I like the Taylor-versions as well, but I totally get what you're saying about the 78-versions, Tom!

The red light/blue light lyric first appeared in Blind Lemon
Jefferson's Dry Spell Blues some 10 years before Johnson's Love In Vain...










Blind Lemon Jefferson - Dry Southern Blues 1929

My mind leads me to take a trip down south
My mind leads me to take a trip down south
Take a trip down south and stop at a fatmouth's house

One train's at the depot with the red and blue lights behind
One train's at the depot with the red and blue lights behind
Well, the blue light's the blues, the red light's the worried mind

I hate to tell you, sugar, it t'ain't nobody there
I hate to tell you, sugar, it t'ain't nobody there
If a man stay here, he'll stay most anywhere

I got up this mornin', ramblin' for my shoes
I got up this mornin', ramblin' for my shoes
The little woman said to me, 'It's all the world-weary blues'

Uncle Sam was no woman, but didn't he draft your man?
Uncle Sam was no woman, but didn't he draft your man?
Tell me them good-lookin' womens on the border's raisin' sand.

Well, women on the border's drinkin' over the water trough
Well, women on the border's drinkin' over the water trough
I wished Uncle Sam would hurry up and pay these soldiers off

I can't drink coffee and the woman won't make no tea
I can't drink coffee and the woman won't make no tea
I believe to my soul sweet mama gonna hoodoo me

I asked the girl did she love me, said, 'Lemon, I don't know how'
I asked the girl did she love me, said, 'Lemon, I don't know how'
Caught me commentatin', 'Yes, I love you sky high'

She had feet like a monkey, head like a teddy bear
She had feet like a monkey, head like a teddy bear
And a mouth full of lip, I guarantees it's everywhere.

I've got a girl in Cuba, I've got a girl in Spain
I've got a girl in Cuba, I've got a girl in Spain
I've got a brownie yonder in Dallas, I'm afraid to call her name



ROCKMAN

Nice Rockman! Borrowing entire verses from each other was obviously more acceptable to the old bluesmen, copywrite money sure took that spirit of cooperation away. peace

Funny that this song is being talked about in-depth here, yesterday on a radio station here in Pittsburgh a caller requested this song and after the DJ started talking about this song in-depth and all the ways the Stones used to play it.

1972 live version w/ M. Taylor is the best for me!

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LeonidP
1972 live version w/ M. Taylor is the best for me!

Saw it on the Live in Texas last night and the 1978 versions are awesome in a different way than with the Taylor versions. Proof that the Stones have always been able to present a song in many different ways and make them work. 1978 is a Mick Jagger highlight and yes it fits in with the punk edge that they are able to go back and be a blues band and pure staright forward RNR with Sweet little Sixteen.

The studio version is one of the best blues covers of all time. The Mick Taylor solos from 69 to 72 are sublime. I don't like the 78 version, the one from Live In Texas is ruined for me by Wood's second solo where he does his usual thing of playing the highest notes possible without making any sense.

I caught the Stones on the Licks Tour in 2002 when they played at the First Union Center in Philly for their arena gig. They showcased Let it Bleed that night and opened up the mini-set with a very soulful Love in Vain with Ronnie on pedal steel and I thought that Jagger turned in a nice vocal. THat was one of the latter day best Stones shows I had seen as it included Can't You Hear Me Knocking which rocked! Also a memorable show because Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders opened and put on a pretty spirited set.

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Sighunt
I caught the Stones on the Licks Tour in 2002 when they played at the First Union Center in Philly for their arena gig. They showcased Let it Bleed that night and opened up the mini-set with a very soulful Love in Vain with Ronnie on pedal steel and I thought that Jagger turned in a nice vocal. THat was one of the latter day best Stones shows I had seen as it included Can't You Hear Me Knocking which rocked! Also a memorable show because Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders opened and put on a pretty spirited set.

Ever come across a recording of this version? I was at that show too and LIV was a highlight for me. All the incarnations of this song have their merit. I love Ronnie's Dobro on Stripped. Such a haunting slide. Interesting note is the odd 12/8 time signature of the song. I never bothered to count if this was in RJ's original or if this was the Stones interpretation.