Tune of the Day: Careless Love
This traditional song of obscure origins was one of the best known pieces in the repertory of the Buddy Bolden band in New Orleans, Louisiana at the very start of the 20th century, and has remained a jazz standard and blues standard. Hundreds of recordings have been made in folk, blues, jazz, country, and pop styles; some of the more notable versions include those by Bessie Smith, Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Joan Baez, Ray Charles, Madeleine Peyroux, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.
The lyrics change from version to version, but usually speak of the heartbreak brought on by “careless love”. Frequently, the narrator even threatens to kill his or her wayward lover.
Love, oh love, oh careless love,
You fly to my head like wine,
You've ruined the life of many a poor girl,
and you nearly wrecked this life of mine