Subject: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Steve Latimer Date: 29 Oct 98 - 11:39 AM I have been a blues fan for as long as I can remember, but must admit that although I have heard several recurring words and phrases, there are several that I do not know the meaning of. I am sure that this has a lot to do with me being from Canada and most of these lyrics were southern black terms. For example the terms "take my rider by my side", "dust my broom", "Nation Sack", "Highwayman", are a few of the terms that are unclear to me. Can anyone help with the meaning of these and other blues staples. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jerry Friedman Date: 29 Oct 98 - 12:51 PM Well, I think dusting a broom is beating it to knock off the dust that it's picked up from the floor--but getting your broom dusted is like getting your ashes hauled, your pole greased, your lemon squeezed, your rocks off... I seem to be undergoing dialect slippage, but it means sex. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Earl Date: 29 Oct 98 - 01:11 PM I always thought "dust my broom" meant to leave, as in Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom"
I'm gon' get up in the mornin' I believe I'll dust my broom A rider is a sexual partner. According to the notes in "Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings," "A nation sack is a small pouch worn around the neck in which keepsakes and valuables are kept." |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jerry Friedman Date: 29 Oct 98 - 01:37 PM On the other hand, I could easily be wrong. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Dave T Date: 29 Oct 98 - 07:52 PM Steve, It doesn't matter where you're from (I'm from Canada too). The thing to remember is that you weren't allowed to sing sexually explicit lyrics back in the early days of blues. Since many of the songs deal with sex, adultery, cheating, drinking, etc. (big surprise there ay?) there are a lot of expressions alluding to these subjects. I've heard "dust my broom" used both ways; to leave, or to have sex. "Nation sack" could be a contraction of "donation sack"; a purse in other words. A rider is definitely a sexual partner. A woman with an "Elgin movement" is one that's put together well or well-made might be more appropriate (Elgin is a make of watch). There was a thread a while back on this subject. If you search the threads you can probably find it. 'Til then don't let your needle get rusty and don't break your winding chain. Dave T. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: harpgirl Date: 30 Oct 98 - 12:00 AM ...and watch out fur them salty dawgs.... |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Earl Date: 30 Oct 98 - 11:38 AM While its true that blures lyrics were not overtly sexual, sometimes they left very little to the imagination. Bo Carter has been referred to as the "master of single entendre" with songs like "Please Warm my Wiener" and "Your Biscuits are Big Enough for Me." |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: To harpgirl Date: 30 Oct 98 - 12:13 PM Okay, what's a salty dog? |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Earl Date: 30 Oct 98 - 01:57 PM I've heard it for years but I've always been afraid to ask. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Zorro Date: 31 Oct 98 - 05:46 AM I agree with Steve Friedman on all counts. I have a book called "Country Blues" by Samuel Charters. He mentioned the term "black snake" which was in many songs and of course it refered to a man's penis. (Eeek, I said the "P" word. "Dust my broom" to me is leaving, making a change, getting rid of something you've been carrying around. There is a comparable saying in the bible, I think.. "When you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet.." meaning, (to me) the same thing, like saying "I've had it." Blessed be, Zorro |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Roger in Baltimore Date: 31 Oct 98 - 11:49 AM Earl, Do you have the lyrics to Bo Carter's "Your Biscuits are Big Enough for Me"? I heard it this summer and enjoyed it. Roger in Baltimore |
Subject: Lyr Add: YOUR BISCUITS ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR ME From: Earl Date: 31 Oct 98 - 03:51 PM YOUR BISCUITS ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR ME As recorded by Bo Carter (as Bo Chatman), 1936. Baby, don't put no more bakin' powder in your bread, you see, 'Cause your biscuits is plenty tall enough for me. Baby, I don't want no more sugar in your jelly roll, you see, 'Cause your jelly roll is plenty sweet enough for me. Some men like lunch meat and some they like salt tongue. Some men don't care for biscuits; they like the dog-gone big fat bun. But baby, don't put no more bakin' powder in your bread, you see, 'Cause your two biscuits is plenty big enough for me. I don't want no more bakin' powders in your bread, you see, 'Cause your biscuits is plenty tall enough for me. Baby, don't put no more sugar in your jelly roll, you see, 'Cause your jelly roll is plenty sweet enough for me. Says, some men, you know, they're straight; some crooked 's a barrel o' snakes. Some men don't don't like bun and biscuits; like the dog-gone flat batter cakes, But baby, don't put no more bakin' powders in your bread, you see, 'Cause your biscuits is plenty tall enough for me. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Earl Date: 31 Oct 98 - 03:59 PM That should be "in your bread" I made the mistake once then copied it three times. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 31 Oct 98 - 08:11 PM I wonder if "nation" is a corruption of "notion". A "nation sack" would then be a "notion bag". Double meanings are ot confined to the Blues. Look at the interpertations of "Greensleeves" Murray |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: dick greenhaus Date: 31 Oct 98 - 11:24 PM Salty Dog, at least in the 1940s when I first encountered the phrase on the streets of Brooklyn, was a euphemism for oral sex. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Barbara Date: 01 Nov 98 - 10:57 AM I'll bet that phrase is 'cold tongue' - one of the standard ways beef tongue is served. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Roger in Baltimore Date: 02 Nov 98 - 07:51 PM Thanks, Earl. Roger in Baltimore |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: harpgirl Date: 02 Nov 98 - 11:32 PM Dick, So that's what a salty dog is!!! |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: More Phrases for translation Date: 03 Nov 98 - 11:54 AM Thank you to all for the interpretations. I have a few more. Can anyone help with the following? Monkey Man, Black Cat Bone, Johnny Cockeroo, Mojo Hand, Ride the Blind, Break in on a Dollar? Your help would be appreciated. Steve Latimer |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Dave T Date: 03 Nov 98 - 12:58 PM Monkey Man is a man who sneaks around and sleeps with another man's woman. I always thought a Black Cat Bone was an object or charm of magical power. A Mojo is a charm to give you power over another often specifically a love potion. To Ride the Blind is to hop a train. Johnny Conkeroo, John the Conkeroo is an adaptation of John The Conqueror and refers to a small statue used as a good luck charm. There are a lot of references to charms, magic, voodoo etc. in blues. Hope this helps. Dave T |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 03 Nov 98 - 10:18 PM Dave. "Ride the blinds" must be more specific, because there is the phrase "ride the rods" too. Mississippi John Hurt in his song "Casey Jones" has Casey instructing the brakeman fix it so the hobos can't ride the blinds. "Let them ride the rods and put their trust in god." (or something similar) he says. I suspect that riding the blinds means getting inside a boxcar while riding the rods means riding outside--either under or between cars. Murray |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jeff in Louisville Date: 03 Nov 98 - 10:58 PM Steve..."take my rider by my side" usually means anything from a weapon to a crutch of some kind...The line appeared originally, as far as I can tell, in Robert Johnson's "Traveling Riverside Blues"...when Eric Clapton adapted "Cross Road Blues" for Cream, he used the verse from "Traveling Riverside Blues" in that adaptation: "Goin' down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side "We can still find a house, baby, on the riverside".
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Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Dave T Date: 03 Nov 98 - 11:18 PM Murray, riding the blinds usually meant hoboing so I guess that would be hiding in the boxcar. Does that sound right? Dave T |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Brian Hoskin Date: 04 Nov 98 - 03:14 AM We had a thread on this not so long back. 'The blinds' are the baggage car behind the engine, blind because the forward end door is locked. Riding the 'rods' refers to the gunnels or iron bars that act to brace the iron frames of old boxcars. They were located about 18 inches below the car, giving a hobo just enough room to climb in on top of them, just a few inches above the sleepers. John the Conqueror is a root used in hoodoo charms. A 'rider' more generally referred to either a woman ( deriving from the term to 'ride', ie have sex with) or a guitar, because of the resemblance of the shape of a guitar to a woman. Robert Johnson sang:
Lord, I'm goin' to Rosedale, gonna take my rider by my side Brian |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,Henry. W Date: 12 Nov 07 - 02:12 PM Mojo, like in the Waters' song is used to mean a kind of sexual energy. The phrase "Got my Mojo workin'" means that your all worked up, your energetic your sex drive is going your ready to party. (this sounds wierd but its the only way to realy explain it) |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Joe_F Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:56 PM In "Let me be your salty dog, or I won't be your man at all", a salty dog appears to be a man with certain privileges. Now, what is a stavin' chain? (That is, literally, not metaphoricall.) |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Geoff the Duck Date: 13 Nov 07 - 03:22 AM Of course, it was all explained by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in the 1960's. Clip to be found on youtube - Bo Dudley Quack! GtD, |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Tweed Date: 13 Nov 07 - 10:13 AM "Belly to belly Skin to skin. Two things workin', But only one goin' in." Whut the hell does this mean?? |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Bobert Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:35 PM Ahhhhhh, can you give me a hint, Tweezer??? BTW, "ridin' the blinds" refers to riding between cars and behind the canvas where the conductors won't "see" you... They were called "blinds" in their day... Oh depot agent, please let me ride the blinds Wouldn't mind it, Son But the Empire State ain't mine... B~ |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Peace Date: 13 Nov 07 - 06:38 PM '"Belly to belly Skin to skin. Two things workin', But only one goin' in." Whut the hell does this mean?? ' Fu#ked if I know! |
Subject: Salty Dog From: GUEST,riklion Date: 17 Nov 07 - 04:06 AM When we used to sing Salty Dog when we were kids our grandfather would tell us 'that thar's a dirty song'...the tune goes back to the 19th century so it must have meant oral sex way back then |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: SouthernCelt Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:10 AM Some time back Dave T said in part: "Johnny Conkeroo, John the Conkeroo is an adaptation of John The Conqueror and refers to a small statue used as a good luck charm. There are a lot of references to charms, magic, voodoo etc. in blues." While this explanation isn't wrong, down here (in the South) the phrase is usually "High John the Conqueror" and refers to a branched ginseng root that has the abstract appearance of a human figure. When dried it was left intact to be used as an amulet or charm or was pulverized into a powder to be added to food or beverages, supposedly to give the consumer a leg up on good health. There used to be a concoction advertised as a daily tonic on radio and local print media back in the 50s that listed among its ingredients "High John the Conqueror root" and in the voice ads on radio this ingredient was almost always mentioned, apparently to give the tonic some credibility as a medicinal preparation. I haven't heard this tonic mentioned in many decades so I don't know if it's still being made but I suppose it would be relegated to the "health foods" or "herbal supplements categories now and couldn't be sold as a true OTC medicine. SC |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Amos Date: 05 Jan 08 - 10:45 AM Re: Stav'n'chain, as used in "Winin' Boy": "I'm a wining boy, don't deny my name; Pick it up and shake i like a stave and chain...." I always believed without authority that this is an ankle chain used on chain gangs. But Steve Maning's blues FAQ says "Both Win(d)ing Boy and Staving Chain were nicknames suggesting sexual prowess. Winin' Boy, the song, comes again from Jelly Roll Morton, the same session at which he recorded Mamie's Blues. " Another sit, http://tafkac.org/songs/what_is_a_jellyroll_more.htmle tells this story of Jelly Roll Morton: The pianist and band leader Ferdinand Morton's earlier nickname was "The Windin' Boy." He explains the origin of this name in the spoken introduction to the song of the same name recorded for the Library of Congress in the 1940s and widely available on Morton compilations and on compilations of "dirty" blues. I will quote a portion of the intro from memory (pretty close, as i know the song well...) and give the chorus and a sample verse: "This happens to be one of my first tunes in the blues line, back in the New Orleans. Back in those days, when a man played piano, the stamp was on him for life -- the femininity stamp -- and i didn't want that on me, so when i first started playing, the songs came out a little smutty not *too* smutty, a bit like this: I'm the Windin' Boy, don't deny my name (x3) I can pick it up and shake it like Stavin' Chain I'm the Windin' Boy, don't deny my name Nickle's worth of beefsteak, and a dime's worth of lard (x3) I'm gonna salivate your pussy til my peter gets hard I'm the Windin' Boy, don't deny my name" Other "not too smutty" lyrics include "i fucked her 'til her pussy stunk" and the song was not released for air play in this form, needless to say. The Windin' Boy is a boy who can execute deft motions with his pelvis, windin' or twirling his penis in and about his partner's vagina. "Stavin' Chain" (or more properly "Stave 'n' Chain") was a legendary (possibly real) late 19th century strong man who worked on the railroad and was known for his large "stave." When Morton switched nicknames, he did not become "Jelly Roll Morton" at once -- he first became "Mr. Jelly Lord" -- that is, the lord or master of jelly (female lubricating fluid; hence female sexual arousal). Eventually, he became "Jelly Roll" Morton, taking on the name of the female pudenda he so assiduously salivated. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,LKB Date: 23 Jan 08 - 11:15 AM Johnny Conkeroo, High John Conqueror Root- The mature root of ipomea jalapa, a member of the morning glory/sweet potato family, resembles testes, hence a symbol of masculine power/prowess. Mojo workin'- references an investment by the client in a spell or work for personal power, luck, sexual success, etc., usually embodied in a collection of mystically powerful objects/herbs anointed with specific oils and possibly prayed over to accomplish the client's desires and carried in a 'mojo' or 'mojo hand' on the client's person... |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: PoppaGator Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:37 PM What about "apron overalls," as in Robert Johnson's Four Till Late: "She cause so many men to wear apron overalls"? Of course, we know that we're talking about a woman through whose drawers some man is always rumblin, like a dresser, so we know there is some kind of sexual innuendo here. My assumption is that the wearing of bib overalls is apparently symbolic of being cuckholded. Of course, for a double entendre, two meanings are required, an innocent one as well as the other. I can't figure out the single entendre here. Also: I've heard, and come to believe, that to "dust my broom" is to masturbate. After consideration, this seems to make sense in context. So, those who interpret it to mean "having sex" are correct, but only to a limited extent: the only sex being had is of the least satisfying variety. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: deadfrett Date: 24 Jan 08 - 08:10 AM You might try a site called Harrys Blues Lyrics. It has both Traditional and Modern blues. Sorry I can't figure out the blue clicky thing. I'm sure google can find it for you. Dave |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,MS Mud Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:11 PM Freekin' hilarious! are you guy's antonist interpretations of those old blues lyrics! Some of you have a clue, but then there are others... I grew up in the hill country of MS with mostly blues culture neighbors (R.L. Burnside lived 2 farms over on Mr. Thomas Gaines' place in Beartail Bottom)back when black folk hung mirrors on the porch. You'd have had to be there to understand really. Test: Q: Who knows what "jumper on the line" means? A: (Get this right and I'll be impressed) |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Joe_F Date: 03 Nov 08 - 08:21 PM The version "Pick it up and shake it, life's sweet stavin' chain" is hard to parse with the suggestions made so far. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Cluin Date: 03 Nov 08 - 10:16 PM It's all about sex. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:09 PM "Antonist" is another word I don't understand. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST Date: 20 Jan 09 - 12:29 PM I've Got My Mojo Working |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,sixtieschick Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:49 AM "Dust My Broom" means to leave a place. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: meself Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:54 AM yeah, right ... |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 22 Jan 09 - 11:16 AM 1. In a former Mudcat thread, a student of the blues said that many references to a woman lover are actually references to The Man. It was safer to criticize your woman than your boss. If so, references to aprons, chains, etc might simply be about aprons, chains, etc - things likely to be involved with a job. 2. As for the plethora of sexual references, I have noticed that an entertainer can make any words sound sexual if he makes a suggestive pause and leers. This doesn't mean that those words have a sexual meaning in general conversation. The song above about biscuits is a good example. 3. I'm not saying that none of this is about sex. The 'salty dog' case seems pretty strong. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Azizi Date: 22 Jan 09 - 11:38 AM leeneia, with regard to the poster you cited being a student of the blues, aren't we all students of the blues? That said, I very much doubt the validity of that student's theory that is given as your point #1. For those interested in this subject, this website appears to be have pretty credible definitions of a number of blues terms: Blues Words & Phrases This disclaimer is posted on that page: "Before you proceed... This page is not intended as a work of science. Sources for this page are mostly visitor contributions, other internet web sites and, if available, relevant literature. Quality, accuracy and substantiation of the content may vary. Motivated suggestions and criticism are always welcome". -snip- Unfortunately, that page hasn't been updated since December 2000. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz Date: 22 Jan 09 - 12:25 PM Hi Kids: Look. It's easy. When Robert Johnson uttered the now famous phrase, "squeeze my lemons 'til the juice runs down my leg..." he was preparing to do the precursor of the Grandmother of Martha Stewart's Cooking Show. No T.V. So it was going to be on radio. They were looking for popular recipes, and what better to prepare than a good old fashioned lemon meringue pie? And since everybody knows all great chefs rarely use measuring devices, Robert had bought some lemons and was merely telling Grandma Stewart the amount of lemon juice to use. All Blues guys know this...bob p.s. If anybody believed more than 20 seconds of the above, I have beachfront property in the Everglades to sell you...:0)BR |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Azizi Date: 22 Jan 09 - 12:52 PM I just read this sentence on a political blog, and I think it's applicable to us here: ..."don't stop thinking out in public here with the rest of us fools, for it's the only way to learn, to bat ideas back and forth." But this sentence doesn't apply to Bob Ryszkiewicz... Just kidding! :o) |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Bobert Date: 22 Jan 09 - 08:38 PM Hey, listen ya'll... Everything about the blues "is about womenz and other natural disasters"... I got that from a bluesman in Norway, John Ivor and he's 'boput got it right as long as you are a male bluesplayer... Hey, it's all about that kinda stuff... It's all inuendo... That's why Son House stuggled with it... Ya' see, Son was also a preacher (Gonna get religion, gonna join the Baptict Church, Gonna become a Baptist preacher so I don't have to work) and he would play the blues at night and then come Sunday mornin' he'd be doin' the "Dance of Dieing Duck" with the Big Guy... No, the Big Guy ain't that big black man who come to the croosroads and you make that deal with... Ya'll know the deal... We all been to the crossroads... The deal was that if you passed yer geetar over yer shoulder without lookin' at the big black man that he's "play it in", hand it back to you and you'd be able to play anything and everything in exchange fir yer... ...soul!!! But these stories were taken to heart in the ol' bluesmen and Son, well he'd feel "naked and ashamed" the next day and he'd preach up some fire 'n brimstone as if the Big Guy would let him off the hook for another week... lol... Don't really work like that... Well, I hope it don't... Ya' see, I am a bluesman an' I also like to think that Son House and Robert Johnsosn and Johnny Shines and alot of other bluesmen died for my soul (sound familiar???) like in getting the Big Guy worn down and appreciatin' the "Devil's music" (lol)... Not really... Yeah, their fears were our fears... I mean, yeah, the songs are about stuff that they don't seem to be about... There's a lot codified stuff in 'um... Okay, I can live purdy well with most of it but there are songs that I just can't bring myself to do... Though, in comparison, there are songs that I do that are probably worse (better)... lol... Man, I'm sounding like Son House now... Ya' know, doin' the "Dance of the Dieing Duck" just in case the Big Guy is reading Mudcat these days...lol... Bobert |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jayto Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:06 PM Nation sack is actually Notion sack or a corruption of notion sack. Whenever times are good (financially) you stick a little bit back in your "notion sack". That way if you take a notion to do something or go somewhere you have the money to do it. Notion is a very popular word in the Southeastern US. People say it all the time. "When I take a notion to leave they better watch out.", "It was so hot the other day I took a notion to go to the lake for a swim." "I was sitting there and the notion stuck me to knock the crap out of him.(I was sitting there and the idea came to me to hit him really hard.)" there are some examples. Notion is basically another word for idea but it is an idea that is normally acted on. An idea that you want to act on I guess I should say whether or actually should or not. |
Subject: RE: Blues Lyrics Translation From: Jayto Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:09 PM I busted my notion sack about a year ago lol. I almost forgot hello azizi I am back. cya Jayto |
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