Fixin’ to Die

Commentary

Fixin’ to Die was written by Bukka White. Bukka had an interesting name and an interesting life. He was born in Mississippi in 1909. The son of a railroad man, Bukka was not only a Delta blues musician but also a pitcher in the Negro Leagues and a professional boxer. And he spent several years in jail for allegedly shooting somebody.

Bukka’s childhood hero was blues legend Charlie Patton, who also greatly influenced Dylan (Dylan dedicated Highwater on his Love and Theft recording to Patton).

Dave Van RonkSeveral authors note that Dylan was influenced not only by White’s version but also by Dave Van Ronk’s , once again highlighting the enormous impact Van Ronk had on his contemporaries.

Todd Harvey, author of The Formative Bob Dylan, points out that Dylan did not simply copy White/Van Ronk. The melody is Dylan’s and he also significantly updates the lyrics.

 

 


Lyrics

Dylan’s Version

Feeling funny in my mind, Lord,
I believe I’m fixing to die, fixing to die
Feeling funny in my mind, Lord
I believe I’m fixing to die
Well, I don’t mind dying
But I hate to leave my children crying
Well, I look over yonder to that burying ground
Look over yonder to that burying ground
Sure seems lonesome, Lord, when the sun goes downFeeling funny in my eyes, Lord,
I believe I’m fixing to die, fixing to die

Feeling funny in my eyes, Lord
I believe I’m fixing to die
Well, I don’t mind dying but
I hate to leave my children crying
There’s a black smoke rising, Lord
It’s rising up above my head, up above my head
It’s rising up above my head, up above my head
And tell Jesus make up my dying bed.

I’m walking kind of funny, Lord
I believe I’m fixing to die, fixing to die

Yes I’m walking kind of funny, Lord
I believe I’m fixing to die
Fixing to die, fixing to die
Well, I don’t mind dying
But I hate to leave my children crying.

White’s Version

I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
And I believe I’m fixin’ to die
Believe I’m fixin’ to die
I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I’m fixin’ to die, yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahJust as sho’ we live
It’s a, sho’ we’s born to die
Sho’ we’s born to die
Just as sho’s we live
Sho’ we’s born to die

Yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahYo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That’s why’s I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
Yeah

So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
How my chillen’s mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
‘Cause I told the mother I had to say, goodbye

Look over yon-der
On the buryin’ ground
On the buryin’ ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon’ stand ten thousand
Standin’ still to let me down
Yeah

Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
‘Fore they let me down
Ain’t no need a-them screamin’ an cryin’
On the graveyard ground.

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