Joseph Amos Milburn, Jr., one of thirteen children, was playing tunes on the piano by the age of five years. He enlisted in the United States Navy when he was fifteen and earned thirteen battle stars in the Philippines, before returning to Houston and organizing a sixteen-piece band playing in Houston clubs and was Managed by William & Geneva Church. Milburn participated with the Houston jazz and blues musicians. He was a polished pianist and performer and during 1946 attracted the attention of a woman who arranged a recording session with Aladdin Records in Los Angeles, California. Milburn's relationship with Aladdin lasted eight years during which he produced more than 75 sides. His cover version of "Down the Road a Piece" (1946) was a blues song with a Texas boogie beat that was similar in many respects to rock music. However, none became popular until 1949 when seven of his singles got the attention of the R&B audience. "Hold Me Baby" and "Chicken Shack Boogie" landed numbers eight and nine on Billboard's survey of 1949's R&B Bestsellers. He became one of the main performers associated with the Central Avenue music scene in Los Angeles. He was also a popular touring artist, and won awards from both Down Beat magazine (Best Blues and Jazz Star) and Billboard magazine (Top R&B Artist). Among his best-known songs was "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer". During 1950 Milburn's "Bad, Bad, Whiskey" scored the top of the R&B record chart and began a series of drinking songs (none written by Milburn, but several composed by Rudy Toombs). However, there is not any evidence that Milburn had an alcohol problem.
Milburn continued his successful drinking songs through 1952 ("Thinking and Drinking", "Trouble in Mind") and was by now touring the country playing clubs. While touring the Midwest that summer, he announced that he would disband his combo team and continue as a solo act and that autumn he joined Charles Brown for a Southern concert tour. For the next few years each of his tours was composed of a series of one-nighters. After three years of solo performing he returned to Houston during 1956 to reform his band. During 1957 Milburn's releases with Aladdin Records did not sell well, and the record label, having its own problems, terminated. He tried to regain commercial success with a few more releases with Ace Records but his time had passed. Radio airplay was emphasizing on the teenage market.
Milburn contributed to the R&B Yuletide canon twice. The first was in 1949, with "Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby", on Aladdin Records, and then again during 1960 with "Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)" for King Records. The song appeared as the b-side of Brown's holiday classic "Please Come Home for Christmas".
Milburn's final recording was for an album by Johnny Otis. This was during 1972 after he had been incapacitated by a stroke, so much so that Otis had to play the left-hand piano parts for his enfeebled old friend. His second stroke resulted in amputation of a leg because of circulatory problems. He died soon after at the age of 52 years from a third stroke.
The Texan boogie-woogie pianist and singer was an important performer of blues music during the years immediately after World War II. Milburn was one of the first performers to switch from sophisticated jazz arrangements to a louder "jump" blues. He began to emphasize rhythm and technical qualities of voice and instrumentation second. His energetic songs, about getting "high", were admired by fellow musicians, such as Little Willie Littlefield, Floyd Dixon and his prime disciple, Fats Domino.
He was a commercial success for eleven years and influenced many performers. Fats Domino credited Milburn consistently as an influence on his music.
One commentator noted, "Milburn excelled at good-natured, upbeat romps about booze and partying, imbued with a vibrant sense of humour and double entendre, as well as vivid, down-home imagery in his lyrics."
Walking Blues
Amos Milburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when I knew I had them old walking blues
I woke up this morning, felt around, felt around for my shoes
That's when I knew I had them old, mean old walking blues
Leaving in the morning if I have to, robbed blind
I've been mistreated and I don't mind dying
I'm leaving in the morning if I have to, robbed blind
I've been mistreated and I just don't mind dying
Breaking on a dollar 'most anywhere she goes
Well I got a good woman coming my way
Tried to try, some electric pantin', some electric chillin' cryin'
But, ooh, mistook, misgiven
Got me up and walking Baby, but I'm walking blue, walking blue
Well some people say boy, the walking blues ain't bad
It's the worst old feelin' I 'most ever had
The song "Walking Blues" by Amos Milburn is a slow blues song that relays the pain and misery of the singer. The lyrics describe how the singer woke up in the morning and felt around for his shoes when he realized he had the "old walking blues." He goes on to say that he's been mistreated and he doesn't mind dying, which illustrates the depths of his pain and hopelessness. The singer explains that he's leaving in the morning and doesn't care that he's been robbed blind because he just wants to get away from the situation that's causing him so much pain.
The second verse of the song describes a woman who has a "Belgium movement" from her head to her toes, which suggests that she's very attractive and sensual. The singer then mentions trying to relieve his pain with "electric pantin'" and "electric chillin' cryin'," which are likely references to drugs or alcohol. However, none of these things have helped him and he's still left with the "walking blues." The final verse of the song serves to emphasize how bad the "walking blues" really are, despite some people saying they're not that bad. Overall, the song is a poignant representation of the pain and hopelessness that can come with depression and difficult life circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up this morning, felt around for my shoes
I woke up in the morning and felt for my shoes.
That's when I knew I had them old walking blues
I realized I had the blues when I couldn't find my shoes.
Leaving in the morning if I have to, robbed blind
I'll leave in the morning no matter what, even if I have nothing left.
I've been mistreated and I don't mind dying
I've been treated unfairly, I'm not scared to die.
She got a Belgium movement from her head down to her toes
She has a rhythm in her body that feels like it comes from Belgium.
Breaking on a dollar 'most anywhere she goes
She can break a dollar almost anywhere she goes.
Well I got a good woman coming my way
I have a good woman coming to me.
Tried to try, some electric pantin', some electric chillin' cryin'
I tried to do some electric dancing and singing.
But, ooh, mistook, misgiven
But, oh, it didn't work out how I wanted to.
Got me up and walking Baby, but I'm walking blue, walking blue
It got me up and walking, but I still have the blues.
Well some people say boy, the walking blues ain't bad
Some people say the walking blues aren't bad.
It's the worst old feelin' I 'most ever had
But it's the worst feeling I've ever had.
Writer(s): Amos Milburn Copyright: Emi Longitude Music
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@theodoravenizelos196
Love this song