Chewing Pine

A History of Stealin’

There are probably more beautiful songs. There are songs that more people can probably sing along to. But the way in which “Stealin’” was written and has subsequently been performed makes it an American standard. Of late it seems to have been getting its due as well.

Recently, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy took to the stage in NYC and luckily enough the folks from Aquarium Drunkard were there to capture the performance. During the set, BPB and his cohorts included a few versions of old tyme classics – “Stealin’” was one of them. You can find the tracks here.

But if we’re to look at where “Stealin’” has ended up culturally, then we need to go back to the source. There is some argument as to who actually penned the tune originally, but most frequently the song is associated with the Memphis Jug Band who recorded the song in the late ‘20s. Will Shade (1889-1966), the man here credited with the composition, has seen that song in the hands of countless other players and assimilated to a vast number of genres.

The Jerry Garcia version, recorded for the 1996 album he put together with David Grisman, finds “Stealin’” being kept rather intact seventy some years after it was initially recorded by Shade and the Jug Band.

Jerry Garcia and David Grisman from Shady Grove

And while the Garcia and Grisman version is a beautiful and lilting rendition, with the vocals sounding brittle and vulnerable, there are some more aggressive renditions of the tune as well.

The Mojomatics – Live on Radio Onda D’Urto

The above punk version obviously deviates from the other performances discussed herein. But the Mojomatics, hailing from Italy, actually serve to illustrate the point that “Stealin’” is a song that everyone can understand. Everyone can relate to the simplistic and common story being revealed through the lyrics. And beyond “Stealin’” just being good music, its power to connect people across the world is what actually matters – not who wrote it first.