Episode #3.7 - I Got the Blues episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 17, 2026 · 39 MIN

Episode #3.7 - I Got the Blues

from Folk Files · host Olivia Harding

According to many textbooks, the blues is a genre that was born in the rural Mississippi Delta, with roots in the “sorrow songs” of enslaved people. It’s easy, however, to poke holes in this origin story and instead start to see the blues as a joyful, rebellious musical expression that formed in an urban environment. In this episode of Folk Files, we’ll take a look at different theories about the origin of the blues, separate fact from fiction, and uncover the reason why the Mississippi Delta narrative was promoted so strongly. (Note: episode has occasional explicit language and sexual references).For a list of all musical excerpts used in this episode, click here: https://folkfilespodcast.com/episodes/season-3/episode-3-7/Host: Olivia HardingChris Thomas King’s The Blues: The Authentic Narrative of My Music and Culture: https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/the-blues-products-9780897336482.phpVisit the Delta Blues Museum: https://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/Support Folk Files by joining the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/FolkFilesPodcastAssistant Producer: Aaron J. MortonFolk Files is a member of the Bluegrass Situation. Learn more about BGS here: https://thebluegrasssituation.com/Interested in sponsoring Folk Files? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 17, 2026

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Episode #3.7 - I Got the Blues

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