Blog 3 "Tom Rushen Blues"

 

This week I listened to “Tom Rushen Blues” by Charley Patton. I can say at the beginning of the song and some parts throughout I had absolutely no clue what he was saying. I looked up the lyrics and that helped me a great deal to understand what Patton was singing about. Looking at the lyrics I honestly found them to be melancholy and comedic. I understand that the song is about drinking and going to jail for getting caught, which I think only adds to the meaning of the song and the irony that I did not understand what was being sung about at first. Also understanding that prohibition was happening in America when this song was made in 1929 helped me to understand why someone would go to jail just for drinking. I also think lyrics about using booze to cure the blues could be foreshadowing that the Great Depression had just begun in 1929, but I cannot be sure because I do not know what month this song came out. This song also uses first person lyrics and second person point of view, and he uses “I” and “you” in the song. Patton’s voice is also quite rough, and he uses the guitar to create a steady tune that adds to his voice.

 

I am providing lyrics so the song can be understood easier.

Laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee
I laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee
But when I woke up, Tom Rushen was shakin' me

When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm
When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm
Tom Rushen will take you, back to the prison house flyin'

It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm
It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm
Mister Day brought whiskey taken from under Halloway's head

An' it's boozy booze, now, Lord, to cure these blues
It takes boozy boo', Lord, to cure these blues
But each day seems like years in the jailhouse where there is no boo'

I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around
I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around
If he lose his office now, he's runnin' from town to town

Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me
Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me

Aw, he caught me yellin', I was drunk as I could be