the song with Columbia Records at the Castle Studios in Nashville.[8] The Stanleys learned the song from their father Lee Stanley who had turned the song into a hymn sung a cappella in the Primitive Baptist tradition. The arrangement of the song in the recording however was their own and they performed the song in a faster tempo.[8] This recording, titled "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow", was released in May 1951 together with "The Lonesome River" as a single (Columbia 20816).[23] Neither Burnett nor Arthur copyrighted the song, which allowed Carter Stanley to copyright the song as his own work.[21]
On September 15, 1959, the Stanley Brothers re-recorded the song on King Records for their album Everybody's Country Favorite. Ralph Stanley sang the solo all the way through in the 1950 version, but in the 1959 version, he was joined by other members of the band in added refrains. The fiddle and mandolin of the early version were also replaced by guitar, and a verse was omitted.[24][25] This version (King 45-5269) was released together with "How Mountain Girls Can Love" as a single that October 1959.[26]
In July 1959, the Stanley Brothers performed the song at the Newport Folk Festival,[27] which brought the song to the attention of other folk singers. It led to a number of recordings of the song in the 1960s, most notably by Joan Baez (1960),[28] Bob Dylan (1961), Judy Collins (1961), and Peter, Paul and Mary (1962).[29]
In November 1961 Bob Dylan recorded the song, which was included as a track on his 1962 eponymous debut album as "Man of Constant Sorrow".[13][30] Dylan's version is a rewrite of the versions sung by Joan Baez, New Lost City Ramblers (Mike Seeger's band), and others in the early 1960s.[16] Dylan also performed the song during his first national US television appearance, in the spring of 1963.[31] Dylan's version of the song was used by other singers and bands of 1960s and 70s, such as Rod Stewart and Ginger Baker's Air Force.
The song was recorded in 1970 by Ginger Baker's Air Force and sung by Air Force guitarist and vocalist (and former Moody Blues, future Wings member) Denny Laine.[34] The single was studio recorded, but a live version, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, was included in their eponymous 1970 debut album. The band used a melody similar to Dylan's, and for the most part also Dylan's lyrics (but substituting 'Birmingham' for 'Colorado'). The arrangement differed significantly, with violin, electric guitar, and saxophones, although it stayed mainly in the major scales of A, D and E. It was the band's only chart single.
An editor has nominated the above file for discussion of its purpose and/or potential deletion. You are welcome to participate in the discussion and help reach a consensus.
A notable cover, titled "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow", was recorded by the fictional folk/bluegrass group The Soggy Bottom Boys from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?.[2] The producer T Bone Burnett had previously suggested the Stanley Brothers' recording as a song for The Dude in the Coen brothers' film The Big Lebowski, but it did not make the cut. For their next collaboration, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, he realized that the song would suit the main character well.[2][37] The initial plan was for the song to be sung by the film's lead actor, George Clooney; however, it was found that his recording was not up to the required standard.[38] Burnett later said that he had only two or three weeks to work with Clooney, which was not enough time to prepare Clooney for the recording of a credible hit country record.[37]
The song was recorded by Dan Tyminski (lead vocals), with Harley Allen and Pat Enright, based on the Stanleys' version.[15] Tyminski also wrote, played, and changed the guitar part of the arrangement.[37] Two versions by Tyminski were found in the soundtrack album, with different backup instruments. In the film, it was a hit for the Soggy Bottom Boys, and would later become a real hit off-screen. Tyminski has performed the song at the Crossroads Guitar Festival with Ron Block and live with Alison Krauss.
The song received a CMA Award for "Single of the Year" in 2001 and a Grammy for "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" in 2002. The song was also named Song of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2001.[39] It peaked at No. 35 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.[15] It has sold over a million copies in the United States by November 2016.[40]
1920s – American Delta blues artist Delta Blind Billy in his song "Hidden Man Blues" had the line 'Man of sorrow all my days / Left the home where I been raised.'[44]
1937 – Alan Lomax recorded Sarah Ogan Gunning's performance of her version, "I Am a Girl of Constant Sorrow", for the Library of Congress's Archive of American Folk Song. Her version was also covered by other singers such as Peggy Seeger (her melody however is more similar to Arthur's version), Tossi Aaron, and Barbara Dane. She recorded the song again at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, and also released a recording in her album, Girl of Constant Sorrow, in 1965.[14]
1947 – Lee and Juanita Moore's performance at a radio station WPAQ was recorded and later released in 1999. They were granted a new copyright registration in 1939 for their treatment of the song.[2][45]
1960 – A version of the song, "Girl of Constant Sorrow", was recorded by Joan Baez in the summer of 1960.[28] This version was left off the original release of her debut album Joan Baez in 1960 on the Vanguard label, but was included as a bonus track on the 2001 CD-reissue version of the album.[46][47] Baez has also recorded "Man of Constant Sorrow" with no change in gender.[48]
1969 – Rod Stewart covered the song in his debut solo album. It was based on Dylan's version but with his own arrangement.[53]
Cambodian singer Pan Ron recorded a Khmer version where local instruments such as the three-stringed tro replaced the violins of Stanley Brothers' recording to created distinctive Cambodian version.[54][55]
1972 – Tia Blake recorded a version on her 1972 album Folk Songs and Ballads. She was only nineteen years old at the time of recording.[57]
1993 – "Man of Constant Sorrow" was one of many songs recorded by Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, and Tony Rice one weekend in February 1993. Jerry's taped copy of the session was later stolen by his pizza delivery man, eventually became an underground classic, and finally edited and released in 2000 as The Pizza Tapes.[58]
2015 – Blitzen Trapper covered the song exclusively for the black comedy–crime drama television series Fargo, which played over the credits of the "Rhinoceros" episode of the second season.[65]
2018 – Home Free, covered the song in a country / a capella style. It was released also on their album Timeless.[66]
2021 - In the Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts, the main character, Amina, sings a variation of the song with the lyrics changed to fit her situation.[67]
^Cledus Envy (CD liner notes). Cledus T. Judd. Nashville, Tennessee: Monument Records. 2008. 85897.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
