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Country Blues => Country Blues Lyrics => Topic started by: arlotone on January 08, 2009, 09:32:39 AM
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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:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22new+way+of+spelling%22+tennessee&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
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It may not make sense (I think it is meant to be a "nonsense" song), but it certainly RHYMES.
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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.
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I also rings a bell in some other Memphis based players but I'm getting old and forgetful.
Now that merits a response, but of course I wouldn't dare...
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Who are you?
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Courtesy of Michael Taft's lyric concordance, here are a few other ways to spell Memphis Tennessee:
Furry Lewis, "Jellyroll", May 28 1927: "Double M double E, Lord A Y Lord Z"
Blind Teddy Darby, "Lawdy Lawdy Worried Blues", September 7 1929: "Double M double E double T double X Y Z"
Edward Thompson, "Seven Sister Blues", c. October 23 1929 (spelling "sweet old Tennessee"): "Double T double N double T double S U Z"
Smokey Harrison, "Iggly Oggly Blues", c. December 1929 (spelling "Tennessee"): "Double S double E double I double A double L"
Apparently, there are a lot of ways you can spell that! ;)
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Thanks dj. I'm sure there are more out there too.
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I wonder if it originally had some reference to a railway line that became obscured and confused over time.
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About 55 seconds in...
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_naZwiZj4CiwRJoxiI2gaO4m6qK5iPGcr4
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About 55 seconds in...
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_naZwiZj4CiwRJoxiI2gaO4m6qK5iPGcr4
Randy, which song are you referring to? That is a list of an entire album.
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Piling on here with Hayes McMullan (John Miller heard it and transcribed for us) :
Goin Away Mama Blues
I got a new way, spelling, that is, Memphis Tennessee:
That’s T Y R mama, and it’s M I double Z
I says T Y R mama, and it’s M I double Z
Ben