Educate me about the "crossroads" legend/myth. Is it just in music? Just in US?

[unsinkable]

Where did it begin, this idea that you meet evil at crossroads?

 

 

Editing to add: this is some of what I already know:

 

 

I did look up some Robert Johnson crossroads stuff but I thought there'd be some good reliable info from our WTM experts.

 

He wrote the song Crossroad Blues and supposedly made a deal with the devil to become a better musician. Legend is that he met the devil at a crossroads.

 

And the o brother where art thou scene made me wonder if it goes back to Ancient Greece.

[Parrothead]

It comes from African folk magic. Check wiki for "crossroads (mythology)"

[unsinkable]

I did look up some Robert Johnson crossroads stuff but I thought there'd be some good reliable info from our WTM experts.

[Parrothead]

I did look up some Robert Johnson crossroads stuff but I thought there'd be some good reliable info from our WTM experts.

Who is Robert Johnson?

[unsinkable]

He wrote the song Crossroad Blues and supposedly made a deal with the devil to become a better musician. Legend is that he met the devil at a crossroads.

 

 

[unsinkable]

He wrote the song Crossroad Blues and supposedly made a deal with the devil to become a better musician. Legend is that he met the devil at a crossroads.

 

 

There is a scene in o brother where art thou, where they meet a Tommy Johnson who had met the devil at a crossroads. So I did not know if the legend goes back to Ancient Greece.

[Parrothead]

 

 

 

There is a scene in o brother where art thou, where they meet a Tommy Johnson who had met the devil at a crossroads. So I did not know if the legend goes back to Ancient Greece.

 

 

No, it is an African thing. Hecate is the greek goddess of the crossroads.

[TechWife]

I've never heard this. The way I (and apparently my entire family) see "crossroads" is as a point in time where a decision has to me made or was made where the consequences of the decision are long lasting, perhaps even lifelong. Sometimes people are at a crossroad and don't even know it.

 

Examples:

Whether or not to go to college

Whether or not to date someone who doesn't share your Spiritual beliefs

To send a child to school or continue to homeschool

Serious issues of faith (can be God vs. devil, definitely)

What church to attend

 

Another way I see a crossroad is in the terms of milestone. A person has reached a particular milestone in their life and the potential exists for change because of that:

Complete 10 years of service with the same company, decide to stay

Learn to walk, life is never the same for anyone!

A disabled person learning or re-learning a new skill

[ChocolateReignRemix]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_%28mythology%29

[Parrothead]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_%28mythology%29

Thanks. I couldn't link it.

[Mrs Mungo]

There are lots of legends about people selling their souls to/making a deal with the Devil-Faust, the architect of the Cologne Cathedral, etc. But, virtually every time the crossroads are referenced in modern American music, they are referring to Robert Johnson.

[Mrs Mungo]

I've never heard this. The way I (and apparently my entire family) see "crossroads" is as a point in time where a decision has to me made or was made where the consequences of the decision are long lasting, perhaps even lifelong. Sometimes people are at a crossroad and don't even know it.

 

I don't disagree that it is generally used this way as a general figure of speech. But, when it is used in modern American songs (except, maybe Christian songs), it is usually referring to Robert Johnson's tale.

[elizabeth]

OK Ladies here goes. I am a practitioner as in a hoodoo/christian conjure worker. It was not Robert Johnson and is commonly said but rather was said to be Tommy Johnson. Here is a link to the information and I hope you enjoy the links to the music as well as the best information on the net about African American folk magic or just plain old conjure. I know many here do not consider this to http://www.luckymojo.com/crossroads.html be "Godly" but it is for me so please be kind if you comment on my religious beliefs and I will certainly do likewise. I am a bit surprised this subject came up but there you go, so be it. You asked and I answered.

[Mrs Mungo]

Elizabeth, I am going to have to disagree with you. The guy in "O Brother Where Art Thou" is named Tommy Johnson, but that is a nod to the famous blues guitarist Robert Johnson. Robert is the real-life guitarist about whom this tale has been repeatedly told. I don't know anything about hoodoo, but I know a lot about music. I agree that the real life guy (but much less famous) Tommy Johnson's brother claimed the same story. But, I have heard it associated with Robert more often. Even Cream recorded a cover of Robert's song. When the reference is made in music, they are usually referring to Robert Johnson.

[elizabeth]

We will have to agree to disagree. The Hyatt notebooks that I have read from 1939 on are fairly dispositive that the song Crossroads Blues were about needing to hitch a ride to avoid a lynching not selling his soul to the devil. If you do not know about hoodoo then your knowledge of blues lyrics and music is not based in the reality of those who sang it and wrote it. That is just a fact not a judgement. Cream and Eric Clapton in particular as a solo artist have done more damage to authentic blues musicians who actually can play than I can describe. I do this, my family plays this music and my 16 year old can play that music like it ought to be played, as could her uncle, grandfathers and grandmothers. I do hope you read the link I shared but here is another that supports my contention that it was Tommy Johnson who the story is about not Robert although he also was a hoodoo man as well. In the end we will likely agree to disagree but it sure is an interesting topic. http://xroads.virgin.../blues/crb.html Well trained minds question everything indeed and so here we are! And that in my mind is a good thing for all.