Lyr Req: My Black Cadillac (Lightnin' Hopkins)

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 01:54 PM

The Spaniards have many double entendre songs and words in their folk lore. I have a book where many of the songs are indicated as having a double meaning, but, lacking Spanish except for restaurant use, I can't pick up the meanings.

I have an idea that language skills of this sort were discouraged in English-speaking schools, in part a result of the 'puritan' ethic, in part because of rigid rules on speech and grammar laid down by teachers who didn't have time to deal with inventiveness.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Azizi
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 11:32 AM

Q, I agree with your statement of 31 Mar 07 - 02:11 PM , that the term 'coded' is not an appropriate term for the colloquial use of words and phrases in Blues songs and other songs.

It seems to me that "coded messages" should properly be limited to songs that contain words or phrases whose meanings were {are} purposely hidden from persons outside the group composing the songs because of probably physical retribution if the intended meanings of those words or phrases were known.

I believe this term doesn't fit the use of slang and other terms in Blues songs because there was {is} no fear of physical retribution if the more risque meaning of these slang words or phases became {becomes} known.

"Double entendre" seems to be a better fit for these words & phrases. I don't have another term which could be used in place of 'double entrendre'. "Songs with layered meanings" seems too labored and doesn't include the sense that many of these words have sexual connotations.

But I do have some thoughts on why those terms were used in Blues songs.

Fist, Here's a definition for "double entendre" from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double%5Fentendre

{Sorry, Q. I know that you don't like Wikipedia}

"A double entendre is a figure of speech similar to the pun, in which a spoken phrase can be understood in either of two ways. The first, literal meaning is an innocent one, while the second meaning is often ironic or risqué and requires the hearer to have some additional knowledge. Although an expression made of French words, it is not correct modern French; the French use the term double sens ("double sense [or meaning]") for such phrases.

The risqué, often sexual, element is central to most people's understanding of what a double entendre is"..
-snip-

It seems odd that that definition limits itself to spoken phrases. What about "a word" [singular]? And what about other forms of communication besides the spoken word? Also, aren't there some times when a 'double entendre' word or phrase has more than two meanings?

But I guess that's nit picking...

I agree with the person who wrote the above quoted sentences that the hearer {or reader} has to have additional knowledge [of the cultural context] to fully understand the risque meaning of the words or phrase.

While society's moral code was probably part of reason why Bluesmen {and Blueswomen} used substitute words and phrases for sexual terms and sexual actions, I think that there's more going on than that.

The power of words and the creative {witty} use of words was {is?} highly valued in traditional African culture. I think that the use of these double {or triple?} entendre words & phrases in Blues songs is a carry over {carrying on} of this African Nommo spoken word tradition.

And more power to that tradition!

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:28 PM

Don't remember the club name. Couldn't find anyone who could take me there. It seems to me that he wasn't at his usual place (?Bird Lounge) because of the club engagement. I was only in Houston for a couple of days at a time and couldn't plan.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 02:36 PM

"private club (white) in Houston"

Would that be The Bird Lounge in Houston ? Another budget Hopkins LP of mine was called Live at the Bird Lounge (Ember. NR 5024). According to legend it was recorded about 3am and it certainly sounds it. 6 longish tracks with Lightnin' so laid back he sounds just about horizontal. Wonderful stuff.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 02:11 PM

I agree, Azizi. It is a typical double meaning song. I don't like the word coded; words like 'jelly' are (or were) well known slang to anyone who listened to Black jazz before WW2. I don't like 'double entendre' for these songs either, although this is the term often seen in articles about them. Any suggestions, Azizi?

In the semi-rural areas of the deep South until about two-three generations ago, for white folks this often meant listening from their car parked outside the joint, but open windows and doors let the sound out. Sometimes well-known performers passing through would play. Often one of the cars would be manned by a couple of sheriff's deputies. The white joints had country music, sheriff's deputies were there too but they sat at the bar or a table towards the back. I only saw them have to get on their feet once and that was in a white joint in Georgia when two customers had a mild disagreement.

For a spell (in the 60's if I remember correctly) )Lightnin Hopkins played engagements in a private club (white) in Houston. I never did get to hear him live; just bought a couple of lps which I still have.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 01:26 PM

Well I think it would be a mistake to see it purely on one level or another. Plus you really need to read it in conjunction with the song's spoken intro.

There's obviously a large slice of double entendre in there, but I think it's about owning a Cadillac, which was a big status symbol to southern black people. Plus, look at the women you can pull when you've got one.

On top of that I thnk he's poking fun at the whole status thing. Complicated stuff, black humour.

Incidentally, that should be white wall tyres, not white worn. And I think it should be "ooh Lightnin' you can't catch me", not kiss me.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:58 AM

After reading these lyrics, I'm even more convinced that at least one one level this song is a coded reference for making love.
After reading these lyrics, I am also even more convinced that most of this song is written for a woman's voice {from a woman's point of view}.

Here's my interpretation a couple of other lines in that song.

"My black Cadillac,
it left me and i had to sell my sugar in fact,
Hit and run alright"

-snip-

GUEST 31 Mar 07 - 10:00 AM, what do you think is the meaning of those lines?

Imo, it means the woman had to go out hookin {prostituting-selling herself one short trick at a time to make some money since her man]her big black cadillac] done gone.

Guest, if I'm correct about the [imo not so hidden] meaning of this song, that doesn't negate your statement that "he's [Lightnin Hopkins] singing about an automobile. Lightnin' was astonishingly prolific and could improvise blues about people walking by in the street--or driving".

And in Blues songs in particular, there are many covert ways to refer to sex.

Not wanting to take the focus away from the big black cadillac song , but if you have a mind to, check out the meaning of the line "throw my jelly out the window" in Leadbelly's song "When I Was A Cowboy"

thread.cfm?threadid=3444#2005508
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I Was a Cowboy (Leadbelly)

In the context of those songs, "jelly"-"sugar" {same same}.

Subject: Lyr Add: BIG BLACK CADILLAC BLUES (Hopkins)
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:36 AM

BIG BLACK CADILLAC BLUES

{Lightnin' Hopkins}


Whooah, Baby,

Please come on back,
For you've got something of mine,
I'm sure I like this black Cadillac in the morning,
My black Cadillac in the morning,

Yeah, my black Cadillac,
We've been married for a while,

She was sitting in that car 'cause he could sure drive,

She said step on it,
His face is running,
He said I don't know,
I don't want to get a ticket,

She said step on this thing,
She said if this thing don't go,
I don't want to ride this Cadillac no more,

He said well I'm gonna let the hammer down,
If you see a red light,
Run over it and get a ticket,
'Cause he said, no I ain't gonna get no ticket,

If I can make a breathe
That thing was wide open man,

My black Cadillac,
It left me and I had to sell my sugar in fact,

Hit and run alright,

Whooah baby,
Will you come on back,
Got something that I sure don't lack,
Yes, it's my black Cadillac,
My black Cadillac in the morning,

Yeaah, my black Cadillac,
With white worn tires,

And this is what she told me,
I know your Cadillac is,
It's really black,
I know you got that white on the tire,
But I got a black man on the side,
White eyes and white teeth,

Oooh, Lightning you can't kiss me,
No Lightning you can't get me,
Well, it's obvious still,
Where, oh, where can it be,

I stopped in the parking lot,
Then I parked in the bus's block,
I caught him,
But what good would it do,

That Cadillac wouldn't run for me,
And it won't run for you,

http://www.smartlyrics.com/Song359588-Lightnin-Hopkins-Big-Black-Cadillac-Blues-lyrics.aspx

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 10:00 AM

Nope. If you're heard the song--he's singing about an automobile. Lightnin' was astonishingly prolific and could improvise blues about people walking by in the street--or driving.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 09:59 AM

Now THAT is a possibility that NEVER occurred to me.

LOL

al

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 09:22 AM

Having not heard this song, I still agree with Peace that "black cadillac in the morning" makes much more sense than "black cadillac 'de moan" or "black cadillac in Des Moines {Iowa}".

Nobody's asked about the meaning of "black cadillac" but I'll go there anyway.

I don't think the singer's talking about a brand of car.

I bet this is an allusion to making love. In other words, "cadillac" [black or otherwise], is a phallic symbol.

Inspite of this song being sung by a male, given these words, I believe that it was composed for a woman's voice and point of view. My sense is that the woman is asking her {Black} man to come back because he has something of hers {meaning his penis}. And the woman is also saying that she likes making love in the morning.

This woman probably likes making love at other times too but 'doing the do' early in the morning when the focus is supposed to be on work and other mundane activities carries the implication that the loving is really irresistably good.

If I'm correct that this song was originally meant for a woman's voice, then it might be one of many songs that have lyrics that make
more sense from one gender's perspective though the song is performed by someone from the 'opposite' gender.


And though nobody's asked, I concur with the song's sentiments

:o)

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 05:39 AM

Yes indeed, I was that man. It was the 50p society brand for me as well. I bought it in a little record shop just down from El Zamba coffee house in Exeter. The Lp had a little top hat logo on it.

I learned every little run on that Lightnin Hopkins record - only in the wrong key - I learned it in G.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 04:40 AM

You have just awakened in me a long slumbering nostalgia for my teenage years. In the mid sixties, as a poverty stricken apprentice, I couldn't afford to buy full price blues LPs. So I made do with some of the bargain price records which were then flooding on to the market. That song turned up on a live recording of a coffee house concert featuring Lightnin' Hopkins, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Big Joe Williams who for some strange reason wasn't credited.

The disc in question was called Lightnin' Sonny and Brownie and the track was listed as Big Car Blues. It appeared on Society SOC 1009 and it cost me all of ten bob (50p). I can still recall the spoken introduction about how Lightnin' had always wanted a Cadillac and finally he got one. "And I'm sittin' up there all black......."

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Peace
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:50 AM

Whooah, Baby,

Please come on back,
For youve got smething of mine,
Im sure i like this black cadillac in the morning,
My black Cadillac in the morning,

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Peace
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:48 AM

IrThe line is "My black cadillac in the morning".

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 02:18 AM

Yes I thought of that.

Was that a model of cadillac? or the place they come from.

Subject: RE: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Leadbelly
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:40 PM

Des Moines

Subject: Lightnin Hopkins - My Black Cadillac
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:18 PM

I was having a bash at making Les Hash Browns Americain, when suddenly I started singing a song learned in early youth - namely Lightning Hopkin's Black Cadillac

Starts off

Oh Baby! Please come on back!
You got something of mine, I sure to like

that's my my cadillac, my black cadillac de moan

And I was wondering about the cadillac de moan - did I mishear? What was this model? Or what ...

I suddenly realised I could go to the grave without cleasring up the 'de moan' business in my own mind.