There's a song I've been singing since 1966, called Willie Jean. I learned it from local players in California. Nobody ever said who wrote it or where it came from. Back in the early 80s and old friend who was a jazz and blues record collector swore to me that it was an old Willie McTell song – he put me in touch with someone who said they could prove it, said they had the 78. I went to see this person but they were all packed up, moving out of town. Starting to sound like a flying saucer story….   I went to the Library Of Congress and could only find it listed as Public Domain. I listened to a couple of versions in the listening chamber: Hoyt Axton, Mose Allison. Every once in a while I do another web search and it always just goes back to the Blues Magoos. There must be more….   Does anybody know anything about this song?

Here's the lyrics as I sing them.


WILLIE JEAN

sometimes I think about the folks back home
that twelve mile stretch of road that we used to roam
sometimes I think about a little girl named Willie Jean
did she ever get as far as New Orleans

we used to lie on a hilltop, catch that risin' sun
walk down by the river to see that old river run
oh god it easy then to make her feel like a queen
did she ever get as far as New Orleans

we used to walk hand in hand down by the river bank
drink hot water from an old railway tank
she turned into a woman at the age of seventeen
did she ever get as far as New Orleans

my mama used to tell me, son don't you ever come to harm
look at me here people, I'm on this goddamn county farm
sometimes I lie awake just thinkin' about sweet Willie Jean
did she ever get as far as New Orleans

sometimes I think about the folks back home
and I wonder do they miss me or even think of me since I been on the roam
and sometimes I think about a little girl named Willie Jean
did she ever get as far as New Orleans