Roots of Jazz and Blues with King Henry

Episode 2 - Birth of the Blues

Broadcast Date November 2, 2023

Transcription by MacWhisper powered by OpenAI language models

♫♫♫

Welcome, welcome, welcome to The Roots of Jazz and Blues with your host King Henry

here on W-A-Y-O-L-P Rochester. Last week we explored the origins of jazz and this

week we'll explore the birth of the blues. Our show will feature music of

Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Tommy Johnson and others. But first let

me remind you that this is W-A-Y-O fundraising week. We are all unpaid

community volunteers but we need a little money to keep the transmitters

transmitting, the mixing boards mixing and turntables turning. Please go to W-A-Y-O-L-P

FM dot org slash donate. Pick your swag. Now last week we talked about how W.C.

Handy traveled through the south in 1902 where he first heard blues. Now the first

recording of blues was not until 1926 so we have to assume that what he heard was

somewhat similar to what was still being sung in the 20s. This is now the first

blues song ever recorded, by Freddie Spruell, 1926, Milk Cow Blues.

I want to hear you play the blues like you play it at home.

Listen to my story now please listen to my song.

Can't you imagine how I feel now, I'm wasting my real milk, I know.

It's a full blood, tell you boys the way I know.

Yeah it's a full blood, tell you boys the way I know.

People get screaming for my milk, I don't care where my kids go.

I've been on thirty-six, listen boys I've been on thirty-nine.

I wrapped the whole south side down trying to find the real milk cow real fine.

It's a full blood, tell you boys the way I know.

People just scream for my milk cow, don't care where my milk cows go.

My bed seems lonesome, my pillow's nice, sure won't you.

My bed is lonesome, my pillow's big, sure won't you.

I wake up hours at midnight, I really have those milk cows.

Oh baby listen, can't you look at my face now, right until I've got those milk cows.

Living high, sugar living high, high, high.

So, what are blues? This musical genre was born in the deep south in the late 1800s.

It grew out of spirituals, work songs, and ballads, both traditional and newly written.

Let's turn back the clock to the early black spirituals.

Sung by the enslaved black, they often used songs about bondage of Israel under Pharaoh to speak about their own struggle.

There were of course no recordings made during the period of slavery, but these songs remained an important part of the black church.

The earliest recording I could find was from 1902, 37 years after the end of the Civil War.

Here we hear the Dinwiddie colored quartet singing, Steal Away.

Steal away by the Dinwiddie colored quartet.

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.

Steal away, steal away home, I've got long to take.

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus.

Steal away, steal away home, I've got long to take.

My Lord, He calls me, He calls me by the thunder to drop a sound within my song.

I've got long to take.

Green trees are bending for sinners and trembling.

To drop a sound within my song.

I've got long to take.

Steal away to Jesus, steal away, steal away home.

I've got long to take.

The Dinwiddie quartet was formed in 1892 to support a school for blacks in Dinwiddie, Virginia.

Steal away had been an anthem of the Underground Railroad about slaves stealing themselves

away from their owners.

The most celebrated spiritual group was and is the Fisk Jubilee Singers,

founded at historically black Fisk University 150 years ago and still going strong.

Next we hear the Fisk Jubilee Singers from 1909, Swing Low Sweet Chariot.

Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home.

Many early blues singers also sang spirituals. We might call this genre gospel blues. Blind Willie Johnson was a singer, guitar player, and evangelist. In 1908, he recorded, I know his blood can make me whole.

I know his blood can
Know his blood can make me whole
I just touched hem of his garment
Blood of Jesus, blood of Jesus
I just touched hem of his garment

Let his blood has, let his blood has
I just touched hem of his garment
I was a gambler just like you
I was a gambler
I just touched hem of his garment

Oh his blood have, let his blood have
I just touched hem of his garment
I was sick and I couldn't get well
I was sick and I couldn't get well
I just touched hem of his garment

Let his blood have, let his blood have
I just touched hem of his garment
Jesus blood can Jesus blood can
I just touched hem of his garment

Oh his blood have, let his blood have
I just touched hem of his garment
I was sick and I couldn't get well
I was sick and I couldn't get well
I just touched hem of his garment

That was Blind Willie Johnson, 1928, I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole. Let's listen to another tune by Johnson, Jesus, Make Up My Dying Bed.

Now in the time of dying

I don't want nobody to moan

All I want my friends to do

Come and fold my dying arms

Whoa Whoa well so I can die easy

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Meet me Jesus, meet me

Won't you meet me in the middle of the air

And if these wings should fail me Lord

Won't you meet me with another pair

Whoa whoa well won't you meet me Jesus

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

I'm goin' on down to the river

Stick my sword up in the sand

Gonna shout my trouble's over Lord

I've done made it to the Promised Land

Whoa whoa well I've done crossed over

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Ever since I been acquainted with Jesus

We haven't been a minute apart

He placed a receiver in my hands

True religion in my heart

Whoa whoa well I can ring up my Jesus

Whoa whoa well I can ring up Jesus

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Goin' on down to the river

Stick my sword up in the sand

Gonna shout my trouble's over

I've done made it to the Promised Land

Whoa whoa well I've done crossed over

Whoa whoa Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Another early blues singer and someone called the father of the Delta Blues was Charlie Patton. Charlie was born in Mississippi and he played all over the state at plantations and taverns. He then toured to Chicago and New York City and became an important figure in the blues movement. Here from 1929 is Charlie Patton's Jesus is a Dying Bedmaker.

Oh well, well

He's a dying bed maker

A dying bed maker

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Jesus met a woman up at his well

She went a running

I saw a man leaning on the well

He told me everything I need

Well, well he might be a prophet

He might be a prophet

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Let's go and meet him

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Well when I crawl up on my dying bed

I want my friend to be bold

All I'll ask you to do for me

Come lay me on the coolin' board

Gonna stretch out on it

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Well, we'll he's a heart fixer

He's a heart fixer

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

When I crawl up in my dying bed

Passing by my years

AllI ask you to do for me

Come and set up at my wake

I'm going to heaven

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Oh well, well

I've got religion

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Oh well, well

I'm on my journey

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Well when I crawl up on my dying bed

I want my friend to be bold

All I'll ask you to do for me

Come lay me on the coolin' board

Well, well gonna stretch out on it

Gonna stretch out on it

Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

While spirituals almost always celebrated hope, gospel blues ranged more broadly and talked of

despair of times when God was distant. In 1930, Charlie Patton recorded, Lord, I'm Discouraged.

Sometimes I get discouraged and think my works in vain

But the Holy Spirit whispers, and revives my mind again

There'll be glory, wondrous glory when we reach that other shore

There'll be glory, wondrous glory, praising Jesus evermore

I'm on my way to glory, to that happy land so fair

I'll soon reside with God's army, with the Saints of God up there

There'll be glory, wondrous glory when we reach that other shore

There'll be glory, wondrous glory, praising Jesus evermore

I'm on my way to glory, to that happy land so

I'll shout His spiritual army with the saints of God up there

There'll be glory, wondrous glory when we reach that other shore

There'll be glory, wondrous glory, praising Jesus evermore

Sometimes I have no religion, feel a-hopeless and despair

Well, I think of sweet King Jesus' great kingdom in the (air)

There'll be glory, wondrous glory when we reach that other shore

There'll be glory, wondrous glory, praising Jesus evermore

Blind Lemon Jefferson has been called the father of the Texas blues. He sang with a very distinctive high

voice and intricate guitar playing. He was also the first commercially successful bluesman.

Now, you might wonder why that name, Blind Lemon Jefferson. Well, he was unfortunately blind, but the l

emon simply comes from the fact that his first name was Lemon. His full name was Lemon Henry Jefferson.

One of his earliest hits was that gospel tune, All I Want Is The Pure Religion.

All I want is the pure religion, hallelu

All I want is the pure religion, pure religion take you home to heaven

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Well, the place in Jordan, you can't go 'round, hallelu, hallelu

Place in Jordan, you can't go 'round, hallelu

Place in Jordan, you can't go round, you ain't got religion, you gon' drown

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

When you're crossin' over Jordan, don't have no fear, hallelu

When you're crossin' over Jordan, don't have no fear, hallelu, hallelu

Crossin' over Jordan, don't have no fear, Jesus gonna be my engineer

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Well, Death is ridin' all through the land, hallelu

Death is ridin' all through the land, hallelu

Death is ridin' all through the land, ain't gonna spare no gamblin' man

Then you're gonna need this pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Well, the doctor's standin', lookin' sad, hallelu

Doctor's standin', lookin' sad, hallelu

Doctor's standin', lookin' sad, hardest case I ever had

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Well, my mother and father 'round my bed a-cryin', hallelu

Mother and father 'round my bed a-crying, hallelu

Mother and father 'round my bed a-crying, Lord have mercy my child is dyin'

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Well, the train is comin', done turned the curve, hallelu

Train is comin', done turned the curve, hallelu, hallelu

Train is comin', done turned the curve, fixin' to leave this sinful world

Then you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, hallelu

Ride on Death, don't ride so slow, hallelu, hallelu

Ride on Death, don't ride so slow, hallelu

Ride on Death, don't ride so slow, my heart's willing, ready to go

Sayin', you're gonna need that pure religion, hallelu, oh hallelu

That was Blind Lemon Jefferson, All I Want Is The Pure Religion from 1925.

Another source of blues were the work songs, often called field hollers, that again began during the days of slavery.

There are no records of field haulers from the time of slavery. However, these songs lived on with the workers on

chain gangs and prison farms.

So we'll hear a couple of tunes that are probably very similar to what was sung 50 years earlier.

The first is a remarkable document, a film made in 1929 in Augusta, Georgia. This song, Waterboy, has the lyrics,

When you see me, Lord, I'll strike fire, Tell me, waterboy, run.

When steam, I'ma strike fire, Tell me, waterboy, run, waterboy, run.

So here from 1929, an African American chain gang in Augusta, Georgia.

When you see me, Lord, I'll strike fire, Tell me, waterboy, run, waterboy, run.

When steam, I'ma strike fire, Tell me, waterboy, run, waterboy, run.

When you see me, Lord, I'll strike fire, Tell me, waterboy, run, waterboy, run.

John Lomax was a pioneering music historian who traveled throughout the country collecting ballads,

first written ballads, but then beginning in 1933, the first field recordings. We'll hear some of his recordings.

The first, from a prison farm in Mississippi.

Now this song, named Stew Ball, actually began as an English ballad about a racehorse and was

composed in 1784. So this is an example of both a work song and a new

interpretation of a traditional ballad.

There's a big day in Dallas, don't you wish you was there?

You could bet your last dollar on that iron.

Be a man, be a man, be a man, be a man, be a man, young lady, young gentleman,

if you want to have fun, come on, go down to the racetrack, you will see down.

Pony run, pony run, pony run, man, pony run,

there's a big bell, put cap on, put them horses to run, young lady, young gentleman from Baldy.

Mo come, Mo come, Mo come, man, Mo come, Way out in Kentucky,

where old Stew Ball come from, it was stamped in, put in the paper, he blowed there.

In a storm, in a storm, in a storm, man, in a storm, young mister, kind master,

I am lifting my line, just to win your great fortune.

I am for you and your wife, your wife, your wife, man, your wife, man, my husband,

all for gambling, I am sticking my bed with my children,

got us all naked, got us all babies crying, Mo bread, Mo bread, little Stew Ball, with famine,

took at nine miles high hills

through that dark air threw it behind him

in his final wide gill

Full is brighter with silver

and his saddle with gold

and the price gone is banked as a level

been told

when that big bell

was tapped on

and that word was

give or draw

with oat Stew Ball

saw a lantern

like a cranial

to be whole

to be whole man

to be whole

I remember

one morning

about the 14th

day of June

my old master

fell sprawling

and we hauled him

to Stew Ball

Stew Ball man

Stew Ball

Good morning

young ladies

how you feeling

young man

will I owe you

some money

I ain't got no

small change

That was a group of men at Oakley Farm, Mississippi recorded in 1933 the ballad Stew Ball.

So let's go on with what we would call true blue music. With the theme of prisons

we have two more songs by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Lemon's Penitentiary Blues

followed by Electric Chair Blues.

Take Fort Worth for your dressing and take Dallas all for your style.

Take Fort Worth for your dressing, Dallas all for your style.

If you wanna go to the state penitentiary, go to Groesbeck for your trial.

I hung around Groesbeck, and I worked in showers of rain.

I say, I hung around Groesbeck, I worked in hard showers of rain.

I never felt the least bit uneasy, till I caught that penitentiary bound train.

I used to be a drunkard, I was rowdy everywhere I go.

I used to be a drunkard and rowdy everywhere I go.

If I ever get out of this trouble I'm in, I won't be rowdy no more.

Boys, don't be bad, please don't crowd your mind.

I said, boys, don't be bad and please don't crowd your mind.

If you happen to get in trouble in Groesbeck, they're gonna send you penitentiary flyin'.

I want you to stop and study, and don't take nobody's life.

I want you to stop and study, don't take nobody's life.

They've got walls at the state penitentiary you can't jump, man they high as the sky.

[ ‘Lectric Chair Blues ]

I want to shake hands with my partner and ask him how come he's here

I want to shake hands with my partner, ask him how come he's here

I had a wreck with my family, they're gonna send me to the electric chair

I wonder why they electrocute a man at the one o'clock hour of night?

And I wonder why they electrocute a man at the one o'clock hour of night

Because the current is much stronger, when the folks has turned out all the lights

I sat in the electrocutin' room, my arms folded up and cryin'

And my baby asked the question, was they gonna electrocute that man o' mine?

Lemon, get me a taxi to take me away from here

Lemon, get me a taxi to take me all away from here

I haven't had one friend in this world, since they lead Lemon to the electric chair

I feel like jumpin' in the ocean, I feel like jumpin' in the deep blue sea

I feel like jumpin' in the ocean, and like jumpin' into the deep blue sea

But nothin' like that wreck in my heart when they brought my electrocuted daddy to me

Another common subject were hard times.

The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927

was the most destructive natural event in American history.

Over 500 people died, and a million people, including 200,000 blacks,

were displaced from their homes.

We'll hear two songs about the flood.

The first by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927, Rising High Water Blues,

and the second by Charlie Patton, also 1927, High Water Everywhere.

Backwater risin', Southern people can't make no time

I said backwater rising, Southern people can't make no time

And I can't get no hearing from that Memphis girl of mine

Water in Arkansas, people screamin' in Tennessee

Oh, people screamin' in Tennessee

If I don't leave Memphis, backwater spill all over poor me

Paper states its raining, it has been for nights and days

Paper states its raining, has been for nights and days

Thousand people stands on the hill, lookin' down where they used to stay

Children sadly pleading, "Mama, we ain't got no home

Oh, mama we ain't got no home"

Papa says to children, "Backwater left us all alone"

Backwater risin', come in my windows and door

That backwater risin', come in my windows and door

I leave with a prayer in my heart, backwater won't rise no more

[ High Water Everywhere ]

Backwater at Blytheville, backed up all around

Backwater at Blytheville, done took Joiner town

It was fifty families and children come to sink and drown

The water was risin' up at my friend's door

The man said to his women folk, "Lord, we'd better go"

The water was risin', got up in my bed

Lord, the water was rollin', got up to my bed

I thought I would take a trip, Lord, out on the big ice sled

Oh, I can hear, Lord Lord, water upon my door

You know what I mean, look-a here

I hear the ice, Lord Lord, was sinkin' down

I couldn't get no boats there, Marion City gone down

So high the water was risin' our men sinkin' down

Man, the water was risin' at places all around

Boy, they's all around

It was fifty men and children come to sink and drown

Oh, Lordy, women and grown men drown

Oh, women and children sinkin' down

Lord, have mercy

I couldn't see nobody's home and wasn't no one to be found

Other than floods, what other natural disasters could ruin a farm?

One is boweavil infestations.

These insects can destroy a cotton crop overnight.

Charlie Patton recorded the following song anonymously

as The Masked Marble because of a prize contest by Paramount Records

where if a listener could guess who the singer was,

they would win a selection of records.

The lyrics include,

See a boweavil, keep moving in, the Lordy.

You can plant your cotton and you won't get half a bale, Lordy.

Sees a little boll weevil keeps movin' in the ..., Lordy

You can plant your cotton and you won't get a half a bale, Lordy

Bo weevil, bo weevil, where's your native home? Lordy

"A-Louisiana raised in Texas,

Least is where I was bred and born", Lordy

Well, I saw the bo weevil, Lord, a-circle, Lord, in the air, Lordy

The next time I see'd him, Lord, he had his family there, Lordy

Bo weevil left Texas, Lord, he bid me "fare ye well", Lordy

I'm goin' down the Mississippi, gonna give Louisiana hell, Lordy

(How is that, boy?)

Suck all the blossoms and he leave your hedges square, Lordy

The next time I see'd you, you know you had your family there, Lordy

Bo weevil meet his wife, "We can sit down on the hill", Lordy

Bo weevil told his wife, "Let's trade this forty in", Lordy

Bo weevil told his wife, says, "I believe I may go North", Lordy

"Let's leave Louisiana, we can go to Arkansas", Lordy

Well, I saw the bo weevil, Lord a-circle, Lord, in the air, Lordy

Next time I seed him, Lord, he had his family there, Lordy

Bo weevil told the farmer that "I 'tain't got ticket fare", Lordy

Sucks all the blossom and leave your hedges square, Lordy

Bo weevil, bo weevil, where your native home? Lordy

"Most anywhere they raise cotton and corn", Lordy

Bo weevil, bo weevil, "Outta treat me fair", Lordy

The next time I did you had your family there, Lordy

That was Mississippi Bowevel Blues by Charlie Patton from 1929.

Now you've lost your home to the flood and the cotton crop to boweavils.

How are you doing? Well, Blind Lemon Jefferson tells us you're broke and hungry.

I'm broke and hungry, ragged and dirty too

I said I'm broke and hungry, ragged and dirty too

Mama, if I clean up, can I go home with you?

I'm motherless, fatherless, sister and brother less too

I said I'm motherless, fatherless, sister and brother less too

Reason I've tried so hard to make this trip with you

You miss me woman, count the days I'm gone

I'm goin' away to build me a railroad of my own

I feel like jumpin' through a keyhole in your door

I said I feel like jumpin' through the keyhole in your door

If you jump this time, baby, you won't jump no more

I believe my good gal have found my black cat bone

I said I believe my baby have found my black cat bone

I can leave Sunday mornin', Monday mornin' I'm slippin' 'round home

I wanna show you women what careless love have done

Caused a man like me, steal away from home

Girl if you don't want me, why don't you let me know?

I said, if you don't want me, mama let me know

So I can leave at once and hunt me somewhere else to go

That was Blind Lemon Jefferson, 1927, Broke and Hungry.

So the blues can really catalog all kinds of misfortune.

Now you might not suffer from prison or a flood, but you can always suffer bad love.

Tommy Johnson was a giant of the blues because of his eerie falsetto and intricate guitar playing.

In the following song, he asks for a cool drink of water, but his woman gives him gasoline.

I asked for water, and she gave me gasoline

I asked for water, she gave me gasoline

I asked for water and she gave me gasoline

Lord, Lordy, Lord

Crying, Lord, I wonder will I ever get back home

Lord, Lordy, Lord

I went to the depot, looked up on the board

I looked all over, "How long has this east bound train been gone?

Lord, Lordy, Lord

Lord, I asked the conductor, "Could I ride these blinds?"

(Want to know, can a broke man ride the blinds)

"Son, buy your ticket, buy your ticket, 'cause this train ain't none of mine"

"Son, buy your ticket, train ain't none of mine"

"Son, buy your ticket, 'cause this train ain't none of mine"

Lord, Lordy, Lord

"Train ain't none of mine"

That was Cool Drink of Water Blues by Tommy Johnson, from 1928.

Tommy Johnson often played in sessions with Ishmael Bracy.

Both were from Mississippi and played the blues circuit.

In 1951, Ishmael Bracy found religion and became an ordained minister and stopped playing the blues.

But here from 1928 is his Four Day Blues.

♪ Well, it is morning ♪

♪ Mama, it's between midnight and day ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Well, it is morning ♪

♪ Mama, it's between midnight and day ♪

♪♪♪

♪ I reach for my sugar ♪

♪ And the food has stood away ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Well, now mama, now ♪

♪ Can't be baby alone ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Well, now mama, can't be baby alone ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Mama, before I be treated ♪

♪ Be on the county phone ♪

♪♪♪

♪ When treated don't be black you treat me ♪

♪♪♪

♪ When treated don't be black you treat me ♪

♪♪♪

♪ When treated don't be black you treat me ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Woke up soon this morning to my face all full of brown ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Woke up this morning to my face all full of brown ♪

♪♪♪

♪ I didn't have no sugar, now I squeeze it up in my arms ♪

♪♪♪

♪ Mama, that's all right, sugar, that's all right for you ♪

♪♪♪

♪ That's all right, mama, that's all right for you ♪

♪♪♪

♪ I know you got me just the way you do ♪

That was Ishmael Bracy, 1928.

His woman gave him the four-day blues.

Now it must be said that no situation is so bad that drinking can't make it worse.

Let us continue with the Tommy Johnson song from 1930, Alcohol and Jake Blues.

Now, Jake is a slang word for cops.

Alcohol, alcohol, cryin', sure Lord's killing me (spoken: Is that so, boy?)

Alcohol, mama, sure, Lord, killing me (spoken: Ought to let it alone, then!)

Alcohol don't kill me, I believe, Lord, I'll never die

I woke up early this morning, crying, alcohol 'round my bed (spoken: What happened then?)

Woke up this morning, alcohol was 'round my bed

Says, "I'm gonna get drunk, I'm gonna have to speak my trouble in mind"

Mmm, mmm, (spoken: Oh, moan it a long time) mmm

Mmm, I ain't gonna be here long (spoken: Moan it a long time, boy)

Says, "I'm leaving town, I'm going to worry you off my mind"

I drink so much of Jake, till it done give me the limber leg

(spoken: And that's sure to mess you up)

Drinking so much of Jake, till it done give me the limber leg

(spoken: Sure messes you up, boy, [there's no cure for] that)

If I don't quit drinking it every morning, sure gonna kill me dead (spoken: You ain't no lying man)

Mmm, mmm

Mmm, (spoken: You ain't got), alcohol gonna kill me dead

And if it don't kill me, Lord, it sure gonna put me down

(spoken: You ain't gotta put 'em on me 'cause you got 'em)

I woke up, up this morning, crying, alcohol on my mind

Woke up this morning, alcohol was on my mind

I got them alcohol blues and I can't rest easy here

That was Tommy Johnson, Alcohol and Jake Blues, 1930.

I wonder if Tommy Johnson would have felt better or worse

if he knew that a copy of Alcohol and Jake Blues

fetched the highest price ever paid for a 78 at auction, $37,100.

Well, I think he would probably feel worse.

Now at his lowest, Tommy Johnson not only drank regular whiskey,

but sometimes drank Sterno, pretty shocking.

So if you don't know what Sterno is, that's an alcohol-based gel used in camp stoves and buffets.

It's highly toxic to drink.

And it was called by slang, canned heat.

You might recognize canned heat as the name of a pop group.

In 1928, Tommy Johnson recorded Canned Heat Blues.

Crying, canned heat, canned heat, mama, crying, sure, Lord, killing me.

Crying, canned heat, mama, sure, Lord killing me.

Takes alcorub to take these canned heat blues.

Crying, mama, mama, mama, you know, canned heat killing me.

Crying, mama, mama, mama, crying, canned heat is killing me.

Canned heat don't kill me, crying, babe, I'll never die.

I woke up, this morning, crying, canned heat 'ourn my bed.

Run here, somebody, take these canned heat blues.

Run here, somebody, and take these canned heat blues.

So that was Tommy Johnson, 1928 canned heat blues.

Let me remind you that our fundraiser is going on this week.

Please go to wayofm.org slash donate

so you can keep shows like this one on the air.

We began today with the earliest blue record

by Freddy Spruell from 1926.

We'll lead out with the 1928 recording by Freddy,

Lowdown Mississippi Bottom Man.

And then we'll see you next week

as we return to jazz in New Orleans.

In the long lands of Mississippi, that's where I were born

Way down in the sunny south, long lands of cotton and corn

I lived down in the delta, that's where I long to be

Way down in the delta, that's where I long to be

There's a delta bottom woman who's sure goin' crazy over me

I'm lookin' for a low-down woman who is lookin' for a low-down man

I'm lookin' for a woman who is lookin' for a low-down man

Ain't nobody in town, get no low-down than I can

I likes low-down music, I likes to barrelhouse and get drunk, too

I'm just a low-down man, always feelin' low-down and blue