What is smokestack lightnin'?

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:56 PM

... and thus is Urban Obsfuscation continued.

Thanks Art!

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:51 PM

The singer heard the words wrong, learned them wrong, sang and recorded them wrong, and the next singer learned it the wrong way too.

Walter Vinson with the Mississippi Shieks sang it wrong in the 1930s. So did Howling Wolf in the 1950s and '60s.

The line ought to be: "Smokes like lightning, shines like gold."

Art

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:16 PM

"why the little bitty boy turns him on"

the singer is a female?

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:09 PM

Ah - it's referring to a TRAIN....

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 09:00 PM

Possibly descriptive?

A big dark cloud could be described as a smokestack perhaps?

could it be that one is meant to feel the wrath of the big dark cloud, which spitting lightning, isn't looking very approachable?

Could the cloud be representative of a woman? in this case not in a very forgiving mood?

Here's the lyrics:

Whoa-oh, smokestack lightning
Shining just like gold
Why can't you hear me cryin'
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let a hobo ride
Why can't you hear me cryin'
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Whoa-oh, fare you well
I never see you no more
Why can't you hear me cryin'
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Whoa-oh, who bit your baby sister?
I been gone
A little bitty boy
Turn me on, ooh-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Whoa-oh, stop your train
Let a poor boy ride
Why can't you hear me callin'

Stop your train
Let a poor boy ride
[etc]

Whoa-oh, who bit your baby sister?
I been gone
A little bitty boy
Turn me on, ooh-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Whoa-oh, fare you well
I never see you no more
Why don't you hear me cryin'
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh

Don't you hear me cryin' one time
It hurts, yes it do
Ah-ooh
[etc]

Whoa-oh, fare you well
I never see you no more
Why don't you hear me cryin'
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
Ah-ooh
[etc]


I have to say I'm a little concerned about who exactly bit the baby sister and why the little bitty boy turns him on (Ah-oooh ... etc ..)

I'm sure it will all become clear in the fullness of time.

Subject: RE: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:54 PM

If you are referring to what I think, then the Physics says that when you have a column of heated air with particles rising, an electric charge can build up.

If you want to see good examples, then watch movies of strong volancoes erupting, they often have much lightning in the smoke column.

Of course "smokestack lightnin'" may refer to some type of moonshine...

Subject: What is smokestack lightnin'?
From: michaelr
Date: 10 Oct 06 - 08:37 PM

Been wondering for years.

Cheers,
Michael