The son of Dorsey Burnette and Alberta Burnette, Burnette was literally born into a musical family. His father, and his uncle Johnny Burnette, were two of the members of the 1950s band Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'n' Roll Trio which also included Paul Burlison. It is said that Burnette performed on occasion with the Trio around the age of three. Johnny had a son born around the time Billy was born named Rocky who also became a musician. It has been said that the term "rockabilly" comes from the combination of the two cousins' names, Rocky and Billy, however that is an unconfirmed rumor.
Burnette made his first recording when he was seven, appearing with Ricky Nelson on the 1960 song "Hey Daddy (I'm Gonna Tell Santa On You)". He toured with Brenda Lee while teaching himself to play guitar and, after graduating from high school in 1969, spent three years on the road as Roger Miller's rhythm guitarist.
In 1972, Burnette signed with Entrance Records and recorded his debut album, Billy Burnette. In 1979, he switched to Polydor Records and released his second album, again titled Billy Burnette. His third album, Between Friends (Polydor, 1979), contained "What's a Little Love Between Friends", which charted briefly on the low end of the Billboard country chart.
In 1982, Mick Fleetwood invited him to join the band The Zoo for the band's album "I'm Not Me" (RCA, 1983). When Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac parted ways in 1987, Burnette, along with guitarist Rick Vito, were asked to join the band. At the end of 1991, Burnette helped Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie with his first solo album. In 1994, Burnette reunited with Fleetwood Mac. After Fleetwood Mac went on hiatus in 1995, Burnette co-formed the country duo Bekka & Billy.
Meanwhile, in 1992 Burnette signed with Capricorn Records, which issued Coming Home. In 1999, he signed with Grand Avenue Records and released All Night Long. After a hiatus from solo albums, he released Memphis in Manhattan in 2006. Rock & Roll With It was released in 2011.
Memphis Blues
Billy Burnette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Raccoon runnin' from an old hound dog
Where the Mississippi meets the delta dirt
My pampa told me it was just hard work
Started out pickin' cotton
To the rhythm of a mournful tune
The hot sun just couldn't stop 'em
They were singin' them Memphis blues
Now here she come a-rollin' it's the Delta Queen
Worker's stop a-workin' and they start to dream
Water just a-rollin' off the paddle wheel
Just wishin' there was some way out of that field
Started out pickin' cotton
To the rhythm of a mournful tune
The hot sun just couldn't stop 'em
From gettin' the day's work through
They were singin' them Memphis blues
Now Sunday mornin' just a-sittin' in the church
Knowin' some day soon they're gonna leave this Earth
Well the preacher man preachin' He's a comin' soon
'Til then we'll be singin' them Memphis blues
Started out pickin' cotton
To the rhythm of a mournful tune
The hot sun just couldn't stop 'em
From gettin' the day's work through
They were singin' them Memphis blues
Yeah still singin' them Memphis blues
Well it's a hi ho, hi ho silver
Well it's a hi ho, hi ho silver
Yeah baby
The lyrics of Billy Burnette's song "Memphis Blues" paint a vivid picture of life in the Mississippi Delta. The first verse describes the wildlife in the area, with a bullfrog sitting on a hollow log and a raccoon running from an old hound dog. The second verse focuses on the hard work of the people who lived and worked there, starting out by picking cotton in the hot sun to the rhythm of a mournful tune. The chorus repeats the line, "They were singin' them Memphis blues," which reflects the idea that the music was an important part of their lives, even as they toiled away in the fields.
The third verse mentions the Delta Queen, a famous riverboat that once plied the waters of the Mississippi Delta. The sight of the boat would inspire dreams among the workers, who longed for a way out of the fields. The fourth verse takes a more spiritual turn, with the singer sitting in church on a Sunday morning, thinking about the inevitability of death and the promise of an afterlife. Throughout the song, the "Memphis blues" serve as a kind of refrain, reminding the listener of the music that was so important to this community.
Line by Line Meaning
Bullfrog sittin' on a hollow log
A description of the scene near the delta where a bullfrog sits on a hollow log
Raccoon runnin' from an old hound dog
A raccoon trying to escape from an old hound dog
Where the Mississippi meets the delta dirt
A reference to the location where the Mississippi River meets the delta dirt
My pampa told me it was just hard work
A recollection of a conversation with his grandfather regarding the hard work required in the delta
Started out pickin' cotton
A description of starting to work by picking cotton
To the rhythm of a mournful tune
A description of working to the rhythm of a slow, sad tune
The hot sun just couldn't stop 'em
Describing how the heat could not stop the workers from continuing their work
From gettin' the day's work through
The workers persisted through the day's work
They were singin' them Memphis blues
The workers sang songs that embodied the experience of living in Memphis
Now here she come a-rollin' it's the Delta Queen
Describing the arrival of the Delta Queen boat in the delta
Worker's stop a-workin' and they start to dream
The arrival of the Delta Queen caused the workers to stop working and start dreaming
Water just a-rollin' off the paddle wheel
Describing the paddle wheel on the Delta Queen boat turning and water rolling off of it
Just wishin' there was some way out of that field
The arrival of the Delta Queen made the workers wish they could leave the field and escape their hard work
Now Sunday mornin' just a-sittin' in the church
A scene depicting Sunday morning in church
Knowin' some day soon they're gonna leave this Earth
A recognition that someday the workers will leave this world
Well the preacher man preachin' He's a comin' soon
The preacher discussing the coming of the Lord
'Til then we'll be singin' them Memphis blues
Despite their difficult work lives, the workers will continue to sing the songs of Memphis
Yeah still singin' them Memphis blues
A reiteration of the fact that the workers continue to sing Memphis blues
Well it's a hi ho, hi ho silver
An exclamation with no real meaning
Well it's a hi ho, hi ho silver
Another exclamation with no real meaning
Yeah baby
An interjection, possibly to reinforce the previous statements
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.