Grateful Dead Family Discography: Nobody's Fault But Mine

Nobody's Fault But Mine

Composer: Traditional / Blind Willie Johnson

Nobody's Fault But Mine was first played by the Grateful Dead in 1966. An example of this version was released on the Birth Of The Dead album and credited as "Traditional arranged Grateful Dead". It disappeared from the repertoire for a few years and reappeared in 1973 played slower and with different lyrics. Grateful Dead recordings of this version are credited to Blind Willie Johnson. After 1974 the song was only played sporadically. The Grateful Dead played a jam based on Nobody's Fault But Mine possibly more times than they played the song with lyrics.

The origins of the song are uncertain. There are early recordings by Clara Smith and Bessie Brown called Tain't Nobody's Fault but My Own. The Bessie Brown song shares the refrain but is otherwise quite different. The best known early recording was by Blind Willie Johnson in 1927. This version was released as It's Nobody's Fault But Mine in 1928. This version has become the "standard" version and many recordings credit Johnson as the songwriter. The version played by the Grateful Dead from 1973 onwards is based on the Blind Willie Johnson version.

On other recordings of the song the lyrics vary and the writing credits vary.

Grateful Dead

Dick's Picks, Vol. 1, 1993
The Golden Road (1965-1973), 2001 (Nobody's Spoonful Jam)
Aoxomoxoa, 2003 expanded CD only (Nobody's Spoonful Jam)
The Birth Of The Dead, 2003
Grateful Dead Download Vol. 8: 12/10/73, Grateful Dead, 2005
Road Trips: Vol 2, No 3: June 1974, Wall Of Sound: Bonus CD, 2009 (jam)
Road Trips: Vol 3, No 3: Fillmore East, 5/15/70 Bonus CD, 2010 (jam)
Road Trips: Vol 4, Number 3: Denver 1973, 2011
Dave's Picks 2012 Bonus CD, 2012
Complete Live Rarities Collection, 2013
Birth Of The Dead, Vol. 2 (The Live Sides), 2014
30 Trips Around The Sun Box Set, 2015
Pacific Northwest '73-'74: Complete Recordings, 2018

Further

July 7, 2012, Philadelphia, PA

Weir/Robinson/Greene Trio

June 3, 2012, Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Bellvue, CO, 2012

Other recordings

Only recordings with the title It's Nobody's Fault But Mine or Nobody's Fault But Mine are included in this list. This list is not intended to be comprehensive.

no info 78 rpm (Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground / It's Nobody's Fault But Mine), Blind Willie Johnson, 1928
no info Single (Precious Lord Hold My Hand / Nobody's Fault But Mine), Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 1941
no info Single (Nobody's Fault But Mine / Sit Down), Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 1949
no info Spirituals & Jazz, Bunk Johnson & The Yerba Buena Jazz Band, 1953
no info Wake The Levee!, The Dixie Stompers, 1956
no info Bunk & Lu, Bunk Johnson / Lu Watters, 1957
no info Blind Willie Johnson: His Story, Blind Willie Johnson, 1957
no info Spirituals Volume 5, Various Artists (The Trumpeteers), 1958
no info Georgia Street Singer, Rev. Pearly Brown, 1959
no info The Rural Blues, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1960
no info Single (Nobody's Fault But Mine / The Storm Is Not Over), Alex Bradford, 1961
no info Single (Good Time In Heaven / Nobody's Fault But Mine), The Hightower Brothers, 1964
no info Single (Lord What A Time / Ain't Nobody's Fault But Mine), The Mighty Silvertones, 1964
no info Amen!, The Staple Singers, 1965
no info Freedom Highway, The Staple Singers, 1965
no info Texas Songster, Live, Vol. 3, Mance Liscomb, 1965
Another Monday, John Renbourn, 1966
no info The Rural Blues, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1966
no info Sing Unto The Lord, The Brooklyn Allstars, 1968
no info Nina Simone And Piano!, Nina Simone, 1969
no info Single (Da-O / Nobody's Fault But Mine), Arthur Conley, 1970
no info Live At The Sugar Shack, Lonnie Youngblood, 1971
no info Make You Happy, The Staple Singers, 1971
no info The John Renbourn Sampler, John Renbourn, 1971
no info God So Loved The World, Delois Barrett Campbell And The Barrett Sisters, 1972
no info Use What You Got, The Staple Singers, 1973
no info John Renbourn, John Renbourn, 1973
no info Gospel According to Nina Simone, 1973
no info Bazaar, Sylvester And The Hot Band, 1973
no info Shame On You, The Supreme Angels, 1973
no info Better Days, Paul Butterfield, 1973
no info Spirituals Volume 1, Ken Colyer's Jazzmen, 1974
no info Presence, Led Zeppelin, 1976
no info Our Greatest Hits, The Brooklyn Allstars, 1976
no info Folk Music In America, Vol. 1, Religious Music, Various Artists (Georgia Singers), 1976
no info Praise God I'm Satisfied, Blind Willie Johnson, 1977
Lonesome Road, Doc & Merle Watson, 1977
Reckless Abandon, David Bromberg, 1977
no info The Grand River Lullabye, Alex Bevan, 1978
no info How To Play Blues Guitar Vol. 2, Stefan Grossman, 1978
no info Hold The Light..., Mitty Collier, 1978
no info This Too Shall Pass, Marion Williams, 1978
no info We'll Lay Down Our Lives For The Lord, Rev. Julius Cheeks, 1979
no info Gospel Nights: Recorded At McCabes, Maria Muldaur With Special Guest Artists The Chambers Bros, 1980
no info Sing The Children Over, Loren Mazzacane & Kath Bloom, 1982
no info Something's On My Mind (That's Worrying Me), The Highway QC's, 1983
no info The Essential Collection, Vol 1: The Soho Years, John Renbourn, 1986
no info Pops Staples, Pops Staples, 1987
no info Takoma Plus One, John Fahey & Maria Muldaur, 1987
no info Cupid Is Stupid, Kristina Olsen & The Loose String Band, 1987
Take Me Back, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, 1988
no info Shovel, Feedtime, 1988
no info Texas Songster, Mance Lipscomb, 1989
no info Trimmed & Burnin', Kaiser / Mansfield, 1990
no info Remasters, Led Zeppelin, 1990
no info Texas Songster, Mance Lipscomb, 1990
no info Freedom Highway (comp), The Staple Singers, 1991
no info 5,000,000, Dread Zeppelin, 1991
no info The Blues, Nina Simone, 1991
no info The Art Of Bottleneck/Slide Guitar, Sam Mitchell, 1991
no info Traditional Delta Blues, Johnny Shines, 1991
no info Blues With A Feelin', Mansfield / Turner, 1991
no info Great Blues Guitarists: String Dazzlers, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1991
Complete Recordings Of, Blind Willie Johnson, 1993
no info The Complete Studio Recordings, Led Zeppelin, 1993
no info Nobody's Fault But Mine, Tom Pomposello, 1993
no info The Great Gospel Women, Various Artists (Sister Rosetta Tharpe), 1993
no info No Quarter, Jimmy Page / Robert Plant, 1994
no info The Storm Is Passing Over, Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars, 1994
no info Drowning With Land In Sight, The 77's, 1994
The Gospel Sound, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1994
no info No Quarter: Unledded (video), Jimmy Page / Robert Plant, 1995
no info The Best Of The Brooklyn All Stars, 1995
no info The Best Of Delois Barrett Campbell And The Barrett Sisters, 1995
no info Stock Yards Strut, The Dixie Stompers, 1995
no info Edge Of Night, Mike Henderson, 1996
no info Before the Blues, Vol. 2: The Early American Black Music Scene, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1996
Dark Was the Night: The Essential Recordings, Blind Willie Johnson, 1997
no info Saga Of The Good Life And Hard Times, Nina Simone, 1997
no info If You've Ever Been Mistreated, Doug Quattlebaum, 1997
no info Out Of Hours, Pete Gage, 1997
no info BBC Sessions, Led Zeppelin, 1997
no info The Oxford American Southern Sampler, Various Artists (Sister Rosetta Tharpe), 1997
no info Dark Was the Night, Blind Willie Johnson, 1998
Reckless Abandon / Bandit in a Bathing Suit, David Bromberg, 1998
no info Sugar In My Bowl: The Very Best Of: 1967-1972, Nina Simone, 1998
Live At Winterland Ballroom, Paul Butterfield's Better Days, 1999
no info Nobody's Fault But Mine, Ronnie Lovejoy, 1999
no info Stranger Blues, Dream City Film Club, 1999
no info Time To Burn, Jake Andrews, 1999
no info Bill Sims, Bill Sims, 1999
no info In Praise Of Him, The Staple Singers, 1999
no info The Nashville Sessions, Leftover Salmon, 1999
no info The Half Ain't Never Been Told: Early American Rural Religious Music Vol. 2, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 1999
no info The Song Remains Remixed: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (John Corabi), 1999
Life Is a Nightmare, Eugene Huggins, 2000
no info Latter Days: The Best Of, Volume Two, Led Zeppelin, 2000
no info Live At The Greek, Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, 2000
no info Winter Sun, Glenn Kaiser Band, 2000
no info It's For You, Michael Roe, 2000
no info 8ighty 8ight / When Numbers Get Serious, Seventy Sevens, 2000
no info Mulebone, Mulebone, 2000
no info Dead Zeppelin: A Metal Tribute To Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (Orange Moon), 2000
no info The Pentangle Family, Various Artists (John Renbourn), 2000
no info Sending Me Angels, Kelly Richey, 2001
no info Spirit Of The Century, Blind Boys Of Alabama, 2001
no info Amazing Gospel, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2001
Lonesome Road / Look Away!, Doc & Merle Watson, 2002
no info Early Days & Latter Days: The Best Of Volumes One And Two, Led Zeppelin, 2002
no info Nobody's Fault But Mine, Daniel Littleton, 2002
no info Diamond Jubilation: 75th Anniversary, The Dixie Hummingbirds, 2003
no info Pickin' On Led Zeppelin Volume II A Bluegrass Tribute, 2003
no info The Gospel Of The Blues, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, 2003
no info Slow Days With Nina, The Walkabouts, 2003
no info Shout, Sister, Shout! A Tribute To Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Various Artists (Joan Osborne / Holmes Brothers), 2003
no info Choices, Kr�ger Brothers, 2004
no info Soul of a Man, Blind Willie Johnson, 2004
no info Nobody's Fault But Mine / Down By The Riverside, Daniel Littleton, 2004
no info The Best Of Vol. 1, Darrell Mansfield, 2004
no info The Definitive Collection, Martin Simpson, 2004
no info Dare You To Do It Again, Jessie Mae Hemphill & Friends, 2004
no info 3D, Jing Chi, 2004
no info Spreading The Words: Early Gospel Recordings, Various Artists (Sister Lottie Peavey), 2004
Dark Was the Night: A Tribute to the Music of Blind Willie Johnson, Various Artists (Martin Simpson), 2004
no info King of the Guitar Evangelists, Blind Willie Johnson, 2005
no info Motivational Speaker, Alvin Youngblood Hart, 2005
no info Song Of The Traveling Daughter, Abigail Washburn, 2005
no info Bywater Dance, Mary Flower, 2005
Blind Willie Johnson and the Guitar Evangelists, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2005
no info The Classic Records Led Zeppelin 45 rpm Box Set, Led Zeppelin, 2006
no info The Definitive Collection, Nina Simone, 2006
no info Dust On Rust, Larry Norman, 2006
no info World's Greatest Metal Tribute To Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (John Corabi), 2006
Nobody's Fault But Mine, Blind Willie Johnson, 2007
no info At The Crossroads, Robert B. Jones, 2007
no info Mothership, Led Zeppelin, 2007
no info Renditions Of Led Zeppelin, Buddha Lounge, 2007
no info Just Rolled In, Toby Walker, 2007
no info Nobody's Fault But Mine, Edwin McCain, 2008
no info Definitive Collection Of Mini-LP Replica CDs, Led Zeppelin, 2008
no info Little Dreamer, Beth Rowley, 2008
no info Fired Up & Ready, Mike Whellans, 2008
no info Truth, Robben Ford, 2007
Beginner's Guide To Blues Music, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2008
no info The Sweeter The Juice, Laura Love & Orville Johnson, 2009
no info Blue Star (CD bonus track), Nick Gravenites, 2009
no info Alone The Live EP, Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals, 2009
no info The Roots of Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2009
no info Booker's Guitar, Eric Bibb, 2010
no info Beautiful Dreamers, Bill Frisell, 2010
no info Country Music, Willie Nelson, 2010
no info Personal Jesus, Nina Hagen, 2010
no info One Way Ticket, Bryn Haworth, 2010
no info Inside Out, Bryn Haworth, 2010
no info From The Land Of Ice & Snow: The Songs Of Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (Carcrashlander), 2010
no info The Complete RCA Albums Collection, Nina Simone, 2011
no info The Return of Lasso, Lasso, 2011
no info Sounds Of Home, Blue Highway, 2011
no info Nobody's Fault, Pat Donohue, 2011
Folk Standards, Pascal Maupeu, 2011
Robert Plant's Jukebox, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2011
no info Celebration Day, Led Zeppelin, 2012
no info Blues On Fire, Pat Travers, 2012
no info Cornerstone Is Dead... Long Live Cornerstone, The 77s, 2012
no info Cornerstone Forever EP, The 77s, 2012
no info The 2120 Sessions, Becky Barksdale, 2013
no info Only Slightly Mad, David Bromberg Band, 2013
no info Electric Delta, Sean Michel, 2013
no info In My Soul, The Robert Cray Band, 2014
no info The Soul Of Designer Records, Various Artists (The Original Golden Stars), 2014
no info Live Texas Trio, Carolyn Wonderland, 2015
no info Don't Lose This, Pops Staples, 2015
no info Brandon's Blues, Joey Gilmore, 2015
no info Dirty Memory, JJ Appleton / Jason Ricci, 2015
no info Live At Southern Ground, Martin Harley & Daniel Kimbro, 2015
no info Seaside, Liane Carroll, 2015
no info Dazed And Confused: A Stoned-Out Salute To Led Zeppelin, Various Artists (The Machine), 2015
no info Gothic, Michael Roe, 2016
no info God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson, Various Artists (Lucinda Williams), 2016
no info American Epic: The Best Of Blind Willie Johnson, 2017
no info The Prodigal Son, Ry Cooder, 2018
no info Live At Antone's, Ulrich Ellison And Tribe, 2018
no info Babylon Is Falling, Delta Moon, 2018
no info Love Lives On, Dana Fuchs, 2018
no info Unpentangled: The Sixties Albums, John Renbourn, 2019
no info The Blues Came Falling Down: Live 1973, Johnny Shines, 2019
no info The Rough Guide To Blind, Black, And Blue, Various Artists (Blind Willie Johnson), 2019
no info 30 Years Under The Big Top, Leftover Salmon, 2020