When You Got A Good Friend (Robert Johnson)

for "When You Got A Good Friend" are also David William Kelly, Anthony Charles McPhee and others registered for the copyright [GEMA]

Sources:

Gissing, Werner: Mississippi Delta Blues: Formen und Texte von Robert Johnson (1911-1938). (Beiträge zur Jazzforschung. Studies in Jazz Research). Graz, 1986.

Sheet Music:

King of Spades Music

Recordings:

1937 - Robert Johnson - San Antonio, Texas - Nov. 23, 1936 - ARC unissued (2 takes, first released 1961 on Columbia CL1654, second first released 1990 on Columbia 46222) - 2'50 - Robert Johnson (voc, g) - guitar part similar to "I believe I'll Dust My Broom", "Sweet Home Chicago", "Ramblin' On My Mind"

1964 - John Hammond - on: Big City Blues

1968/69 - Tony McPhee - Sept. 7, 1968-June 1969

1973 - Paul Williams & Friends - on: In Memory of Robert Johnson

1985 - Splinter Group - On: Supernatural - An Anthology

1994 - Johnny Winter

1995 - The Radio Kings - on: Live at B.B. Kings

1996 - Guy Davis - on: Call Down the Thunder

1997 - Geoff Bartley - on: Hear That Wind Howl

1997 - Schütze & Stückle - on: Acoustic Blues

1998 - Ken Hamm - on: Galvanized!

1998 - Peter Green Splinter Group - on: The Robert Johnson Songbook

2001 - Chris Thomas King & Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - on: Hellhound on my Trail

2002 - Billy Goodman - on: Blues

2003 - John Hammond - on: At the Crossroads: The Blues of Robert Johnson

2004 - Blues at Midnight - on: Blues Tribute to Eric Clapton

2004 - Eric Clapton - on: Me and Mr. Johnson

2004 - Pyeng Threadgill - on: Sweet Home - The Music of Robert Johnson

2004 - Teddy Joe Politzer - on: A Take On Robert Johnson

2005 - Mark Tolstrup - on: Root Magic

2005 - Montana - on: At the Crossroads

2007 - Guy Davis - on: Guy Davis on Air

2007 - Paul Jones & Dave Kelly - on: Live at the Ram Jam Club

2007 - Terry K's Brit Pack Blues - on: Blue Wind Blowing

2008 - Doug Simmons - on: Johnson's Muddy Farm

2008 - Gordon Smith - on: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions

2008 - The Guitar All-Stars - on: Crossroads: The Eric Clapton Sessions

2008 - Simply Red - on: Stars

2008 - Son Lewis - on: Dark Past

? - T.S. McPhee

Mm, when you got a good friend,
That will stay right by your side.
Mm, when you got a good friend,
That will stay right by your side.
Give her all of your spare time,
(Try to) Love and treat her right.

I mistreated my baby,
But I can't see no reason why.
I mistreated my baby,
(But) I can't see no reason why.
Anytime I think about it,
I just wring my hands and cry.

Wonder, could I bear apologize,
Or would she sympathize with me.
Mmm,
or would she sympathize with me.
She's a brownskin woman,
Just as sweet as a girlfriend can be.

(I love my baby,
but I can't ---
I love that woman
But why can't we agree.
I really love that woman,
Once a while we can agree.)

Mmm, (---)
Baby I may be right or wrong.
Baby, it your opinion,
Ooh, I may be right or wrong.
(Well when you) Watch your close friend, baby,
Then your enemies can't do you no harm.

When you got a good friend,
That will stay right by your side.
When you got a good friend,
That will stay right by your side.
Give her all of your spare time,
Love and treat her right.