I'm So Glad
By: Skip James

Original Performance: Skip James
Written by: Skip James

Versions:
  1. I'm So Glad (3:33)
    Available on The Soul Of A Man.
    Credits
    Robbie Adams: Engineer, Mix
    Beck Hansen: Guitar (Electric), Harmonica, Vocals
 
Lyrics:
I'm So Glad [Version (a)]:

I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I am glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do

I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I am glad
I don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do

I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I am glad
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
I don't know what to do

I'm tired of moanin', tired of weepin'
Tired of moanin' for you
I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I am glad

I'm so tired, I am tired
I am tired, I'm tired
Tired of weepin', tired of moanin'
Tired of moanin', tired of moanin' for you

I'm so glad, I am glad
I am glad, I am glad
I'm tired of moanin', tired of moanin'
Tired of moanin' for you
 
The Song:

"I'm So Glad" is originally a Skip James tune. Beck's version was recorded for director Wim Wender's section of a documentary about the blues. Wenders' part is called The Soul of a Man and focused on three bluesmen, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, and J.B. Lenoir. It aired in 2003.

Beck of course was a natural to do some Skip James songs for the soundtrack. Beck has played or recorded Skip's "Jesus is a Mighty Good Leader," "Devil Got My Woman," "Cypress Grove Blues," and now we can add "I'm So Glad" to that list. "I'm So Glad" is one of Skip's more famous songs, likely because Eric Clapton's supergroup Cream covered it in the 60s.

Skip's original recording is incredible, his guitar playing is freakish! The liner notes to The Complete Early Recordings of Skip James call it "fiendishly fast playing."

Wim Wenders said of Beck's recording the song (in July 2002):
One of the highlights for me was Beck. He wouldn't play the same song in the same way twice. He covered two songs by Skip James—"I'm So Glad" and "Cypress Grove"—and each time he would start, he would play it on a different guitar, with or without harmonica, or with a different rhythm. He played 12 highly different variations of "I'm So Glad, so I had 12 takes but no way to intercut, and that was challenging, to say the least.


As it turns out, the version in the film is Beck on his trusty old electric guitar (the one with the stickers on it) and harmonica. In the film, Beck's performance is of two verses, which flows into some footage of Skip James playing the song. The soundtrack recording is longer. It's a cool performance, one of Beck's best blues moments, and he really makes the song his own. (Someone please leak to me the other 11 takes kthx.)

Here you go, watch the short edit of the song from the film:

 
Notes: