Lenoir's guitar-playing father introduced him to the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, whose music became a major influence. During the early 1940s, Lenoir worked with blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James in New Orleans. Lenoir would eventually find musical influence in Arthur Crudup and Lightnin' Hopkins.
In 1949, he moved to Chicago and Big Bill Broonzy helped introduce him to the local blues community. He began to perform at local nightclubs with musicians such as Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather, and Muddy Waters, and became an important part of the city's blues scene. He began recording in 1951 the J.O.B. and Chess Records labels. His recording of "Korea Blues" was licensed to and released by Chess, as having been performed by 'J. B. and his Bayou Boys'. His band included pianist Sunnyland Slim, guitarist Leroy Foster, and drummer Alfred Wallace.
During the 1950s Lenoir recorded on various record labels in the Chicago area including J.O.B., Chess, Parrot, and Checker. His more successful songs included "Let's Roll", "The Mojo" featuring saxophonist J. T. Brown, and the controversial "Eisenhower Blues" which his record company, Parrot, forced him to re-record as "Tax Paying Blues."
Lenoir was known in the 1950s for his showmanship - in particular his zebra-patterned costumes - and his high-pitched vocals. He became an influential electric guitarist and songwriter, and his penchant for social commentary distinguished him from many other bluesmen of the time. His most commercially successful and enduring release was "Mamma Talk To Your Daughter", recorded for Parrot in 1954 which reached #11 on the Billboard R&B chart and was later recorded by many other blues and rock musicians. In the later 1950s (recording on the Checker label), he wrote several more blues standards including; "Don't Dog Your Woman", and "Don't Touch My Head!!!" (1956).
In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as 'J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythm', developing an interest in African percussion. However, he struggled to work as a professional musician and for a time took menial jobs, including working in the kitchen at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Lenoir was rediscovered by Willie Dixon, who recorded him with drummer Fred Below on the albums Alabama Blues and Down In Mississippi (inspired by the Civil Rights and Free Speech movements). Lenoir toured Europe, and performed in 1965 with the American Folk Blues Festival in the United Kingdom.
Lenoir's work had direct political content relating to racism and the Vietnam War.
"Alabama Blues"
“I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
You know they killed my sister and my brother,
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free.”
He died on April 29, 1967 in Urbana, Illinois, aged 38, from a heart attack related to injuries he suffered in a car accident three weeks earlier.
His death was lamented by John Mayall in the songs, "I'm Gonna Fight for You, J.B." and "Death of J. B. Lenoir".
The 2003 documentary film The Soul of a Man, directed by Wim Wenders as the second instalment of Martin Scorsese's series The Blues, explored Lenoir's career, together with those of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson.
In 2011, Lenoir was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Although his name is sometimes mispronounced like the French "lan WAH", Lenoir himself pronounced his name a "la NOR". The initials "J.B." had no specific meaning; his given name was simply "J.B."
Alabama Blues
J.B. Lenoir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me
You know they killed my sister and my brother
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free
I never will love Alabama, Alabama seem to never have loved poor me
I never will love Alabama, Alabama seem to never have loved poor me
Oh God I wish you would rise up one day
Lead my peoples to the land of pea'
My brother was taken up for my mother, and a police officer shot him down
My brother was taken up for my mother, and a police officer shot him down
I can't help but to sit down and cry sometime
Think about how my poor brother lost his life
Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean?
Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean?
You got my people behind a barb wire fence
Now you tryin' to take my freedom away from me
The song "Alabama Blues" by J.B. Lenoir is a powerful protest song against the injustices faced by African Americans in Alabama. The lyrics express the artist's strong aversion to the state of Alabama, a place where his siblings were killed and where racism and discrimination are rampant. The repeated refrain, "I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me" emphasizes the pain and disillusionment felt by the artist and many others who have suffered under oppression.
J.B. Lenoir's lyrics highlight the injustices of police brutality and the legal system's failure to prosecute those who perpetrate these crimes against African Americans. The lines, "You know they killed my sister and my brother, and the whole world let them peoples go down there free" underscore the sense of helplessness and betrayal felt by many who see the perpetrators of violence walk free. The song also highlights the themes of love and yearning for justice, as Lenoir pleads to God, "Oh God I wish you would rise up one day, lead my peoples to the land of pea'".
Throughout the song, Lenoir expresses the pain of losing his sibling and witnessing the systemic oppression of his people. The final lines, "Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean? You got my people behind a barb wire fence, now you tryin' to take my freedom away from me" show that the artist deeply understands the insidious nature of systemic oppression and the importance of speaking out against injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me
The singer will never go back to Alabama as that place holds terrible memories of his siblings being killed and their murderers being set free.
You know they killed my sister and my brother
The singer's sibling were killed in Alabama.
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free
The people who killed the singer's siblings were not punished for their actions and were set free.
I never will love Alabama, Alabama seem to never have loved poor me
The singer will never love Alabama as he feels that Alabama never loved him, nor his siblings who lost their lives there.
Oh God I wish you would rise up one day
The singer prays to God that one day He will lead his people to a better place and out of the harsh realities of Alabama.
Lead my peoples to the land of pea'
The singer desires for his people to leave Alabama and go to a better, more peaceful place.
My brother was taken up for my mother, and a police officer shot him down
The singer's brother was trying to protect their mother when he was shot by a police officer.
I can't help but to sit down and cry sometime
The singer is overcome with grief and sadness when he thinks about his brother's death.
Think about how my poor brother lost his life
The singer reflects on his brother's death, which was a result of police brutality.
Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean?
The singer questions why Alabama is so cruel and unjust to his people.
You got my people behind a barb wire fence
The singer's people are trapped and confined behind a barbed wire fence.
Now you tryin' to take my freedom away from me
The authorities in Alabama are trying to take away the singer's freedom and oppress him further.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON ROBEY, ELMORE NIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind