Deep down, from the river, from the black earth
From Mississippi mud to Chi town streets
Slow, and rhythmic, ****** beats.
A man stands, late to his own show,
and declares to the audience below
that he is a Man. Spelled M, A, N.
We believe. His mastery, presence,
husky voice. The essence
of Man. And what the men don’t know–
the little girl understands. It’s my first show
without my parents. My brother's there.
A man sitting near us shoots up–I stare,
as smoke of cigarettes and **** fills the air.
A packed crowd, eager to see
one of the last of the greats, history.
But no nostalgic, fleecing tour is this .
One of Muddy’s last is still at the top of my list.
He died five years later. It's still one of the best concerts I've ever seen. He only sang and didn't play guitar, but the back up band was great. Georgetown University, September 1978.