Topic: Johnny Shines Lyrics

[Stefan Wirz]

... not too often blues artists do mention others (at least as long as those are among the living ;-) in their songs (or do they?)

Therefore I found it worth hunting for an old and obviously rare 1972 LP on Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project Records (SFCRP no #) on which one "John Shines" sings about visiting his friend "Mr. Booker White" on Mosby Street, Memphis (actually White lived in Mosby Street, Baton Rouge, while Furry Lewis' home was in Mosby Street, Memphis --- but who cares ;-)

Tried to transcribe what I hear - Additions/corrections are most welcome !!!

... and - in case you don't own that LP - an MP3 of that song can be found here



"Southern Fool" by Johnny Shines

Goin' down to the barnyard
Jump up on my old grey mule (2x)
We're both goin' up now (?), tired of bein' a southern fool.

When I get to Memphis
Gonna ride down on Mosby Street (2x)
I got a friend down there, he took a plane to see me.

Everybody should know my friend
His name is Mr. Booker White (2x)
Well he used to live down in the Mississippi delta, an' I'm livin' in northern light.

Well if the mule will be nice to me
Tell you what I'm gonna do (2x)
an' I'm gonna cut this ol' poor mule lose.

[Prof Scratchy]

Hi Stefan
Sounds to me like he sings in the last line "I'm gonna take this old high grass...."
Prof S

[Coyote Slim]

Never heard or heard of this tune!

[Rivers]

... not too often blues artists do mention others (at least as long as those are among the living ;-) in their songs (or do they?)

Stefan,

You came to exactly the right place to pose that question. Ghostrider started a collection of references in song to, um, other famous people. Obviously we had nothing better to do at that point in world history, I knew it would be useful someday:  

http://www.weeniecampbell.com/wiki/index.php?title=Name_That_Country_Blues_Artist

[lindy]

Help with two lines, please. From Johnny Shines - "Back To The Country" CD, Snooky Pryor on harmonica.

[Revised to incorporate Alex's addition.]




I heard you had plenty money, baby
Brand new automobile.
But you need a cool driver
Who?s scootin' under your wheel

I am a cool driver,
Yes, I know my way around.
Cause you see I need a cool mama,
That don?t mind me rolling around.

Well 5 and 3 are 8 baby,
8 and 2 are ten,
I?mo start ridin you mama,
?Til you tell me when.

I am a cool driver,
Yes, I know my way around.
Cause you see I need a cool mama,
One that don?t mind me rolling around.

Well if you had me in the sky, baby
Right across the Milky Way.
Ride me ride me baby,
Cause we?ll get to Creamy City someday.

I am a cool driver,
Yes, I know my way around.
Cause you see I need a cool mama,
That don?t mind me rolling around.


Thanks!
Lindy

[lindy]

Here's an mp3 file.

I got one bit of feedback that according to a 1950's version of this song, "Who's scootin' under your wheel" is accurate. But we have no idea what that means. Any thoughts?



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[GhostRider]

Lindy:

You have the first problem line right. The second is:

"Right across the Milky Way"

Astronomical blues, cool. 

Alex

[lindy]

Good ears, Alex, I should have known that Creamy City is in the Milky Way.

Thanks,
Lindy

[Rivers]

I got one bit of feedback that according to a 1950's version of this song, "Who's scootin' under your wheel" is accurate. But we have no idea what that means. Any thoughts?

Well, here's a real long shot. Could it be something to do with, you know, having sexual relations?

[lindy]

Well, here's a real long shot. Could it be something to do with, you know, having sexual relations?

Duh, Rivers, we figured it probably had that connotation, but we could not find any other song that had the same lyric, and we were curious about the details . . .

[banjochris]

If someone gets in a car to do a little driving, they're scooting under the steering wheel.

[lindy]

If someone gets in a car to do a little driving, they're scooting under the steering wheel.

Is that what I was doing with Mary Lou Sweetwater back in high school, scootin' under the wheel of my daddy's Impala?

Thanks, Chris, never heard the term before, if anyone knows other uses in other songs, I'd love to know. I associate the word with country and western dancin'--"boot scootin' music."

Lindy

[doctorpep]

Johnny shines also sings about Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, BB King, and John Lee Hooker, on the song, "Shotgun Whuppin'". It appears on the Mr. cover Shaker album.

Is there any chance that you could re-upload the southern four song?

Please excuse my poor grammar due to my speech to text program.

[Stefan Wirz]

"Southern Fool"

[jostber]

The more Johnny Shines the better! Thanks for this.