Soulklassieker du jour: I’d Rather Go Blind

De mooiste lovesong ooit, al is ‘lovesong’ eigenlijk een hopeloos inadequate betiteling voor dit desolate meesterwerk. De song werd geschreven door Ellington Jordan en James, die om belastingtechnische redenen haar toenmalige vriendje Billy Foster opvoerde als co-auteur.

Het aantal covers van I’d Rather Go Blind  is niet te tellen. James zelf was bijzonder gecharmeerd van Rod Stewart’s versie op Never A Dull Moment. De bekendste cover is ongetwijfeld die van de Britse bluesband Chicken Shack.

Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talking,
Something deep down in my soul said, “cry girl”´,
When I saw you and that girl, walking out.

Ooo I would rather, I would rather go blind boy,
Than to see you, walk away from me child, and all
Ooooo so you see, I love you so much
That I don’t want to watch you leave me baby,
Most of all, I just don’t, I just don’t want to be free no

Ooo I was just, I was just, I was just sitting here thinking
Of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah,
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips, now baby,
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah.

Ooo and baby, baby, I would rather, I would rather be blind boy
Than to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Ooo baby, baby, baby, I’d rather be blind now