The Thrill Is Gone

"The Thrill Is Gone" is a blues song written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951 and popularized by B. B. King in 1970. The song was first recorded by Hawkins and became a minor hit for the musician. King recorded his version of the song in June 1969 for his album Completely Well, released the same year. The song's polished production and use of strings marked a departure from both the original song and King's previous material. When released as a single in December of 1969, the song became the biggest hit of King's career (#3 R&B / #15 Pop) and his signature song. B. B. King's recording earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1998. King's version of the song was also placed at number 183 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs ever. Memorable live versions of the song were included on King's albums Live in Cook County Jail (1971), Bobby Bland and B.B. King Together Again...Live (1976), and Live at San Quentin (1991). The song has been covered by numerous artists since B. B. King's hit version, including Peggy Lee (1970), Luther Allison (1979), Dishwalla (1995), Aretha Franklin (1970), Little Milton (1973), Willie Nelson (2000), Stan Webb (1973), Jerry Garcia and David Grisman (1990s), Buckethead (2004), Steven Brown (Half Out, 1991), The Marshall Tucker Band (Stompin' Room Only 2003), the Eric Steckel Band (Havana, 2006), Diamanda Galas, Leslie West (Got BLOOZE 2005), Theo Sinton (Emerald Blues, 2008) and Pappo (Buscando un amor, 2003) (Anthony Gardner, 2009).

I dont act hard, im a hard act to follow Word to the sweatshirt, my girls love to borrow Give a fuck about a man and what he feel like Fuck ya fake follows, women follow me in real life Fresh up on the scene and I’m sick and tired of you rap promoters Your word is worthless so you never got your act in order Washed up artist never got their startup (POOF) big dreams made of stardust Lone Ranger, one man Mission to thrive No back up, plan is kill it or die Secure the baggage, claim to fame is Ignoring the average, Mark Cuban Entrepreneur, a maverick Swim with the sharks People Sin in the dark Bloody water Smell fear in the thinnest remarks Sweat equity Dare y’all to bet with me Or step to me And If your all balls Get vasectomied They gon- Claim that you won’t make it then be saying yo be humble On my Way to be the greatest now they pay to see me rumble, oh How sweet that I told you Tastes I keep it real thought I told you snakes To bite your tongues Sole proprietor, Putting out All the fires of Your false alarm favorites My flow extinguisher cadence Smoke a rapper out while they Choke and tappin out, black belt face it., I’m better you barely basic Addicted to my process And witnessing my progress Making change, keep the tip I’m making major gains Tippin the scale Shipping clothes in the mail New shoes but keep my pace the same Thats how you face the rain - We’re both Aces but mine’s worth eleven My mind working in heavenly ways Odds stacked i raise Check ya pattern, its a chequered matter Brain scatters, Black and white to my grey matter (Cause I’m) Twenty three, fly to shows overseas Barely broke even when i bought a window seat Tryna go the distance All I fuckin know is distant Far away from home and family Time to show the difference Minutes turn to days, as we fill the pages Memories that jump at me the way I’m filling stages You know the thrill is amazing You hope the feeling contagious B be king (B B King), turned my blues into paintings Leonardo at the oscars, it feels amazing Labels want me on their roster, shit im debating Face it, I get the best of things Cause I make the best of things Sensei I could learn ya what the lesson brings Bout to get my caps on Singing on my rap songs I’m the most wanted cause I kill the beats I rap on They got posters of your boy downtown Ticking bomb, this is your countdown