In the pines, where the sun don't shine

April 22, 2019 12:24 PM

It's known by many names: In the Pines, Black Girl, Where Dd You Sleep Last Night. Studio 360's producer, Lauren Hansen tells the story of how In the Pines originated from the English murder ballad tradition and has been interpreted over the years through Appalachian bluegrass, 40's blues, 70's country, in grunge via Kurt Cobain's Unplugged and reinterpreted today through the lens of Black Lives Matter.

Studio 360's Spotify list of 80 versions of the song

Slate's Recap
Basic Lyrics

LeadBelly Previously
Fantastic Negrito's Tiny Desk Concert

posted by Hermeowne Grangepurr (11 comments total)

Studio 360 is a weekend highlight for me.
posted by Bee'sWing at 1:23 PM on April 22, 2019

Dick Rosmini did an instrumental version he called Two Shady Ladies in 3/4 Time. The only online version I could find is this one.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:56 PM on April 22, 2019

Don't forget by Long John Baldry with Maggie Bell!
(from It Ain't Easy, a fantastic album from 1971)
posted by Rash at 3:37 PM on April 22, 2019 [2 favorites]

I will admit that the Cobain version still gives me chills.
posted by gwint at 3:47 PM on April 22, 2019 [7 favorites]

Dick Rosmini did an instrumental version he called Two Shady Ladies in 3/4 Time

I hear yet another antecedent to Stairway to Heaven in there.
posted by sjswitzer at 4:12 PM on April 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

There's a great recent Cajun French version by Michod's Melody Makers.
posted by smelendez at 4:25 PM on April 22, 2019

It’s important to note that Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees recorded a version in 1990, a few years before Nirvana did—in fact Kurt plays guitar on that recording.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:07 PM on April 22, 2019 [3 favorites]

Always been partial to this version. Bill Monroe And The Bluegrass Boys.
posted by freakazoid at 5:54 PM on April 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

I love this outlaw country take from Dark Country 5 but damned if I know who sings it. TCM used this as background music for a promo a few months ago.
posted by Ber at 6:34 PM on April 22, 2019

Heard this segment yesterday while driving and that Fantastic Negrito re-imagining really took my breath away but I hadn't taken the time to put up the full-length recorded. Thanks for sharing!
posted by drlith at 7:52 PM on April 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

Just the other day I was thinking, if I hear this for one more murder podcast intro...

It's getting to be a total cliche. And I used to love it (and played and sang the bluegrass version).
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:11 AM on April 23, 2019