BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON: SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN (Paramount, 1927)

Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded  “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean”  for Paramount in Chicago in 1928, following up an earlier version that was issued under a religious pseudonym, Deacon L.J. Bates, 1927’s “See That My Grave’s Kept Clean.”  His moving performances affected both the secular and the sacred worlds for generations to come. Adding to the lyrical imagery of two white horses, a silver spade and a golden chain, on one take the Texas blues master plucked a guitar string in imitation of a church bell

Sometimes titled “One Kind Favor,” the song drew from an old folk spiritual and has been recorded by Bob Dylan, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Furry Lewis, Hank Williams Jr., B.B. King , the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker,Mavis Staples (who won a GRAMMY for her rendition), and many more.

In keeping with the favor Jefferson asked in the song, his grave is kept clean in Wortham, Texas. The first verse is engraved on his headstone and the graveyard is now known as Blind Lemon Memorial Cemetery. B.B. King felt so connected to the song that, per his wishes, his casket was drawn by two white horses.