Music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, Carl Perkins, Albert King and The Beatles
Many songs’ origins can be traced to earlier sources and often specific authorship, or authorship as a mighty fortress that had to exert its mighty power, was a foreign concept. Ideas and the expressions of ideas are often regarded as benevolent entities and means by which a society builds its culture. Members of a society share what is performed, heard, seen, filmed, photographed, painted, sculpted, danced, acted, woven, cooked, eaten and more.
It can be illuminating to examine how certain songs have come into existence. How important was authorship? Were several responsible for the creation of a song? Did parts of the song come together at different times and places?
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Albert King “Searching For A Woman” (1961) referenced Carl Perkins “Matchbox” (1956)
Albert King’s Searching For A Woman (1961) – At 0.28 – 0.48 of this recording, one hears:
“sometimes I wonder would a matchbox hold my clothes, yeah sometimes I wonder would a matchbox hold my clothes, I don’t have so many but I’ve got so far to go.”
Albert King is not the author of that lyric as it had been heard prior to “Searching For A Woman.” King simply interpolated it/referenced it from a prior source. Or was it from more than one prior source?
Carl Perkins’ Matchbox (1956) – At 0.05 – 0.20 of this recording, one hears:
“well I’m sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, yeah I’m sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I ain’t got no matches but I got a long way to go.”
Carl Perkins’ Matchbox (1956) was a big hit in the 1950’s.
The Beatles released their version of Matchbox in 1964, reviving Perkins’ popular song. The Beatles loved Carl Perkins and recorded three (3) of his songs. (Notice that Ringo’s vocal is double-tracked in Matchbox and typical for Beatles’ cover recordings, they stay as true to the original as possible.)
Continuing with MATCHBOX…
Carl Perkins “Matchbox” (1956) referenced Leadbelly “Packin’ Trunk” (1935)
Carl Perkins’ Matchbox (1956) – At 0.05 – 0.20 of this recording, one hears:
“well I’m sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, yeah I’m sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I ain’t got no matches but I got a long way to go.”
Leadbelly’s Packin’ Trunk (1935) – at 0.45-1.05 of this recording one hears:
“I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes”
Leadbelly “Packin’ Trunk” (1935) referenced Blind Lemon Jefferson “Match Box Blues” (1927)
Leadbelly’s Packin’ Trunk (1935) – at 0.45 – 1.05 of this recording one hears:
“I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I’m sitting down here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes”
Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Match Box Blues (1927) – at 0.38 – 1.04 of this recording, one hears:
“sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I’m sitting here wondering would a matchbox hold my clothes, I ain’t got so many matches but I’ve got so far to go”
Is Blind Lemon Jefferson the source of this lyric about a person owning so little that all of his clothes could fit into a matchbox?
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Do lyrics and/or music of any of these songs REFERENCE any other song(s)?
Do lyrics and/or music of any of these songs COPY any other song(s)?
Do lyrics and/or music of any of these songs STEAL FROM any other song(s)?
Do lyrics and/or music of any of these songs INFRINGE any other song(s)?
Are musical traditions, for example in any of the songs above, at odds with copyright law?
Assuming that any of these instances above involves the TAKING of someone’s intellectual property, isn’t it only taking a “little bit” and how important can a little bit be?
Should musical tradition(s) trump copyright law?
Should copyright law trump musical tradition(s)?
If Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Match Box Blues (1927) is under copyright, would one or more of those who followed him have infringed his copyright?
If Blind Lemon Jefferson’s Match Box Blues (1927) is NOT under copyright and in the public domain, would copyright vest in Leadbelly’s Packin’ Trunk (1935)?
And how does one answer any/all of the questions above if the country of origin of the manufacture and distribution of specific recordings are OUTSIDE of the United States of America?
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