Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL

Subject: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Brían
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 04:29 PM

From: Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics & Chords

MEMPHIS YODEL

(Jimmie Rodgers)

I woke up this morning, the blues all 'round my bed.
I woke up this morning, the blues all 'round my bed.
I didn't have nobody to hold my aching head.

If you don't want me woman, just give me your right hand.
If you don't want me woman, just give me your right hand.
'Cause I can find a mama, and you can find a man.

Now I love you, Memphis, you know I love you so.
Now I love you, Memphis, Tennessee I love you so.
I'd rather be here than any other place I know.

I wonder if anyone could eplain the lines I have bold-faced. I always thought people gave their right hands when they were getting married.

At least I did.

Brían

(Aspiring yodeler)

Yeah, I shoulda took up the bagpipes instead...

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Ebbie
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 07:50 PM

Brian, do you use Rose, the Record Lady? She has hundreds of songs and tunes that you can listen to with RealAudio. Among them are many yodeling songs, done by people like Elton Britt, Kenny Roberts, Montana Slim and Bill Staines. Bill is a contemporary musician who lives on the east coast of the USA. He has won various yodeling titles and I've never heard an easier yodel than his.


Rose, the Record Lady

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Brían
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 10:56 PM

I have seen Bill Staines a number of times and I am really impressed with about everything he does from his guitar playing, his singing, song writing, yodeling and story-telling. I recalled he had a show-stopper called THAT YODELING SONG where he demonstrates a number of different yodels in different keys and tempos. Bill has a farm in New Hampshire the last I recall.

I am familiar with the RECORD LADY. She has some great songs on that site. I noticed yesterday that there are some great French-Canadian Lumberjack songs on there that show up in some of the gatherings around where I live in Maine.

I am, however, trying to find out what Jimmie Rodgers is refering to when he says:

If you don't want me woman, just give me your right hand.

I assume it is some sort of a folk ritual and I wonder if anyone can enlighten us.

Brían

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 11:58 AM

The Mississippi Sheiks sing in their 1930's recording of the same name: "I don't want you no more sweet baby, shake hands and tell your daddy goodbye." He simply wants to shake hands and part as friends.

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Brían
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:04 PM

That sounds plausible. Folk songs are just brimming with people who kiss, shake hands and part. I just wonder if there's any significance with him asking for the right hand.

Brían

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:05 PM

That makes sense. 'Let's just say goodbye.' Any other ideas?

Subject: RE: Folklore: MEMPHIS YODEL
From: Ferrara
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:31 PM

FWIW When I read it, I thought he was saying, "Let's shake hands and part as friends, this just isn't working."