Grown So Ugly

Grown So Ugly is a song that many of us have probably heard at least one version of. It was originally written and performed by Robert Pete Williams, and has since been covered numerous times, but there are two standouts. On the 1976 album, Safe As Milk, Captain Beefheart released a cover of Williams’ Grown So Ugly. This version of the song is nothing short of incredible. In 2004 The Black Keys released their 3^rd album, Rubber Factory. This album contained yet another cover of Grown So Ugly. This version of the song is also lacking very little.

Williams’ original song has the feel of a traditional blues song, with the sound of an early blues recording. Like many blues songs, Grown So Ugly is as much, if not more, about the emotions attached to the song, as it is about the music in the song itself. Williams apparently spent a decent amount of time in prison, and this song is supposedly about how he felt once he was released.

If someone only had time to listen to one version of the song, Captain Beefheart’s version would be the one. The song is similar to Williams’, but with an additional twist added to it. He kept the structure of the song very close to Williams’ version. One of the main differences is in the vocals themselves. Williams has a something of a traditional blues voice, while Beefheart most certainly does not. The instrumentals are similar, but in a way, updated. There is no longer just an acoustic guitar and a man’s voice; in Beefheart’s version there is a full instrumental backing, consisting of guitars and drums. Despite the difference in the sound of the song, Beefheart kept the feel of the song nearly the same, with a hint weirder.

The Black Keys took a heavier approach to the song. It still feels like a blues song, but with much more of a Rock n’ Roll tone to it. This version has an additional energy it, which was not present in the original song. When listening, it is apparent that this is the same song that Williams sung years ago, but it has developed quite a bit since then. Another major difference is that Rubber Factory was a studio album, which means that all of their songs sound pretty clean. When Williams originally recorded the song, it was not only in a much less sophisticated environment, but also sounds like it was possibly recorded in something of an impromptu session. This is not to say that one version is necessarily better than the other. The Black Keys brought something new to a classic, and while one is a cover of the other, they really have to be viewed as two separate songs.

Grown So Ugly is an example of the development of music over the past fifty years. None of the versions of this song can claim the title of “the best,” but they all still deserve a listen.