Topic: "A new way of spelling..."

[arlotone]

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

[Parlor Picker]

It may not make sense (I think it is meant to be a "nonsense" song), but it certainly RHYMES.

[blueshome]

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.

[Parlor Picker]

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...

[blueshome]

Who are you?

[dj]

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!   

[blueshome]

Thanks dj. I'm sure there are more out there too.

[Willie Poor Boy]

I wonder if it originally had some reference to a railway line that became obscured and confused over time.