BLACK SNAKE BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Black Snake Blues" was composed and first recorded by Victoria Spivey in 1926 in Chicago. The song quickly became influential in the blues tradition and was noted for its vocal expressiveness and lyrical storytelling.

It has been performed and recorded by numerous blues and jazz artists over the decades, maintaining its role as a foundational blues piece.

The lyrics depict emotional struggle and loss, using the metaphor of a 'black snake' to represent personal hardships. Musically, it follows a 12-bar blues structure with room for improvisation and melodic variation.