Topic: Hanging Crepe' ???

[Slack]

Some conjecture on my part but 'hangin' crepe' is a symbol of mourning.... usually used when someone dies(Crepe is hung on the door knob of someone who died in the room).

I think in the Son House song context this means "you're gonna miss me when I'm gone"

[dj]

Crepe is a lightweight fabric.  A century or so ago, people used to hang black crepe above their front door as a sign of mourning when a family member died.  The custom has almost completely died out, at least in the United States.  The only survival that I'm aware of is in firehouses, where black crepe is hung above the doors when a company member dies.

When I leave this time baby I'm gon' hang crepe on your door'

Hmmm... Is Son saying he's going to kill his girlfriend before he leaves town?

[Slack]

Here's a good explanation, apparently hung on the outside of the house:

http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/mourning/wakes.html

Hmmm... Is Son he's going to kill his girlfriend before he leaves town?

Well, I prefer a more symbolic explanation.   e.g. "I'm through with you". 

[Cambio]

Nice link Slack. 
I asked my grandmother about this once.  She said that they called the wreath that they would hang on the door when someone died a crepe.  She also said that it was considered disrespectful to have a funeral at a funeral parlor and this was only done when someone didn't have family or friends to take care of the services.
She remembered that when her father died, the family sat with him during the day and his close friends came at night.  According to her, someone always had to be with the body, partly out of respect, partly to ward away any evil spirits. 
Oh how times have changed.

[Richard]

I've also heard of crepe as a black material as well.

But for your edification, back in the 60-70s suede shoes\boots with a "crepe" sole (a sort of tan coloured rubber stuff)  were very popular here and were known as Brothel Creepers...    just a little something brighten you day possibly Son House had the material in mind!

[Pan]

FWIW, I think I'm hearing Frank Stokes sing on "It Won't Be Long" something like this:

""And I'm going, I'm going,
put a black crepe on your door, (2x)
tell your man ain't dead,
just ain't coming here no more."

so your explanations would make a lot of sense IMHO.

Pan

[Stumblin]

A little late in the day to join in this discussion, but here's a, hopefully, interesting addition.
I've never seen crepe, of any colour, hung on doors as a sign of mourning. Does the tradition persist anywhere, I wonder?

[jostber]

Vernon Dalhart had a song on the subject as well:

http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/c/crepeontheoldcabindoor.shtml

[thefringthing]

My interpretation of Son House's lyric is that he means that when he goes away, it will be as if he had died i.e. he has no intention to return.