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The Blind Boys of Alabama — Nobody's Fault But Mine
Album: Spirit Of The Century
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2640









Released: 2001
Length: 2:50
Plays (last 30 days): 4
Ain't nobody's fault but mine
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read, my soul be lost
Ain't nobody's fault but mine

My mother she taught me how to read
My mother she taught me how to read
If I don't read, my soul be lost
Ain't nobody's fault but mine

Well I got a bible in my house
Well I got a bible in my house
If I don't read, my soul be lost
Ain't nobody's fault but mine

My sister she taught me how to read
My sister she taught me how to read
If I don't read, my soul be lost
Ain't nobody's fault but mine
Comments (170)add comment
I said Yo..!! 
 BCMountainsMusic wrote:

where was that show? sounds mike a gooder!


In Greenville, SC at the then Bi-Lo Center, but now it is the Bon Secours Wellness Arena aka The Well. 
 tripp1 wrote:

I saw them open for Tom Petty around 2000?  I was 2nd row, center. All around a good show. 


where was that show? sounds mike a gooder!
saw them years ago at Sasquatch Fest, Ben Harper was there and they’d just released an album with him… they all got on stage together and wow! 🤯
I saw them open for Tom Petty around 2000?  I was 2nd row, center. All around a good show. 
 Jelani wrote:

It would be nice to hear LedZep after this.



You asked for it and William just delivered 7 months later with Ramble On.  And you were correct, it is nice.  Very nice.
 Jelani wrote:

It would be nice to hear LedZep after this.




I'm sorry that I can only upvote this one time.  x1000    :)
 sfoster66 wrote:

Maybe if we's stop relying on some spook in the sky to fix our problems and just got to work, we'd be better off...

How much evil has been done in this world in the name of righteousness?



Quite a bit, actually. But I don't see how the existence of evil is God's fault.
 Gregorama wrote:
GregX59 wrote: They are also playing at the Austin City Limits Festival in September. Whole bunch of artists heard on RP. Details at www.aclfest.com. I'll be there with my RP ball cap on!


The Blind Boys of Alabama came to a town near me about a month ago and it was a great show. They played this song as well as Amazing Grace. It was a great show and I'd recommend going if you get the chance!
 Jelani wrote:
It would be nice to hear LedZep after this.
 
It happened!
 TheKing2 wrote:

NBFBM but I seem unable to like this. 

(for those who wondered the 2 is from me .I'll PSD and shut up)




I feel the same
It would be nice to hear LedZep after this.
NBFBM but I seem unable to like this. 

(for those who wondered the 2 is from me .I'll PSD and shut up)
 sfoster66 wrote:

Maybe if we's stop relying on some spook in the sky to fix our problems and just got to work, we'd be better off...

How much evil has been done in this world in the name of righteousness?




You are justified in your suspicion that many monstrous acts have been committed on the pretext of "Divine Will." It is also true that tremendous acts of kindness and generosity have been driven by religious convictions. Do you want to throw out the pizza because it has anchovies?
 dlm1 wrote:

I saw them live in Germany 2013 during the TFF in Rudolstadt. I liked their show very much.
The TFF is like the festival version of RP. :)




Other Festivals in Germany are also a festival version of RP. For Example the "Haldern Pop Festival" i´ve been 8 times on!
Maybe if we's stop relying on some spook in the sky to fix our problems and just got to work, we'd be better off...

How much evil has been done in this world in the name of righteousness?
 bahalana wrote:

You have to see these guys live. (Yes they really are blind.) They go out into the crowd and PREACH. It's spine tingling. Even as an atheist (whatever you think that means) it's POWERFUL!


We are going to see them tomorrow night. Can't wait!
c.
This sounds sort of like a song you might hear in Railroad Tycoon II, which by the way has an incredible instrumental soundtrack, probably the best collection there is of "old timey railroad music".
You have to see these guys live. (Yes they really are blind.) They go out into the crowd and PREACH. It's spine tingling. Even as an atheist (whatever you think that means) it's POWERFUL!
Would it be blasphemy to want to hear Led Zep's song by the same name after this?
The introductions to previously-unheard (by me) music never ends on the Fabulous RP. The last time I heard these guys on here was the first for me, and I immediately got lost in an evening of research on this fascinating old group and its ever- changing members. Shared the info with a few appreciative folks. Thanks for the ongoing education, Bill. Priceless.
The posted lyrics are wrong/incomplete sadly...how do we fix that??
I assume it's coincidence this followed "Everlasting Light". I really think I can hear similarities, and am impressed thinking Bill (or is it Rebecca?) would have recognized this in their head.
 RabbitEars wrote:

Wiki..
"It's Nobody's Fault but Mine" or "Nobody's Fault but Mine" is a song first recorded by gospel blues artist Blind Willie Johnson in 1927.
"Nobody's Fault but Mine" tells of a spiritual struggle, with reading the Bible as the path to salvation, or, rather, the failure to read it leading to damnation. Johnson was blinded at age seven when his stepmother threw a caustic solution[3] and his verses attribute his father, mother, and sister with teaching him how to read.
 
Thanks for that!  Pretty interesting.
Need an invitation to perform this at the White House - STAT. 

P.S.  Ah, we are on the same page: BG follows with "Call The Doctor".
It's Nobody's Fault but Mine " or " Nobody's Fault but Mine " is a song first recorded by gospel blues artist Blind Willie Johnson in 1927.
Don't think anybody from Zep were even a gleam in their daddy's eye yet.
Zep helped us hear a version.
 Gotta be the oldest band on RP... they began singing together in 1939!
I keep wanting to hear Zeppelin after this...
 khardog145 wrote:

My guess would be it's taken from an old spiritual or gospel song from a previous century.  
 
Wiki..
"It's Nobody's Fault but Mine" or "Nobody's Fault but Mine" is a song first recorded by gospel blues artist Blind Willie Johnson in 1927.
"Nobody's Fault but Mine" tells of a spiritual struggle, with reading the Bible as the path to salvation, or, rather, the failure to read it leading to damnation. Johnson was blinded at age seven when his stepmother threw a caustic solution[3] and his verses attribute his father, mother, and sister with teaching him how to read.
 IrieTom wrote:
Worst Led Zeppelin cover ever!

(*zips up flame-retardant suit*)
 Hahaha! I came to post that I'd like to hear Led Zep's  tune by the same title.
 khardog145 wrote:

My guess would be it's taken from an old spiritual or gospel song from a previous century.  
 

I think the point was that the lyrics listed in the blob on the new website are totally wrong.
Worst Led Zeppelin cover ever!

(*zips up flame-retardant suit*)
 dianed wrote:
Where did the lyrics listed come from? They are very incorrect.
 
My guess would be it's taken from an old spiritual or gospel song from a previous century.  
Where did the lyrics listed come from? They are very incorrect.
I saw them live in Germany 2013 during the TFF in Rudolstadt. I liked their show very much.
The TFF is like the festival version of RP. :)
this is great..
David Bromberg's version is much, much better.

in fact, less Biind Boys and more Bromberg would be greatly appreciated.  
 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
Kind of hard to beat a good bass voice. In some weird twist these guys make me hear parallels to Rachmaninoff's Vespers and gets me thinking, yeah in a way, these bods are all doing the same thing. Singing in response to just being here on this planet. Here and now.
(wait for the second song, kicks in at 2.44) ok, so maybe it is just me.

 
I think Rachmaninov's Vespers would fit rather well on RP... so why not leading into (or out of) this one?

(And it would be nice to hear the occasional classical interludes (which are great) occasionally venturing outside the Top 100 Classical Pieces list.)
 fredriley wrote:
Say what you like about god botherers, and this stroppy atheist says plenty, but they sho' make some good toons and fine buildings. Hallelujah!

 
You can get an "Amen!" from this atheist too, brutha! Wonderful tune, amazing delivery. 
Say what you like about god botherers, and this stroppy atheist says plenty, but they sho' make some good toons and fine buildings. Hallelujah!
These guys are great.
 scottdoggett wrote:
I LOVE this version of "Nobody's Fault But Mine"! 

 
You took the words right out of my mouth, and I mean to the word.  And I'll add, they (and Blind Willie) are so right.
I LOVE this version of "Nobody's Fault But Mine"! 
What a sad song.
The blues are giving me the blues.

Upbeat, I'm telling you. We need upbeat music.{#Mrgreen}
I also like John Renbourn's version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC6fXUecGE
Yes!  Another atheist of the Christian tradition who loves this song and anything else sung by those Blind Boys of Alabama!

And, yes, the Led Zep version is great too!
Awful singing!
 flyboy wrote:

I want to hear it.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Great song, great message. 

 
I agree, I love the Bible and I read it and quote it often.  It is very important to our great culture.  Athiests like me love it for a lot of reasons. God bless America.
 Ulises wrote:
The message of this song is not one we Americans want to hear.

well my mother she taught me how to pray,
mother she taught me how to pray
if i fail to pray and my soul be lost;
ain't nobody's fault but mine
 
I want to hear it.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Great song, great message. 
Wait... Didn't Led Zeppelin write this? (/me ducks)
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 

 
..... mine to Mr Lazarus - wonderful stuff :))
Kind of hard to beat a good bass voice. In some weird twist these guys make me hear parallels to Rachmaninoff's Vespers and gets me thinking, yeah in a way, these bods are all doing the same thing. Singing in response to just being here on this planet. Here and now.
(wait for the second song, kicks in at 2.44) ok, so maybe it is just me.




Nice version... I hadn't heard it before. I don't think I love it as much as Nina Simone's take on it... but it's still a powerful tune.
Some more Blind Boys with Peter Gabriel

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 

 Misterfixit wrote:
George Bush's theme song, I believe.
   

scraig wrote:

As if that line would ever fall out of his mouth.

 
Don't you fret. In a few years, he'll have Alzheimer's so bad he won't be able to chew his food. Gair-own-tee. 
Ooh!  I got chill bumps from that one .....most excellent !!!!
Hear the Word, sinners, and boogie.
I am ashamed to admit I grew up about 60 miles from their hometown, and never heard of them until the last few years. Just wonderful.
Great...
Not the best song ever, but the performance is just awesome. (9/10)
Saw them at the Gabriel concert too - they are incredibly inspirational!  Powerful musicians!
Saw these guys do this at a  Peter Gabriel concert - they blew out the speaker cones. Man, they were powerful.
individual accountability for sin...
I thought the REGIME sent out a memo makling this a criminal act...
Fab-u-lous.

{#Angel}
That was a great song — I am somehow uplifted.
Well allright!  that was too cool. What most folks don't know is that Charlie Musselwhite and John Hammond are both on this album AND the BBoys cover Tom Waits "Jesus Gonna Be Here".


Love all versions of this great classic!{#Cheers}
Can't help myself.  I love these guys!{#Bananajam}
SORRY, 1
The only other version I've heard of this song was Led Zeppelin's - and I really think I prefer this version. The heart and soul just radiates outward, without a power-guitar or thunder-drums.  I love it.{#Sunny}
{#Daisy}
Holy harmonies, Batman!
Actually it was Balcones fault. But I'm sure I'll get the blame anyway. Excellent tune!
 1wolfy wrote:
 "rules and regulations"  try guidance.Indulge yourself long enough and one day you may see the light...or maybe not . you get to choose. {#Pray}nicolaluna wrote:
Sure it's soulful.  And so is

"Jesus.  Died.  For somebody's sins, but not mine. 
Meltin in a pot of thieves, wild card up my sleeve. 
Thick.  Heart of stone.  My sins my own.  They belong to me.  Me. 
People say beware!  But I just don't care.  The words are just rules and regulations to me."

Amen, sister.    {#Hungry}   {#Twisted}   {#Tongue-out}
 
 
One of my favorite Patty Smith lines!!!!


 nate917 wrote:
One-third of the listenership gave this an 8? That's the most egregious case of ballot-box stuffing I've ever seen.
 

Nate needs to learn statistics.  Its a perfectly normal distribution.
I swear I can feel that bass voice in my bones...heavenly.
 Misterfixit wrote:
George Bush's theme song, I believe.
 
As if that line would ever fall out of his mouth.

They're wrong.  It was all my fault.  Sorry.
George Bush's theme song, I believe.
hmmm, yes, i agree. 

i have indulged myself, and i have chosen! 

thanks ever so much for the tip! 
{#Sunny}


 
1wolfy wrote:
 "rules and regulations"  try guidance.Indulge yourself long enough and one day you may see the light...or maybe not . you get to choose. {#Pray} 
 

 daveh25 wrote:
if this can't touch your soul, you may not have one. And who's fault is that
 

Amen to that!
 "rules and regulations"  try guidance.Indulge yourself long enough and one day you may see the light...or maybe not . you get to choose. {#Pray}nicolaluna wrote:
Sure it's soulful.  And so is

"Jesus.  Died.  For somebody's sins, but not mine. 
Meltin in a pot of thieves, wild card up my sleeve. 
Thick.  Heart of stone.  My sins my own.  They belong to me.  Me. 
People say beware!  But I just don't care.  The words are just rules and regulations to me."

Amen, sister.    {#Hungry}   {#Twisted}   {#Tongue-out}
 


Sure it's soulful.  And so is

"Jesus.  Died.  For somebody's sins, but not mine. 
Meltin in a pot of thieves, wild card up my sleeve. 
Thick.  Heart of stone.  My sins my own.  They belong to me.  Me. 
People say beware!  But I just don't care.  The words are just rules and regulations to me."

Amen, sister.    {#Hungry}   {#Twisted}   {#Tongue-out}
Waaaaaaaaaay soulful. Love it. {#Innocent}

Lovin' that harmonica!

love it.
wow , they were in my backyard and I missed it...grrblue wrote:
I had the pleasure to see the BBOA Saturday in San Juan Capistrano. They provided the most amazing and uplifting live performance I have ever seen. If you know and love their work, you have got to go!
The message of this song is not one we Americans want to hear. well my mother she taught me how to pray, mother she taught me how to pray if i fail to pray and my soul be lost; ain't nobody's fault but mine
nate917 wrote:
One-third of the listenership gave this an 8? That's the most egregious case of ballot-box stuffing I've ever seen.
You're obviously unfamiliar with Chicago politics.... I'm giving it an 8 (three times, if possible).
This one woke up the spirit of conviction in me
Excellent song and I found a great radio today! (accidentally =))
otto63 wrote:
Do we have a funeral today?
Past tense, we've surely passed over into (musical)heaven........
otto63 wrote:
Do we have a funeral today?
No funeral... just great music
Do we have a funeral today?
I had the pleasure to see the BBOA Saturday in San Juan Capistrano. They provided the most amazing and uplifting live performance I have ever seen. If you know and love their work, you have got to go!
Wack-A-Mole wrote:
When I hear music like this (delta blues) it makes me feel proud that I'm a descendant of slaves. I'm in the process of setting up in Texas on land that my great grand father purchased 11 years after slavery ended. Being a city raised person being able to have RP give me a piece of home in a new town and then to play music like this is amazing. Hearing the blues in the south has added meaning to me.
That's a pretty cool story. It's great the land stayed in the family that long, many folks were not so lucky, having been run off by 'fires of undetermined origin' and other mysterious circumstances. The little town of Manor ('May-nor, not 'Manner') near Austin suffered something of that fate: it was a thriving community until the 50's, when a spate of unexplained fires permanently damaged the community. 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' was filmed there, as was parts of 'Honeysuckle Rose'. Our 'country estate' is not far from you: Smithville. We're only about twenty minutes apart! It's more 'country' than 'estate': 20 acres and a single-wide. But it's quiet, a nice escape from the city. Thanks for sharing your story! c.
The 1973 Paul Butterfield Better Days CD has the best version of all time! Paul Butterfield's Better Days: Paul Butterfield (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric piano, harp); Geoff Muldaur (vocals, slide guitar, piano, vibraphone); Amos Garrett (guitar, background vocals); Ronnie Barron (piano, organ, background vocals); Billy Rich (bass); Christopher Parker (drums). Additional personnel: Dave Sanborn (alto saxophone); Gene Dinwiddie, J.D. Parran (tenor saxophone); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone); Peter Ecklund, Stan Shafran (trumpet); Sam Burtis, Gary Brocks (trombone); Maria Muldaur, Dennis Whited, Bobby Charles (background vocals). Recorded at Bearsville Sound Studio, Bearsville, New York.
One-third of the listenership gave this an 8? That's the most egregious case of ballot-box stuffing I've ever seen.
sillyboy wrote:
Not bad at all. Bruce Cockburns' is better. Joan Osbornes' is better. Blind Willie Johnsons' is better. But this isn't bad. :)
Don't forget Zeppelin.
I heard Cold War Kids do this live and they can lay it down pretty nicely.
I'm not blind, but I'm a 'bama boy and I like it.
I love this "stuff".... must be that Southern upbringing of mine, this is the stuff they sang in the Baptist church. Ouuuuuu.. my soul.
Oh boys and girls -- there is a much much better version of this out there by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and that girl can play her some guitar too. Check it out! (click here)
I too saw them live this year. First half hour I wasn't sure if they still had it. Last half hour I knew they did. Tasty but not particularly filling, at least for me...
Great surprise to walk into the room and hear this. I'm sorry to say that since taking up residence under this big rock, I've never before come across any Blind Boys of Alabama. Thanks for the introduction. This is the genre I most love and based on this tune, I like what BBA is doing with it. Must investigate.
If you'd ever seen them live, nar' an ill word about the Boys woud be heard. Saw 'em at WOMAD in Washington. Saw them open for Peter Gabriel on the Growing Up tour. Unbelieveable. Just un-f#@%in' believeable. Long Live TBBoA...
VV wrote:
Too bad they're not mute... as well as blind.
A tasteless, yet allowable comment.
Too bad they're not mute... instead of blind.
scottc wrote:
I feel bad about giving this only a 4. Realizing I could change it to a higher number, I would go on to say that the music is technically superb. It gets a 4 only because I don't really like this genre of musical presentation.
"genre of musical presentation..."....oh please!!!
I feel bad about giving this only a 4. Realizing I could change it to a higher number, I would go on to say that the music is technically superb. It gets a 4 only because I don't really like this genre of musical presentation.
Well I am a low class white guy and I am complaining..... Mangoman wrote:
I never hear blues musicians complain about Led Zep-- Only middle class white guys.
ThePoose wrote:
And another Zep ripoff: The Lemon Song, which would never have seen the light of play had Robert Johnson been poisoned years before that toxic bottle of whiskey was slipped to him at a house party.
Yeah this really sounds like a Zep tune, almost got em' mixed up
Love this group and this album!
And another Zep ripoff: The Lemon Song, which would never have seen the light of play had Robert Johnson been poisoned years before that toxic bottle of whiskey was slipped to him at a house party.
sillyboy wrote:
Not bad at all. Bruce Cockburns' is better. Joan Osbornes' is better. Blind Willie Johnsons' is better. But this isn't bad. :)
I was just thinking I was glad it wasnt the Joan Osborne version.
Mangoman wrote:
I never hear blues musicians complain about Led Zep-- Only middle class white guys.
Oh yeah? They were successfully sued by the preeminent blues musician of the Chicago Chess Records scene. In 1985 composer Willie Dixon won damages, and the right to a credit, over allegations that the lyrics of "Whole Lotta Love" plagiarised his "You Need Love," first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1962. Dixon is credited on the live album How the West was Won. The uncredited ripoffs from Memphis Minnie, Howlin' Wolf and others were never remedied, though I believe legal action was considered by those that nowdays own the rights (not the original composers or artists, alas, in most cases except Dixon's).
segueman wrote:
Yeah, this is another old blues song Led Zepplin took writing credit for.
I never hear blues musicians complain about Led Zep-- Only middle class white guys.
all i can say: too cool for words! :-)