Wining Boy (lyrics)
WININ’ BOY
By Jelly Roll Morton
I'm the Winin' Boy, no, don't you deny my name,
I'm the Winin' Boy, don't you deny me my name,
Oh, I'm the Winin' Boy, don't you deny my name,
Lord, I pick it up and shake it like sweet Stavin' Chain.
Mm, I’m the Winin' Boy, don't you deny my name.
Oh say, Mama Mama, hey, Mama look at Sis,
Oh, hey hey, hey, hey Mama, Mama, look at little Sis,
Hey look at Sis;
Lord, Mama Mama, take a look at Sis, Lord,
She's out on the levee doin' that double twist,
Mm, hm, I’m the Winin' Boy, no, don't you deny now my name.
I'm the Winin' Boy, Lord, Lord, please don't you deny my name.
I'm the Winin' Boy, Lord, don't you deny my name,
Don’t deny my name;
I know I’m the Winin' Boy, don't you deny my name, aw,
I'll pick it up and shake it, like sweet Stavin' Chain
Mm, I’m the Winin' Boy, Lord, don't you deny me my name.
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Q: What does Winin' (Winding) Boy mean? In the same song, what is a Staving Chain? Pick it up and shake it?
A 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. (“Two Nineteen Train”).
"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."(A long straight piece of solid material such as wood used as support, especially for walking).A “winding” boy who can “pick it up and shake it” is a man who can move himself around in a sexy way that supposedly pleases all the ladies, according to the web site below, This would seem like a man’s song, but Janis Joplin had no problem singing it as well. This is just a great bragging, humorous, bluesy tune.
http://tafkac.org/songs/what_is_a_jellyroll_more.html
(Graphic language on this site. Be careful)
At any rate, Ferdinand Morton, in bragging about his sexual prowess may have wanted to assure his female audience that he was no “sissy” just because he played the piano, an instrument commonly associated with women players in those days. Since he seems to have been rather touchy about this subject, he was naturally nicknamed “Jelly Roll” by his colleagues and had to live with it.
Janis Joplin sings the song with great bravado, and adds her own bluesy interpretation.