If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day

Robert Johnson's song "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day" is a poignant exploration of heartache, betrayal, and the desire for divine retribution. The song's title and recurring line, "If I had possession over judgment day," suggest a longing for control over ultimate justice, reflecting the singer's deep sense of powerlessness and frustration. Johnson's lyrics convey a narrative of a man who has been wronged by his lover, and he imagines a scenario where he could exact divine punishment on her, stripping her of the right to pray and seek forgiveness.

The imagery in the song is vivid and evocative, with Johnson describing his journey to the mountain, a metaphorical quest for clarity and understanding. The mountain symbolizes a place of higher perspective, yet even from this vantage point, he sees his woman with another man, intensifying his feelings of loneliness and despair. The repeated mention of rolling and tumbling throughout the night underscores the restless torment he endures, unable to find peace or solace.

Johnson's blues are deeply rooted in the African American experience of the early 20th century, where themes of love, loss, and existential suffering were common. His reference to waking up and finding his "biscuit roller gone" is a colloquial expression for losing his woman, further emphasizing the personal and cultural context of his pain. The song concludes with a resigned acceptance of inevitable trouble, as he reflects on the mistreatment he has endured and the certainty that more hardship lies ahead. This resignation is a hallmark of the blues genre, where personal suffering is both a source of artistic expression and a shared human experience.