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There is something to be said for simplicity. In fact, there is a lot to be said for simplicity, especially when you’re talking about Bobby Womack. From what we’ve heard so far of his Damon Albarn/Richard Russell produced album, The Bravest Man In The Universe, there is an electronic influence to much of the production, and while it’s great to hear a legend like Bobby trying something new, the simple pleasure of an acoustic guitar and his wonderfully emotive voice remains hard to beat.
This video was shot in Bobby Womack’s home, and he had the following to say about the song:
“Deep River is a song that was sung back in the plantation days, where blacks sung to deliver messages. It was like their newspaper, they would talk to each other in the fields – that’s what my father used to tell me. He would say, ‘They would sing a song and if it was bad news they would sing it in a torturing way. If it was good news they would make it happy’. Talking about, ‘I want to cross over into campground’. Campground was free country. Everybody wanna be free.”
The Bravest Man In The Universe is released 11th June on XL Recordings, excited would be a gross understatement. Watch Bobby Womack perform “Deep River” below.
