"Last Kind Words Blues", more commonly known as "Last Kind Words", is a 1930 blues song, written by Geeshie Wiley, and performed and recorded by Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas. It was released on the

Paramount Records Paramount Records was an American record label known for its recordings of jazz and blues in the 1920s and early 1930s, including such artists as Ma Rainey, Tommy Johnson (guitarist), Tommy Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Early years Paramoun ...

label in July 1930, with "Skinny Leg Blues" as the

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

History

"Last Kind Word Blues" was sung and performed on guitar by Geeshie Wiley, with Elvie Thomas providing additional guitar accompaniment. The lyrics reflect on the singer's father, who went to serve in the "German War" (

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

) and before he left, told her: "If I die (...) I want you to send my body to my mother." However, he also told her that he did not want a burial and preferred to be left outside, to "let the

buzzards Buzzard is the common name of several species of birds of prey. ''Buteo'' species * Archer's buzzard (''Buteo archeri'') * Augur buzzard (''Buteo augur'') * Broad-winged hawk (''Buteo platypterus'') * Common buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') * Eastern ...

eat me whole." The female protagonist in the song went to the

depot Depot may refer to: Places * Depot, Poland, a village * Depot Glacier (disambiguation) * Depot Island (disambiguation) * Depot Nunatak * Depot Peak Brands and enterprises * Maxwell Street Depot, a restaurant in Chicago, United States * Of ...

, but cried as "some train don't come, there'll be some walkin' done." The song then concludes with the

last words Last words are the final utterances before death. The meaning is sometimes expanded to somewhat earlier utterances. Last words of famous or infamous people are sometimes recorded (although not always accurately), which then became a historical an ...

of the protagonist's mother. She told her daughter to "not be so wild", and commented that the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

is "so deep and wide I can stand right here, see my babe from the other side." The dying woman then concluded: "I may not see you after I cross the deep blue sea." The song's haunting lyrics and atmosphere have been praised by many listeners and music critics.

''Crumb''

"Last Kind Word Blues" gained more notability after being featured in the 1994 documentary film '' Crumb'' by

Terry Zwigoff Terry Zwigoff (born May 18, 1949) is an American film director whose work often deals with misfits, antiheroes, and themes of alienation. He first garnered attention for his work in documentary filmmaking with ''Louie Bluie'' (1985) and '' Crumb' ...

, about cartoonist

Robert Crumb Robert Dennis Crumb (; born August 30, 1943) is an American artist who often signs his work R. Crumb. His work displays a nostalgia for American folk culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and satire of contemporary American c ...

. In one scene, Crumb talks about his love for old blues, country and jazz music from the 1920s and 1930s and puts a record on the needle. The soundtrack then plays "Last Kind Words" over a series of strange and disturbing images from Crumb's comics. Yet, as Crumb himself pointed out in interviews, he does not actually own "Last Kind Words" on shellac, since original pressings of this record are extraordinarily rare. On Crumb's official website, he declared "Last Kind Words"; "the greatest female vocal.". Crumb was also interviewed in 2014 for a ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' article about Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas. Thanks to ''Crumb'', music historians such as

Greil Marcus Greil Marcus (né Gerstley; born June 19, 1945) is an American author, music journalist and cultural critic. He is notable for producing scholarly and literary essays that place rock music in a broader framework of culture and politics. Biogra ...

have tried to find out more about the identity of Wiley and Thomas. "Last Kind Word Blues" itself has also been included on several compilation albums, including the official soundtrack album of the film, ''Crumb'', but also blues compilation records including ''The Rough Guide To Delta Blues'' (World Music Network, 2002), ''Mississippi Masters: Early American Blues Classics 1927-35'' (

Yazoo Records Yazoo Records is an American record label founded in the mid-1960s by Nick Perls. It specializes in early American blues, country, jazz, and other rural American genres collectively known as roots music. History The first five releases (L 1001 ...

, 2007), '' American Epic: The Collection'' ( Sony Legacy, Lo-Max, 2017) and '' American Epic: The Best of Blues'' ( Sony Legacy,

Third Man Records Third Man Records is an eclectic, vinyl-focused independent record label founded and owned by Jack White, Ben Blackwell, and Ben Swank. The company operates out of three locations—Nashville, Detroit, and Soho in London—with multiple entitie ...

, 2017). "Last Kind Words" was also included on the compilation record ''Chimpin' The Blues'' (East River Records, 2013), for whom Robert Crumb illustrated the album cover.

Covers

"Last Kind Word Blues" has been covered by several artists: *

David Johansen David Roger Johansen (January 9, 1950 – February 28, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known as lead singer of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Po ...

and the Harry Smiths on their album ''

Shaker Shaker or Shakers may refer to: Religious groups * Shakers, a historically significant Christian sect * Indian Shakers, a smaller Christian denomination Objects and instruments * Shaker (musical instrument), an indirect struck idiophone * Cock ...

'' (2002). Johansen also sang a portion of "Last Kind Words" in the movie ''

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus ''Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus'' is a 2003 documentary film about the American South starring Jim White. Commissioned by the BBC, it documents the intersection of country music and Christianity in the United States. It was inspired by Whit ...

'' (2003). * C. W. Stoneking on the album ''Mississippi & Piedmont Blues 1927–1941'' (2006). * Dex Romweber Duo released a version featuring

Jack White John Anthony White (; born July 9, 1975) is an American musician who achieved international fame as the guitarist and lead singer of the rock duo the White Stripes. As the White Stripes disbanded, he sought success with his solo career, subse ...

, on White's vinyl-only label,

. * Christine Pizzuti covered it, available on '' Music from The American Epic Sessions: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' (2017). *

Ransom Riggs Ransom Riggs (born February 3, 1979) is an American writer and filmmaker best known for the book '' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children''. Early life and education Riggs was born in Maryland in 1979 on a 200-year-old farm, and grew up in ...

used the song in his video ''"Talking Pictures"'', in which he talks about vintage photographs. *

Rhiannon Giddens Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle pl ...

(member of

Carolina Chocolate Drops The Carolina Chocolate Drops were an Old-time music, old-time String band (American music), string band from Durham, North Carolina, Durham, North Carolina. Their 2010 album, ''Genuine Negro Jig (album), Genuine Negro Jig,'' won the Grammy Award ...

) on her solo debut album, '' Tomorrow Is My Turn''. * The Kronos Quartet performed an arrangement of the song at their fortieth anniversary concert, broadcast in 2013. *Hogan & Moss on the album ''You've Been That Friend To Me'' (2016) *

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980. Since then, he has had a successful solo ca ...

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer, fiddler and music producer. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of eight and recording for the first time at ...

on the album '' Raise the Roof'', released in November 2021.

References

{{Reflist

External links

An ''Oxford American'' article by Daphne A. Brooks about the song's lyrics.

Article by Peter Riley about "Last Kind Words" for ''Fortnightly Review''.
Delta blues songs 1930 songs 1930 singles Songs about death Songs about fathers Songs about mothers Songs about rivers Songs about soldiers Songs about World War I Songs about the Mississippi River Blues songs