"Statesboro Blues" is a Piedmont blues song written and recorded by Blind Willie McTell, who composed both the music and the lyrics. He first recorded it for Victor in Atlanta on 17 October 1928. The recording was issued in January 1929 as Victor 38001, with "Three Women Blues" on the A-side, and the song was published on 3 June 1929 by Southern Music Publishing Co. The title refers to Statesboro, Georgia, which McTell called his real home.
The song was later recognised by the National Recording Registry in 2016 and by the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017. Taj Mahal recorded a blues-rock version with slide guitar on his 1968 debut album, and Duane Allman learned slide guitar from that recording. The Allman Brothers Band performed the song at the Fillmore East in March 1971, and their version on At Fillmore East is ranked ninth on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs. Many other artists have recorded it, among them the Holy Modal Rounders, Koerner, Ray & Glover, Dave Van Ronk, The Youngbloods and Dion.
