Hour 3 of Blues Before Sunrise takes listeners deep into the spiritual crossroads where early gospel, acoustic blues, and sanctified street sermons intertwine. The set opens with Washington Phillips’ haunting “You Can’t Stop a Tattler, Part 1,” a fragile, ethereal performance on his unique zither-like instrument that speaks to both divine truth and earthly gossip. Blind Mamie Forehand and A.C. follow with “Honey in the Rock,” a rickety, front-porch gospel duet brimming with raw conviction.

Brother Willie’s “I Want to Live So God Can Use Me” calls for spiritual accountability, while Reverend Charles White’s “How Long” wrestles with the timeless question of how long suffering must last. From there, the hour ventures into vivid spiritual metaphors: Mother McCollum’s “Jesus Is My Airplane” offers a striking 1930s storefront church vision of deliverance, and Blind Joe Taggart’s “The Half Ain’t Never Been Told” continues in the style of a fiery gospel sermon. Reverend Edward Clayborn’s “Your Enemy Cannot Harm You” reinforces a steadfast faith in the face of opposition.

The focus then shifts to pioneering blues women. Ida Cox’s “Midnight Hour Blues” and Lucille Hegamin’s “The Land of Cotton” bring the mood from the pulpit to the parlor. Rosa Henderson’s “You Get Mad” delivers blues with bite, while Maggie Jones’ “Early Every Morning” offers hard-earned wisdom.

The set takes a turn toward juke-joint grit with Jazz Gillum’s harmonica-fueled “Whiskey Headed Buddy,” followed by Memphis Minnie and Kansas City Joe’s playful yet pointed duet “Give It to Me in My Hand.” Whistlin’ Alex Moore’s “Riverside Blues” and King Solomon Hill’s ghostly “Down on My Bended Knee” add an eerie edge, leading into two final heartbreakers — Peetie Wheatstraw’s “Last Time Blues” and Ishman Bracey’s “Trouble Hearted Blues” — closing the hour with raw emotion and unvarnished truth.

This set captures the blurred lines between sin and salvation, whiskey and redemption, Saturday night revelry and Sunday morning devotion.

Playlist – Hour 3

1. Washington Phillips – You Can’t Stop a Tattler, Pt. 1
2. A.C. & Blind Mamie Forehand – Honey in the Rock
3. Brother Willie’s – I Want to Live So God Can Use Me
4. Reverend Charles White – How Long
5. Mother McCollum – Jesus Is My Airplane
6. Blind Joe Taggart – The Half Ain’t Never Been Told
7. Rev. Edward Clayborn – Your Enemy Cannot Harm You
8. Ida Cox – Midnight Hour Blues
9. Lucille Hegamin – The Land of Cotton
10. Rosa Henderson – You Get Mad
11. Maggie Jones – Early Every Morning
12. Jazz Gillum – Whiskey Headed Buddy
13. Memphis Minnie & Kansas City Joe – Give It to Me in My Hand
14. Whistlin’ Alex Moore – Riverside Blues
15. King Solomon Hill – Down on My Bended Knee
16. Peetie Wheatstraw – Last Time Blues
17. Ishman Bracey – Trouble Hearted Blues