Hi all,
Charley Jordan recorded "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" at his first session, and apart from the fact that he played it out of E position in standard tuning it is quite different from the other songs from that session, particularly in its treatment of time. Charley employed a very syncopated Latin beat for it in the first four bars that is so different from practically everything else recorded in blues from that era that it would be fascinating to know the source of Charley's inspiration for the song. It is, along with "Keep It Clean" one of the two most-covered songs of Charley Jordan, and deservedly so, for it is a sensational number.
I always wondered at the meaning of "hunkie tunkie" until reading or hearing an interview with J. D. Short, in which he made it clear that "hunkie tunkie" or "hunky tunk" is a variant of what is normally referred to in Rock-A-Billy or Country songs as a honky-tonk. Because of the rhythmic treatment in the accompaniment, the phrasing of "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" is unusual. I could use some help with the word enclosed in the bent brackets in the next-to-last verse.
SOLO
Says, I'm goin' up town, tell the Chief Police
My woman done quit me, I can't see no peace
She keep me worried, bothered all the time
'Cause she keep me worried, I'm bothered all the time
Says, I love you woman, love your husband, too,
I have to love your husband get to be with you, because
He don't allow no playin' around his house, because
He don't allow no playin' around his house
Says, my mama told me, my papa, too,
"Don't let no woman be the death of you."
'Cause she didn't all ow me to stay out all night long
Because she didn't allow me to stay out all night long
What you goin' to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town, now
Gwine to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town
SOLO
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
Everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your modern hunkie tunkie blues
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie baby
You ought to see that curly-headed monkey, hear?
Head is curly, baby, and bushy, too
'Cause his head is curly, babe, and bushy, too
SOLO
edited 10/2, to pick up correction from banjochris
All best,
Johnm
Charley Jordan recorded "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" at his first session, and apart from the fact that he played it out of E position in standard tuning it is quite different from the other songs from that session, particularly in its treatment of time. Charley employed a very syncopated Latin beat for it in the first four bars that is so different from practically everything else recorded in blues from that era that it would be fascinating to know the source of Charley's inspiration for the song. It is, along with "Keep It Clean" one of the two most-covered songs of Charley Jordan, and deservedly so, for it is a sensational number.
I always wondered at the meaning of "hunkie tunkie" until reading or hearing an interview with J. D. Short, in which he made it clear that "hunkie tunkie" or "hunky tunk" is a variant of what is normally referred to in Rock-A-Billy or Country songs as a honky-tonk. Because of the rhythmic treatment in the accompaniment, the phrasing of "Hunkie Tunkie Blues" is unusual. I could use some help with the word enclosed in the bent brackets in the next-to-last verse.
SOLO
Says, I'm goin' up town, tell the Chief Police
My woman done quit me, I can't see no peace
She keep me worried, bothered all the time
'Cause she keep me worried, I'm bothered all the time
Says, I love you woman, love your husband, too,
I have to love your husband get to be with you, because
He don't allow no playin' around his house, because
He don't allow no playin' around his house
Says, my mama told me, my papa, too,
"Don't let no woman be the death of you."
'Cause she didn't all ow me to stay out all night long
Because she didn't allow me to stay out all night long
What you goin' to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town, now
Gwine to do when they tear your barrelhouse down?
Goin' to pack my suitcase, hunt some other town
SOLO
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
Everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie blues
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your modern hunkie tunkie blues
Well, it's everybody's talkin' about your hunkie tunkie baby
You ought to see that curly-headed monkey, hear?
Head is curly, baby, and bushy, too
'Cause his head is curly, babe, and bushy, too
SOLO
edited 10/2, to pick up correction from banjochris
All best,
Johnm