Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was a towering icon of the blues and would later become the father of the folk music explosion. “Leadbelly” has held an influence on a variety of artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Kurt Cobain (Good Night, Irene). In 1933, John Lomax made the fist ever recorded version of “Goodnight Irene.” Leadbelly’s “Goodnight Irene” was essentially a song of heartache. The lyrics discuss Irene breaking the narrator’s heart by staying out all night gambling. The narrator contemplates the idea of suicide to ease his heavy heart, mentioning both overdosing on morphine and jumping into a river (Good Night, Irene). Following Huddie Ledbetter’s passing, The Weaver’s cover of “Goodnight Irene” remained on the Billboards for 6 months eventually peaking at #1. Due to the recording's popularity, however, The Weavers' lyrics are the ones that are generally used today. Both versions of “Goodnight, Irene” copy the American folk standard measures of a waltz, and written in a simple 3/4 time that embodies a dreamy and soothing environment (Goodnight, Irene). Perhaps the simplicity of “Goodnight Irene,” both in chord structure and in listening, has helped to keep the song relevant years after the death of it’s creator, Huddie Ledbetter.

Works Cited
“Good Night, Irene" American Blues Scene. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2011/08/good-night-irene/>.
"Goodnight, Irene." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight,_Irene>.