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Had all that cork on our face... made us look even blacker... shit, painted our mouths white... made 'em look big... I had to have a shot of liquor before the show. If I didn't it seemed like I couldn't be funny in front of all them people. When I had one it seemed like them people was one and I would throw up the banjo in the air and really put on a show. - Gus Cannon, on performing with Dr. Stokey's Medicine Show in Clarksdale, Mississippi

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Author Topic: "A new way of spelling..."  (Read 3488 times)

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Offline arlotone

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"A new way of spelling..."
« on: January 08, 2009, 09:32:39 AM »
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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Offline Parlor Picker

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2009, 01:16:49 AM »
It may not make sense (I think it is meant to be a "nonsense" song), but it certainly RHYMES.
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Offline blueshome

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2009, 02:39:49 AM »
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 »
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Offline Parlor Picker

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2009, 06:50:32 AM »
Quote from: blueshome on January 09, 2009, 02:39:49 AM
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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"I ain't good looking, teeth don't shine like pearls,
So glad good looks don't take you through this world."
Barbecue Bob

Offline blueshome

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2009, 10:51:46 AM »
Who are you?
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Offline dj

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2009, 11:19:09 AM »
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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Offline blueshome

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2009, 02:02:47 PM »
Thanks dj. I'm sure there are more out there too.
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Offline Willie Poor Boy

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2015, 09:19:38 PM »
I wonder if it originally had some reference to a railway line that became obscured and confused over time.
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Offline Randy Meadows

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2021, 08:51:38 AM »
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Offline David Kaatz

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2021, 12:08:23 PM »
Quote from: Randy Meadows on April 18, 2021, 08:51:38 AM
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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Offline sofingraw

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Re: "A new way of spelling..."
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2024, 06:59:47 PM »
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
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