Standard of the Week: 'Crawling King Snake'

via ArtLetter

'Crawling King Snake' is a blues standard that has been covered by many artists. It's origins go back to the old Mississippi Delta blues of the 1920's. It is thought to be inspired by 'Black Snake Moan' by Blind Lemon Jefferson.

The heavy riff and the lyrics immediately became a favorite. The original version is disputed to be between Big Joe Williams and Tony Hollins (though I could not find the latter's version).

Big Joe Williams (1941)

Since then, some of the bluesmen who covered it were: 

John Lee Hooker (1949)

The Doors (1970)

Muddy Waters (1971)

George Thorogood (1985)

Buddy Guy (2003)