Origins: 'Matchbox holdin' my clothes'

Subject: Origins: 'Matchbox holdin' my clothes'
From: Alec
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:54 AM

I heard a snippet of song on the Radio yesterday which contained the above line.It was a female,contemporary sounding vocalist who I did not recognise.I know the Carl Perkins song "Matchbox" is pretty much built around this phrase & believe he was far from the first to use it.
I have always thought this is a witty way of conveying a lack of possessions. So does anybody know who was the first to use it?

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Matchbox holdin' my clothes'
From: retrancer
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:32 AM

I've heard it in "going down the road feelin bad" and on one of Dave Bromberg's albums but as far as origins, not much more help than that.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Matchbox holdin' my clothes'
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:44 AM

The phrase traces back at least as far as Blind Lemon Jefferson. His verse

Well, I wonder will a matchbox hold my clothes? (x2)
I ain't got so many, but I got so far to go.

appeared in his "Match Box Blues," Okeh 8455, recorded in Chicago March 14 1926 and subsequently one of his most popular and well known blues, selling well all through the late twenties.

White singers picked it up and spread it far and wide. It's one of the classic phrases of the blues.

Bob

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Matchbox holdin' my clothes'
From: Alec
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:15 AM

"March 14 1926" where else on the web would you get that degree of precision that fast?
Did wonder if I ought to have included a crib for younger/future 'Catters explaining what a "Matchbox" was,but maybe that's unnecessary.:-)
Thanks both.
Any claims for earlier?