Topic: Lightnin' Hopkins - "European Blues"

[VSOP]

Does anybody know what possible "raid in Europe" Lightnin' is singing about in this song? It has been tossed about that this is a commentary on WWII, but it was recorded c. 1949 and is sung in the present tense. Could it based on an earlier blues that actually was recorded in 1940-41?

The gist of Lightnin's lyric is that men who join the armed forces are "fools" for leaving the USA (and therefore their women to Lightnin'). 

Yeah, you know the people is raidin' in Europe
Boy, they're raidin' on both sea, land, and air (x2)
Yes, you better be mighty careful little girl
Your man may have to go over there

Yeah, you know my girlfriend got a boyfriend in Europe
You know that fool's already cross the sea (x2)
Yes, you know I don't hate it so bad
I know there's a better break for me

[Rivers]

Could it based on an earlier blues that actually was recorded in 1940-41?

Absolutely yes, but I'm darned if I can think of the song. Sonny Boy I or one of his cadre I'm thinking, it will come to me. Merle Travis also had a joke song line around that and I can't think of that one either, it's been a long week, considering I had Monday off.

[Bunker Hill]

Could it based on an earlier blues that actually was recorded in 1940-41?

Absolutely yes, but I'm darned if I can think of the song. Sonny Boy I or one of his cadre I'm thinking, it will come to me. Merle Travis also had a joke song line around that and I can't think of that one either, it's been a long week, considering I had Monday off.

Perhaps Dingwall would be good enough to perform a search on his database for keywords thereby saving us much angst.

[VSOP]

"Candy Kitchen" also has a verse that must be from an earlier source, but I don't know what it is:

"I have to go to work at the WPA, and it's way 'cross town."

The WPA was dissolved years before Lightnin' recorded this.