25:
140:
No. 4753. Like many folk songs passed by oral tradition, the lyrics vary from version to version, but generally all contain the chorus "It takes a worried man to sing a worried song/It takes a worried man to sing a worried song/I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long." The verses tell the story
341:
recording, the duo Steve
Ledford and Daniel Nicholson accompanied by the Carolina Ramblers String Band recorded a "Worried Man Blues" in New York in 1932, possibly more similar to the Carters' song than the other blues records, but discography listings do not include the lyrics.
915:
939:
931:
907:
141:
of a man imprisoned for unknown reasons "I went across the river, and I lay down to sleep/When I woke up, had shackles on my feet", who pines for his lost love, who is "on the train and gone."
947:
1426:
195:
wrote new verses centering on the daily life of a married suburban businessmen and recorded it in 1959 as "A Worried Man", while Lester Flatt and Earl
Scruggs included it on their 1961
899:
963:
770:"Steve Ledford And Daniel Nicholson Acc. By Carolina Ramblers String Band / Rodgers* And Nicholson* Acc. By Carolina Ramblers String Band - Ninety Nine Years / Worried Man Blues"
577:
1078:
769:
262:
717:
602:
923:
271:'s song "It Takes a Worried Man", a.k.a. "Worried Man Blues", was recorded and filmed with the band playing radioactive waste garbage men in the 1982 film
476:
501:
1287:
1086:
628:"Cover versions of It Takes a Worried Man (To Sing a Worried Song) by Lonnie Donegan's Skiffle Group with Chris Barber - SecondHandSongs"
718:"Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs* Featuring Mother Maybelle Carter* & The Foggy Mountain Boys - Songs Of The Famous Carter Family"
337:) have recorded songs with titles similar to "Worried Man Blues", but with entirely different lyrics and melody. Shortly after the
1003:
955:
812:
89:
982:
61:
1038:
426:
1577:
1280:
703:
68:
305:
42:
743:
1299:
663:
451:
108:
1557:
1362:
1239:
226:
75:
1370:
1338:
1273:
1119:
154:
46:
191:
arrangement in 1955, with vocals by Dickie Bishop, paying homage to
Guthrie and Houston in a later interview.
57:
1572:
1129:
1552:
1537:
1532:
1010:
1582:
1562:
1124:
1104:
805:
398:' 2009 song "It Happens All the Time" contains the line "It takes a worried man to sing a worried song".
391:, in their 1997 song "Big Brown Eyes", include the line "It takes a worried man to sing a worried song".
1567:
1542:
1483:
288:
1386:
1224:
1024:
1206:
653:
172:
1378:
1017:
872:
346:
35:
452:"Library of Congress Recordings, Vols. 1-3 - Woody Guthrie - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic"
1322:
1109:
996:
989:
798:
82:
230:
TV series. The song has been performed by many bluegrass, folk and country artists, including
183:
instruction record and booklet (Folkways CRB1) as well as his concerts throughout the 1960s.
1491:
1453:
1296:
1234:
690:
280:
1410:
1354:
395:
231:
137:
8:
1547:
1461:
627:
552:
355:
196:
1434:
1252:
1229:
1150:
1114:
1476:
1468:
1180:
1031:
882:
659:
192:
130:
1265:
553:"Jack Elliott & Derroll Adams: Early Sessions - The Official Derroll Adams Site"
1346:
1314:
877:
857:
384:'s 1996 song "Hotwax", he sings "It takes a backwash man to sing a backwash song".
334:
322:
318:
235:
207:
1175:
1165:
1070:
1045:
842:
578:"Folksinger's Guitar Guide, Vol. 1: An Instruction Record - Smithsonian Folkways"
203:
526:
1418:
1145:
867:
698:
686:
377:
sings "It takes a worried man to sing a worried song, and I'm not one of 'em!"
374:
251:
184:
1526:
1402:
1246:
1200:
821:
366:
338:
284:
273:
220:
165:
161:
150:
1394:
1160:
852:
847:
832:
691:"Show 18 - Blowin' in the Wind: Pop discovers folk music. [Part 1]"
527:"Original versions of The Worried Man Blues by Burl Ives - SecondHandSongs"
300:
258:
247:
239:
1330:
1170:
1155:
862:
837:
388:
330:
224:
television series in 1966, and performed it in concerts and on the later
215:
211:
176:
164:
in 1940, and in the years that followed by his sometime singing partners
402:
363:
350:
133:
326:
168:
126:
24:
1427:
No-One Cares About Your
Creative Hub So Get Your Fuckin' Hedge Cut
370:
188:
790:
1079:
The
Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family
263:
The
Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family
359:: "the professor is a worried man, and a worried man sings".
427:"Victor matrix BVE-59987. Worried man blues / Carter Family"
381:
268:
243:
655:
Lonnie
Donegan and the Birth of British Rock & Roll
144:
1295:
744:"The Stanley Brothers - Together For The Last Time"
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
292:. It also appears on their 2016 compilation album
1524:
1087:Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash
312:
1281:
806:
431:Discography of American Historical Recordings
1288:
1274:
813:
799:
685:
651:
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
1151:Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters
179:. It was included by Seeger in his 1955
1525:
983:Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
652:Humphries, Patrick (22 October 2012).
369:references "Worried Man Blues" in the
1269:
794:
409:, all the characters sing this song.
1004:I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
362:In their 1995 song "Rollerkoaster",
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
704:University of North Texas Libraries
145:Notable recordings and performances
13:
317:Numerous blues artists (including
14:
1594:
916:When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland
820:
550:
283:included a version on their 2001
257:"Worried Man Blues" performed by
200:Songs Of The Famous Carter Family
1363:Voyage to the Bottom of the Road
294:...And some fell on stony ground
23:
762:
736:
710:
679:
645:
607:Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
582:Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
506:Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
481:Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
261:is the first song on the album
34:needs additional citations for
1371:Four Lads Who Shook the Wirral
1339:McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt
1120:Maybelle and Ezra Carter House
940:Give Me the Roses While I Live
620:
595:
570:
544:
519:
494:
469:
444:
419:
155:Victor Talking Machine Company
1:
1130:Hendersonville Memory Gardens
412:
218:on the final episode of his
7:
1578:Half Man Half Biscuit songs
1125:Mt. Vernon Methodist Church
1105:A. P. and Sara Carter House
313:References by other artists
153:recorded this song for the
10:
1599:
175:(with Derroll Adams), and
1502:
1445:
1387:Cammell Laird Social Club
1306:
1217:
1192:
1138:
1097:
1062:
1025:Single Girl, Married Girl
1011:I'm Working on a Building
974:
891:
828:
675:– via Google Books.
181:Folksinger's Guitar Guide
160:The song was recorded by
964:Longing for Old Virginia
405:'s 1967 children's book
187:and his band released a
1558:The Kingston Trio songs
1484:Editor's Recommendation
1379:Trouble over Bridgwater
1018:No Depression in Heaven
932:Sunshine in the Shadows
908:My Clinch Mountain Home
658:. Biteback Publishing.
289:Editor's Recommendation
254:, and numerous others.
1323:Back Again in the DHSS
1110:A. P. Carter Homeplace
997:Keep on the Sunny Side
990:Engine One-Forty-Three
603:"Smithsonian Folkways"
502:"Smithsonian Folkways"
477:"Smithsonian Folkways"
345:The song is quoted by
136:. It is catalogued as
1492:Saucy Haulage Ballads
1454:The Trumpton Riots EP
1297:Half Man Half Biscuit
1235:Carter Family picking
281:Half Man Half Biscuit
173:Ramblin' Jack Elliott
1573:Year of song unknown
1411:90 Bisodol (Crimond)
1355:Some Call It Godcore
1241:The Johnny Cash Show
1139:Related musical acts
948:Gold Watch and Chain
396:Squirrel Nut Zippers
232:The Stanley Brothers
138:Roud Folk Song Index
43:improve this article
1553:Woody Guthrie songs
1538:Carter Family songs
1533:American folk songs
632:Secondhandsongs.com
531:Secondhandsongs.com
407:The Whirling Shapes
356:The Stones of Blood
214:sang the song with
197:Foggy Mountain Boys
58:"Worried Man Blues"
1583:Songs about trains
1563:Van Morrison songs
1435:The Voltarol Years
1256:(1985 documentary)
1253:Sunny Side of Life
1230:Carter Family Fold
1115:A. P. Carter Store
892:Compilation albums
265:released in 2004.
1568:Pete Seeger songs
1543:Johnny Cash songs
1520:
1519:
1511:Worried Man Blues
1477:Look Dad No Tunes
1469:Eno Collaboration
1263:
1262:
1181:Carter Family III
1053:Worried Man Blues
1032:Wabash Cannonball
924:Worried Man Blues
193:The Kingston Trio
123:Worried Man Blues
119:
118:
111:
93:
1590:
1347:This Leaden Pall
1315:Back in the DHSS
1290:
1283:
1276:
1267:
1266:
900:Anchored in Love
878:John Carter Cash
858:June Carter Cash
815:
808:
801:
792:
791:
785:
784:
782:
780:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
740:
734:
733:
731:
729:
714:
708:
707:
695:
683:
677:
676:
674:
672:
649:
643:
642:
640:
638:
624:
618:
617:
615:
613:
599:
593:
592:
590:
588:
574:
568:
567:
565:
563:
557:Derrolladams.org
548:
542:
541:
539:
537:
523:
517:
516:
514:
512:
498:
492:
491:
489:
487:
473:
467:
466:
464:
462:
448:
442:
441:
439:
437:
423:
335:Big Joe Williams
323:Blind Boy Fuller
319:Big Bill Broonzy
236:Osborne Brothers
227:Johnny Cash Show
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
16:Traditional song
1598:
1597:
1593:
1592:
1591:
1589:
1588:
1587:
1523:
1522:
1521:
1516:
1498:
1441:
1302:
1294:
1264:
1259:
1213:
1188:
1166:Rosie Nix Adams
1134:
1093:
1071:A Living Legend
1058:
1046:Wildwood Flower
970:
887:
843:Maybelle Carter
824:
819:
789:
788:
778:
776:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
742:
741:
737:
727:
725:
716:
715:
711:
693:
687:Gilliland, John
684:
680:
670:
668:
666:
650:
646:
636:
634:
626:
625:
621:
611:
609:
601:
600:
596:
586:
584:
576:
575:
571:
561:
559:
549:
545:
535:
533:
525:
524:
520:
510:
508:
500:
499:
495:
485:
483:
475:
474:
470:
460:
458:
450:
449:
445:
435:
433:
425:
424:
420:
415:
321:, Sam Collins,
315:
299:It features on
204:Maybelle Carter
147:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1596:
1586:
1585:
1580:
1575:
1570:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1535:
1518:
1517:
1515:
1514:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1499:
1497:
1496:
1488:
1480:
1473:
1465:
1458:
1449:
1447:
1443:
1442:
1440:
1439:
1431:
1423:
1419:Urge for Offal
1415:
1407:
1399:
1391:
1383:
1375:
1367:
1359:
1351:
1343:
1335:
1327:
1319:
1310:
1308:
1304:
1303:
1293:
1292:
1285:
1278:
1270:
1261:
1260:
1258:
1257:
1249:
1244:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1221:
1219:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1211:
1204:
1196:
1194:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1146:Carlene Carter
1142:
1140:
1136:
1135:
1133:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1101:
1099:
1098:Related places
1095:
1094:
1092:
1091:
1083:
1075:
1066:
1064:
1063:Related albums
1060:
1059:
1057:
1056:
1049:
1042:
1035:
1028:
1021:
1014:
1007:
1000:
993:
986:
978:
976:
972:
971:
969:
968:
960:
952:
944:
936:
928:
920:
912:
904:
895:
893:
889:
888:
886:
885:
880:
875:
870:
868:Janette Carter
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
829:
826:
825:
818:
817:
810:
803:
795:
787:
786:
761:
735:
709:
699:Pop Chronicles
678:
664:
644:
619:
594:
569:
551:Adams, Danny.
543:
518:
493:
468:
443:
417:
416:
414:
411:
375:Marcellus Hall
314:
311:
303:'s 2009 album
252:Elliott Murphy
242:, and even by
185:Lonnie Donegan
146:
143:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1595:
1584:
1581:
1579:
1576:
1574:
1571:
1569:
1566:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1530:
1528:
1512:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1501:
1494:
1493:
1489:
1486:
1485:
1481:
1478:
1474:
1471:
1470:
1466:
1463:
1459:
1456:
1455:
1451:
1450:
1448:
1444:
1437:
1436:
1432:
1429:
1428:
1424:
1421:
1420:
1416:
1413:
1412:
1408:
1405:
1404:
1403:CSI:Ambleside
1400:
1397:
1396:
1392:
1389:
1388:
1384:
1381:
1380:
1376:
1373:
1372:
1368:
1365:
1364:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1344:
1341:
1340:
1336:
1333:
1332:
1328:
1325:
1324:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1312:
1311:
1309:
1305:
1301:
1298:
1291:
1286:
1284:
1279:
1277:
1272:
1271:
1268:
1255:
1254:
1250:
1248:
1247:House of Cash
1245:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1216:
1210:
1209:
1205:
1203:
1202:
1201:Walk the Line
1198:
1197:
1195:
1191:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1176:Robbie Harden
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1141:
1137:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1096:
1089:
1088:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1076:
1073:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1065:
1061:
1054:
1050:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1039:When I'm Gone
1036:
1033:
1029:
1026:
1022:
1019:
1015:
1012:
1008:
1005:
1001:
998:
994:
991:
987:
984:
980:
979:
977:
973:
966:
965:
961:
958:
957:
956:Last Sessions
953:
950:
949:
945:
942:
941:
937:
934:
933:
929:
926:
925:
921:
918:
917:
913:
910:
909:
905:
902:
901:
897:
896:
894:
890:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
830:
827:
823:
822:Carter Family
816:
811:
809:
804:
802:
797:
796:
793:
775:
771:
765:
749:
745:
739:
723:
719:
713:
705:
701:
700:
692:
688:
682:
667:
665:9781849544764
661:
657:
656:
648:
633:
629:
623:
608:
604:
598:
583:
579:
573:
558:
554:
547:
532:
528:
522:
507:
503:
497:
482:
478:
472:
457:
453:
447:
432:
428:
422:
418:
410:
408:
404:
399:
397:
392:
390:
385:
383:
378:
376:
372:
368:
367:Railroad Jerk
365:
360:
358:
357:
352:
348:
343:
340:
339:Carter Family
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
310:
308:
307:
306:Sunny Side Up
302:
297:
295:
291:
290:
286:
282:
278:
276:
275:
274:Human Highway
270:
266:
264:
260:
255:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
228:
223:
222:
221:Rainbow Quest
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
167:
166:Cisco Houston
163:
162:Woody Guthrie
158:
156:
152:
151:Carter Family
142:
139:
135:
132:
128:
124:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1510:
1490:
1482:
1467:
1452:
1433:
1425:
1417:
1409:
1401:
1395:Achtung Bono
1393:
1385:
1377:
1369:
1361:
1353:
1345:
1337:
1329:
1321:
1313:
1251:
1240:
1208:Ring of Fire
1207:
1199:
1161:Rosanne Cash
1085:
1077:
1069:
1052:
962:
954:
946:
938:
930:
922:
914:
906:
898:
853:Anita Carter
848:Helen Carter
833:A. P. Carter
777:. Retrieved
773:
764:
752:. Retrieved
747:
738:
726:. Retrieved
721:
712:
697:
681:
669:. Retrieved
654:
647:
635:. Retrieved
631:
622:
610:. Retrieved
606:
597:
585:. Retrieved
581:
572:
560:. Retrieved
556:
546:
534:. Retrieved
530:
521:
509:. Retrieved
505:
496:
484:. Retrieved
480:
471:
459:. Retrieved
455:
446:
436:December 16,
434:. Retrieved
430:
421:
406:
400:
393:
386:
379:
361:
354:
349:in the 1978
344:
316:
304:
301:Paolo Nutini
298:
293:
287:
279:
272:
267:
259:George Jones
256:
248:Van Morrison
240:George Jones
225:
219:
199:
180:
159:
148:
122:
120:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1503:Other songs
1446:Singles/EPs
1300:discography
1225:Discography
1171:Chet Atkins
1156:Johnny Cash
863:Ezra Carter
838:Sara Carter
331:Sonny Terry
216:Pete Seeger
212:Johnny Cash
208:June Carter
202:album with
177:Pete Seeger
131:roots music
1548:Devo songs
1527:Categories
883:Laura Cash
873:Joe Carter
413:References
403:Joan North
364:indie band
351:Doctor Who
347:The Doctor
134:repertoire
99:March 2014
69:newspapers
1462:Let's Not
1185:Dale Jett
779:1 January
754:1 January
728:1 January
671:1 January
637:1 January
612:1 January
587:1 January
562:1 January
536:1 January
511:1 January
486:1 January
461:1 January
387:The band
327:Tampa Red
169:Burl Ives
157:in 1930.
127:folk song
1513:" (2001)
1479:" (1999)
1464:" (1990)
689:(1969).
456:AllMusic
389:Old 97's
1218:Related
1193:Biopics
774:Discogs
748:Discogs
722:Discogs
694:(audio)
371:refrain
189:skiffle
129:in the
125:" is a
83:scholar
1495:(2003)
1487:(2001)
1472:(1996)
1457:(1986)
1438:(2022)
1430:(2018)
1422:(2014)
1414:(2011)
1406:(2008)
1398:(2005)
1390:(2002)
1382:(2000)
1374:(1998)
1366:(1997)
1358:(1995)
1350:(1993)
1342:(1991)
1334:(1989)
1326:(1987)
1318:(1985)
1307:Albums
1090:(2007)
1082:(2004)
1074:(1965)
967:(1998)
959:(1998)
951:(1998)
943:(1997)
935:(1997)
927:(1995)
919:(1995)
911:(1993)
903:(1993)
750:. 1972
724:. 1961
662:
353:story
333:, and
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
975:Songs
373:, as
90:JSTOR
76:books
781:2018
756:2018
730:2018
673:2018
660:ISBN
639:2018
614:2018
589:2018
564:2018
538:2018
513:2018
488:2018
463:2018
438:2014
394:The
382:Beck
269:Devo
244:Devo
210:and
149:The
62:news
1331:ACD
401:In
380:In
45:by
1529::
772:.
746:.
720:.
702:.
696:.
630:.
605:.
580:.
555:.
529:.
504:.
479:.
454:.
429:.
329:,
325:,
309:.
296:.
285:EP
277:.
250:,
246:,
238:,
234:,
206:.
171:,
1509:"
1475:"
1460:"
1289:e
1282:t
1275:v
1055:"
1051:"
1048:"
1044:"
1041:"
1037:"
1034:"
1030:"
1027:"
1023:"
1020:"
1016:"
1013:"
1009:"
1006:"
1002:"
999:"
995:"
992:"
988:"
985:"
981:"
814:e
807:t
800:v
783:.
758:.
732:.
706:.
641:.
616:.
591:.
566:.
540:.
515:.
490:.
465:.
440:.
121:"
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
