He recorded as one of the first country bluesmen in 1926 for the Paramount and Vocalion labels, on the latter under the name of Sam Butler. His 78 rpm records are highly sought by collectors and have been numerously re-released on LP and CD compilation albums.
Jefferson County Blues
Bo Weavil Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because the red‑hot mama drives your dollar down
I thought i’d send her but I'd leave it at home
Oh she showed a lot of farmers boys how to right from wrong
If you want your brown better stay aside
I said on that train you gone off of my mind
My road seem rocky so the people do say
But i’m a driver lucky to find my way
Hot mama sit down on my knee
I got to walk them down the city how you got it up for me
I said being in alabama : meanest place I know
Because I'm going up the country, mama how bad I feel
The lyrics to Bo Weavil Jackson's song "Jefferson County Blues" describe a man's struggles with love, money, and location. He suggests that if one wants to keep their man, they should keep him out of Birmingham, as the "red-hot mama" there will drive his dollar down. The singer may have learned this lesson the hard way, as he mentions sending her but leaving her at home, indicating that perhaps he had fallen victim to her charms before. He also acknowledges that she has taught some "farmers boys how to right from wrong", likely indicating that she has caused some trouble amongst those whom she has encountered.
The man also warns that if you want to keep your "brown", you should stay aside. The reason for this is not made clear, but it could be interpreted as a reference to racial tensions in the South at the time. The man declares that he has moved on from the train that took his brown away, indicating that he has perhaps lost a loved one.
The man acknowledges that his road seems rocky and that some people may say he is lucky to find his way. He asks the "hot mama" to sit down on his knee, suggesting a flirtatious tone. He then laments that being in Alabama is the "meanest place" he knows, and expresses his desire to leave for the country. Overall, the song illustrates the struggles and desires of a man navigating love and life in the South.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wants your man keep him out of birmingham
If you want to keep your man happy, don't take him to the city of Birmingham, Alabama
Because the red-hot mama drives your dollar down
Because you will spend so much money on the women in Birmingham, they will drain your wallet
I thought i’d send her but I'd leave it at home
I considered bringing a woman along, but I decided against it
Oh she showed a lot of farmers boys how to right from wrong
She corrupted many innocent boys from the country
If you want your brown better stay aside
If you want to keep your woman safe, keep her away from Birmingham
I said on that train you gone off of my mind
I'm thinking about moving on from this place, leaving the pain and heartbreak behind
My road seem rocky so the people do say
Others comment on the difficulties that I face
But i’m a driver lucky to find my way
But I always manage to navigate through the obstacles in my life
Hot mama sit down on my knee
Let me talk to you, woman
I got to walk them down the city how you got it up for me
I have to show you how the city has been treating me and how much I like it
I said being in alabama : meanest place I know
Alabama is not a good place to be, it's a tough environment
Because I'm going up the country, mama how bad I feel
I'm leaving this place and it hurts me to go, but I know it's for the best
Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.