I Got A Mind To Give Up Living
Paul Butterfield · Anthology: The Elektra Years [2002]
And go shopping instead
I've got a mind to give up living
And go shopping instead
Pick me up a tombstone
And be pronounced dead
Well, I read your letter this morning
That was on your place in bed
Oh, when I read your letter this morning
That was on your place in bed
That's when I decided that I'd be better off dead
Oh, yeah
When I read your letter this morning
That was on your place in bed
Yes, when I read your letter this morning
That was on your place in bed
That's when I decided that I'd be better off dead
It read, "There is no use looking or ever hoping
Or ever hoping to get me back"
"Oh, no use looking, baby
Or ever hoping to get me back
Because it's all over now
And, baby, you can bet on that"
Oh, yeah
I Got A Mind To Give Up Living
Paul Butterfield's 'I Got A Mind To Give Up Living' stands as a defining recording of the electric blues era, showcasing his mastery of the harmonica within the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Released on the 2002 compilation 'Anthology: The Elektra Years,' this track exemplifies the raw energy and improvisational freedom that characterized Butterfield's work during the early 1960s. The song captures the band's signature sound, blending Butterfield's virtuosic soloing with the driving rhythm section of the group. As a staple of the blues revival, the recording highlights Butterfield's ability to translate the emotional weight of the blues into a powerful, electrified format that influenced generations of musicians. It remains a testament to his status as a pivotal figure in the development of modern electric blues.