Lookout Mountain

In 1923 Ma Rainey recorded “Bo-Weavil Blues” and Bessie Smith recorded the number the following year; however, this song was quite different than later versions recorded by southern blues singers during the 1920s and 1930s. The boll weevil was a bug that fed on cotton; it migrated from Mexico to the United States and wreaked havoc on the cotton industry in the South. In 1929 Charley Patton recorded a version and in 1934 Alan Lomax recorded Leadbelly’s version.  The song became a pop hit in 1961 when Brook Benton recorded it. Bobby Bare learned “Boll Weevil” from Tex Ritter, who recorded it and used to sing this song during his show. This version features electric lead guitar from Buddy Miller and his Band of Joy cohorts, Byron House on bass and Marco Giovino on drums.