This here number was sung way back yonder. My grandmother sung it, my grandmother's mother sung it, my mother's grandmother's mother's mother's grandmother sung it. Way back yonder, 500 years old. - Rev. Gary Davis introduces Children of Zion, From Blues to Gospel
In "State of Tennessee Blues" by the Memphis Jug Band (a duet between Will Shade and his wife Jennie Mae Clayton), Shade sings "I got a new way of spelling the state of Tennessee" and then says something like, "double-E-double-R-double-E-double-N-O-C."
EEREENOC? What the heck is that supposed to mean?
I've heard this verse in other songs with slightly different "spellings," but they don't make sense either:
I'm trying to place a Furry Lewis song (probably post-war) where he uses this conceit, I think it was "new way of spelling Memphis Tennessee, double-M, double-X, Y,Z".
I also rings a bell in songs from some other Memphis based players but I'm getting old and forgetful.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2009, 10:50:55 AM by blueshome »