Robert Wilkins -- "Prodigal Son"
The live Newport version from 1963 -- clocking in at an astounding 9:40 -- is simply spectacular. The lyrics present a down-home contemporary retelling of a classic story of paternal love and forgiveness, a story that is moving regardless of your religious persuasion (or lack thereof). Even the Rolling Stones can't deny that, though one does rather suspect they were into this song more for the great blues riffs, the appeal of which is partly the way that they resemble rolls on the banjo rather than traditional Delta blues or even Bentonia blues.
No comments:
Post a Comment