Careless Love
Composer:
American folk song
Genre: World / Folk
Decade: before 1923
Submitted by: Russell Ambrose
Description:
From Wikipedia:
For the Madeleine Peyroux album featuring this tune, see Careless Love (album).
"Careless Love" is a traditional song of obscure origins.
Blues versions are popular; the lyrics change from version to version, but usually speak of the heartbreak brought on by "careless love." Frequently, the narrator threatens to kill his or her wayward lover.
Love, oh love, oh careless love,
You fly to my head like wine,
You`ve ruined the life of many a poor girl,
and you nearly wrecked this life of mine
"Careless Love" was one of the best known pieces in the repertory of the Buddy Bolden band in New Orleans, Louisiana at the very start of the 20th century, and has remained a jazz standard and blues standard. Hundreds of recordings have been made in folk, blues, jazz, country, and pop styles; some of the more notable versions include those by Bessie Smith, Marilyn Lee, Ottilie Patterson, Pete Seeger, and George Lewis. Big Joe Turner recorded it several times over his long career. Fats Domino made a recording of it in 1951, and it has also been sung by Elvis Presley, Entrance, Louis Armstrong, Lonnie Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, Dave Van Ronk, Leadbelly, Odetta, Janis Joplin, Siouxsie Sioux, Joan Baez, Ray Charles, Dr. John, Madeleine Peyroux, Bob Dylan, Bill Monroe and Johnny Cash, Frankie Laine, Skip James and Harry Connick Jr.
The song`s melody also is used in other blues songs, notably "A bunch of thyme" and Moon Mullican`s "Worries on my mind". Elements of the Bessie Smith version`s melody show up in Jerry Lee Lewis`s 1956 version of "Crazy Arms" as well.
by: Russell Ambrose