Nobody's Fault But Mine

Nobody’s Fault But Mine

Blind Willie Johnson’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” later covered by Led Zeppelin, is a classic example of the way music reflects its time. The musical styles convey the challenges, mentalities, and struggles unique to each era. Through its sustained melody, Johnson’s 1927 version is a melancholy expression of his spirit, as the blues style echoes the depths of his guilt and his struggle. In contrast, Led Zeppelin gives only the pretense of guilt, which is invariably carried away, dismissed, and at times drowned out by the fast paced, high-volume chords. The two versions’ different lyrics capture the influences and attitudes that reflect their respective eras. Where Johnson struggles with the guilt of betraying Christianity for his music’s spirituality, Led Zeppelin’s version identifies with the heavy metal artist’s struggle. Johnson’s theme of “selling ones sound” at the “crossroads,” for artistic greatness, pervasive through...