In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Pine Grove Blues
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ayoù toi t'as partir hier au soir, ma négresse?
Hé, négresse!
Ayoù toi t'as partir hier au soir, ma négresse?
T'as 'rivé é à c'matin
Soleil étais après s'lever
Ça m'fai d'la peine pour toi!
Hé, négresse!
Hé, négresse!
Ayoù toi t'as partir hier au soir, ma négresse?
T'as 'rivé é à c'matin
Soleil étais après s'lever
Ça m'fai d'la peine pour toi!
Hey, black woman!
Where did you go last night, my black woman?
Hey, black woman!
Where did you go last night, my black woman?
You came back this morning
The sun was coming up
I feel sorry for you
Hey, black woman!
Where did you go last night, my black woman?
Hey, black woman!
Where did you go last night, my black woman?
You came back this morning
The sun was coming up
I feel sorry for you
The lyrics to "Pine Grove Blues" by Asleep at the Wheel tell the story of a man who is lamenting the disappearance of his black girlfriend. He repeatedly asks where she has gone, expressing his sorrow when she returns in the morning. The song is set in the Pine Grove region of Louisiana, which was colloquially known as "Cajun Country". The mix of French and English in the lyrics is typical of the region, where a Creole dialect is spoken that is a blend of both languages.
The repeated questioning about the woman's whereabouts creates a sense of worry and desperation, especially as it is not made clear whether she has run away or has been taken against her will. The use of the term "ma négresse" (my black woman) is both endearing and possessive, highlighting the man's love for her as well as the restrictions placed upon her by societal norms. The fact that the woman returns at dawn suggests that she has been out all night, perhaps enjoying herself in a way that her boyfriend disapproves of.
Overall, the lyrics to "Pine Grove Blues" paint a vivid picture of life in a rural Louisiana community, where race relations and gender roles were complex and often fraught with tension. The song's mix of blues and western swing music captures the essence of the region, where diverse cultures and traditions converge to create a unique and vibrant tapestry of sound.
Line by Line Meaning
Hé, négresse!
Addressing a black woman
Ayoù toi t'as partir hier au soir, ma négresse?
Asking where she went the previous night
T'as 'rivé é à c'matin
She came back this morning
Soleil étais après s'lever
The sun was rising
Ça m'fai d'la peine pour toi!
Expressing sorrow for her
Hey, black woman!
Addressing a black woman
Where did you go last night, my black woman?
Asking where she went the previous night
You came back this morning
She returned in the morning
The sun was coming up
The sun was rising
I feel sorry for you
Expressing sorrow for her
Writer(s): NATHAN ABSHIRE
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.