I speak with particular affection towards this song as a man who has had a lifelong struggle with depression. Hellhound on My Trail is a song with a very clear meaning, with a very clear effect. While I don't intend to speak to much of the complex movement of the Blues, there are certain historical effects particular to Robert Johnson that require comment. Robert Johnson recorded between 1936 and 1937. His songs were successful, and his skills were apparent. He mysteriously died in 1938. His story, coupled with his use of demonic themes in his most popular songs, has fueled a legend. Part of this legend is the belief that Johnson sold his soul to the devil, an event often depicted as taking place at the Crossroads he speaks about in his Crossroad Blues. This is one of the many fantastic reasons why the Blues influenced Rock and Roll is often defamed as "devil music." Johnson's Hellhound on My Trail fuels this notion. While clear in its emotion, the Blues style of singing does not lend itself to clarity of diction. For this reason, I have provided lyrics:
I gotta keep movin
I gotta keep movin
Blues fallin down like hail
Blues fallin down like hail
Umm mmmm mmm mmmmmm
Blues fallin down like hail
Blues fallin down like hail
And the days keeps on worryin me
theres a hellhound on my trail
hellhound on my trail
hellhound on my trail
If today was Christmas Eve
If today was Christmas Eve
and tommorow was Christmas Day
spoken : Aow wouldn't we have a time baby
All I would need my little sweet rider just
to pass the time away huh huh
to pass the time away
You sprinkled hot foot powder mmmm
mmm around my door
all around my door
You sprinkled hot foot powder
all around your daddy's door hmm hmm hmm
It keep me with ramblin mind rider
every old place I go
every old place I go
I can tell the wind is risin
the leaves tremblin on the tree
tremblin on the tree
hmmm hmmm hmm mmm
All I needs is my sweet woman
and to keep my company hey hey hey hey
my company
As I understand, there was something of a trend of Robert Johnson analysis in the 50s and 60s. I do not pretend to have a thorough analysis of this work. However, what I can say is what I believe with confidence. To me, this is a song that poetically expresses a life stricken with depression. Part of living with depression is the constant sucking of a void. When its present, you feel its strength, and you struggle. Depression is the Hellhound, and its on your trail. A lot of the song narrates what Johnson has done to work off the demon. To keep moving is a technique to not let sadness take you. In the reference to Christmas Eve, Johnson fantasizes a time that he would surely be happy. In his depressive storm he depends on his 'little sweet rider', his 'sweet woman', to help him get through the time. The trembling leaves on the tree represent his recognition of the storm coming in. It is in this sense that Hellhound on My Trail is a song detailing a life of depression.