Minnie Douglas was born in 1900 in Algiers, Louisiana. Later she moved to the Memphis area and began to play banjo and guitar on the Memphis streets as Kid Douglas. In 1916 she joined the Ringling Brothers Circus for several years. After returning to Memphis she married Casey Bill Weldon in 1928 but they separated after only a few months. In 1929 she married "Kansas" Joe McCoy. Together they recorded many fine blues duets.
In 1935 she divorced and in 1938 married for the third time, with Ernest Lawlars, better known as Little Son Joe.
She continued to record until 1954 and only retired in 1962 after suffering a stroke. She died in 1973. She was arguably the best among the (few) female country blues artist.
This page contains lyrics to the following song(s):
Recorded in Chicago, 3 Sep. 1934 with Kansas Joe McCoy (her husband)
CHICKASAW TRAIN BLUES (McCoy) I'm gon' tell everybody, what that Chickasaw has done done for me I'm gon' tell everybody, what that Chickasaw has done done for me She done stole my man away, and blow that doggone smoke on me She's a low down dirty dog I ain't no woman, like to ride that Chickasaw Ain't no woman, like to ride that Chickasaw Because everywhere she stop, she's stealing some woman's good man, oh She's a low down dirty dog I told the depot this mornin', I don't think he treats me right Told the depot this mornin', I don't think he treats me right He done sold my man a ticket, and I know that Chickasaw leavin' town tonight He's a low down dirty dog I walk down a railroad track, that Chickasaw even wouldn't let me ride the blind I walk down a railroad track, that Chickasaw wouldn't even let me ride the blind And she stop picking up men, all up and down the line She's a low down dirty dog Mmm-mmm, Chickasaw don't pay no woman no mind Mmm-mmm, that Chickasaw don't pay no woman no mind And she stop pickin' up men, all up and down the line
(from the CD "Hoodoo Lady" in the Columbia Roots 'n' Blues series). Recorded in 1938 in Chicago for Vocalion.
I hate to see evenin' sun go down I hate to see evenin' sun go down Cause it makes me think, I'm on my last go-round Some people take the blues, go jump overboard and drown Some people take the blues, go jump overboard and drown But when they gets on me, I'd rather stay 'n go sit down I been to the river, looked it up and down I been to the river, looked it up and down But when my mind never let me, to jump overboard and drown Oh take it away now... Yes I know... Play it mister Charlie... While I'm lookin' at you... Every time I go, across that old muddy pond Every time I go, across that old muddy pond I think about my baby, and come easin' on back home Everybody try to show me, how to ease my troublin' mind Everybody try to show me, how to ease my troublin' mind When the big boat come along, to just jump on in behind
(From 1941)
Won't you be my chauffeur Won't you be my chauffeur I wants him to drive me I wants him to drive me downtown Yes he drives so easy I can't turn him down But I don't want him But I don't want him To be ridin' his girls To be ridin' his girls around So I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down Well I must buy him Well I must buy him A brand new V8 A brand new V8 Ford Then he won't need no passengers, I will be his load Yes... take it away... Wanna let my chauffeur Wanna let my chauffeur Drive me around the Drive me around the world Then he can be my little boy, yes I'll be his girl
From the LP Blues Classics 13 - Memphis Minnie Vol. 2: Early Recordings with "Kansas Joe" McCoy. A moving blues about the dangerous meningitis, which she "personalized" into "Minnie-Jitis".
Mmmmm, the meningitis killin' me Mmmmm, the meningitis killin' me I'm sittin' not standin' baby, I had that menin' down to my knees I comin' home one Saturday night, pull off my clothes and I lie down I comin' home one Saturday night, pull off my clothes and I lie down And that mornin' just about day, the meningitis began to creep around My head and neck was failin' me, feel like my back was breakin' two My head and neck was failin' me, feel like my back was breakin' two Lord I had such a mood that mornin', I didn't know what in the world to do My companion take me to the doctor, "doctor please tell me my wife's complaint" My companion take me to the doctor, "doctor please tell me my wife's complaint" That doctor looked down on me, shook his head, "that was my intention son, but I can't Just take her 'round to the city hospital, jus' as quick quick as you possible can Take her 'round to the city hospital, jus' as quick quick as you possible can Because the condition she's in now, you will never go home live again" Comin' around to the city hospital, the clock was strikin' ten Comin' around to the city hospital, the clock was strikin' ten I heard my companion sayin', I will see your smilin' face again
A follow-on to her earlier "Bumble Bee" from 1929. (from the LP Blues Classics 13 - Memphis Minnie Vol. 2: Early Recordings with "Kansas Joe" McCoy)
I got a bumble bee, don't sting nobody but me I got a bumble bee, don't sting nobody but me And I tell the world, he got all the stinger I need And he makes better honey, any bumble bee I ever see And he makes better honey, any bumble bee I ever see And when he makes it, oh how he make me scream He get to flyin' & buzzin', stingin' everybody he meet He get to flyin' & buzzin', stingin' everybody he meet Lord I wonder why, my bumble bee wanna mistreat me Mmmmmmmmmm, where my bumble bee gone? Mmmmmmmmmm, wonder where's my bumble bee gone? I been lookin' for him, my bumble bee so long so long My bumble bee got ways, just like a natural man My bumble bee got ways, just like a natural man He's stingin' somebody, everywhere he land
(from the LP Blues Classics 13 - Memphis Minnie Vol. 2: Early Recordings with "Kansas Joe" McCoy)
I tell all you people, you can rest in ease You don't have to worry about cookin', go to North Memphis cafe and eat I tell all you people, you can rest in ease Because the North Memphis cafe got everything that you really need I don't buy no wood, even buy no coal I go to North Memphis cafe and eat and don't be outdoors I tell all you people, you can rest in ease You don't have to worry about cookin', go to North Memphis cafe and eat I wan' tell y'all somethin', I don't change like the wind If you go to North Memphis cafe eat you go back again I tell all you people, you can rest in ease Because the North Memphis cafe got everything that you really need Now listen to me good people, I don't even make you mad You go to North Memphis cafe and get somethin' you never had I tell all you people, you can rest in ease Because the North Memphis cafe got everything that you really need
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