John Lee Hooker actually badder than Jesse James

I was 19 years old when I first heard John Lee Hooker's "I'm bad like Jesse James" and nearly ten years later it's still one of the coolest songs ever.
I was listening to it in my car this afternoon and I'm convinced that it fathered one of my all-time favorite Jimi Hendrix tunes, "Hey Joe."
Hooker, like the paragons of the Blues (Johnson, James, Waters, Lockwood, etc.), grew up in the Mississippi Delta--the birthplace of the Blues.
Originally, Delta Blues was marked by a simple acoustic guitar accompanied (at times) with a harmonica. Since the 1920's, however, the northward expansion of the Delta Blues has changed it significantly. These days, the staple instrument of the Blues is the electric guitar.
Now back to JLH...

This is pure genius, especially when you consider that he was illiterate:

I'm Bad Like Jesse James

I'm bad
I'm bad
Like Jesse James, uh-huh

I had a friend one time
Least I thought I did
He come to me
Said, 'Johnny?'
Said, 'What man?'
'I'm outdoor'
I say, 'Yeah?'

I taken the cat in
Get him a place to stay
And I found out
He goin' 'round town
Tellin' ev'rybody that he
He got my wife

Then I gets mad
I goes to the cat
Like a good guy should
I said, 'Look man
'I'm gonna warn, you just one time'
Next time I warn you'
'I'm gonna use my gun'

'Cause I'm mad, I'm bad, like Jesse James

I'm so mad, I'm so mad.
I'm gonna ruin you this mornin'.
I've got three boys
Do my dirty work
Now, you don't see me
I'm the big boss
I do the payin' off
After they take care of you

In their on way
They may shoot you
They may cut you.
They may drown you
I just don't know
I don't care
Long as they take care of you
In their on way

I'm so mad, I'm bad this mornin', like Jesse James.

They gon' take you right down
By the riverside
Now four is goin' down
Ain't but three comin' back
You read between the line
We're gonna have a deal

'Cause I'm mad, I'm bad, like Jesse James.

They gonna tie yo' hands
They gonna tie yo' feet
They gonna gag your throat
Where you can't holler none

An cryin' won't help you none
Set you in the water
Yeah, the bubbles comin' up.
Whoa
Rrrrrrr
Rrrrrrr

Oh yeah, I'm so mad!

JLH is my favorite Blues man for a number of reasons, not the least of which being his connection to my home state.
Hooker became the single greatest Blues man in Motown after heading north, much like my grandparents did, to work in the auto industry.
He is more of a talker than a singer, but he has that gruff Blind Willie-like voice that I just love.

My top 10 Blues Men (and one woman)

*Favorite tune in parentheses

1.) John Lee Hooker (Bad like Jesse James)
2.) Skip James (Devil Got My Woman)
3.) B.B. King (Paying the Cost to be the Boss)
4.) Blind Willie Johnson (Trouble Soon Be Over)
5.) Leadbelly (Bourgeoise Blues)
6.) Buddy Guy (Midnight Train)
7.) Robert Cray (Times Makes Two)
8.) Robert Johnson (Sweet Home Chicago)
9.) Muddy Waters (Mojo Workin')
10.) Susan Tedeschi (Looking for answers)