Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was a first cousin of B.B. King's mother (White's mother and King's grandmother were sisters). White himself is remembered as a player of National steel guitars. He also played, but was less adept at, the piano.
"Bukka" is a phonetic spelling of Booker White's given name, first used by his second (1937) record label (Vocalion). White started his career playing the fiddle at square dances.
He claims to have met Charley Patton early on, although some doubt has been cast upon this; Regardless, Patton was a large influence on White. White typically played slide guitar, in an open tuning. He was one of the few, along with Skip James, to use a crossnote tuning in E minor, which he may have learned, as James did, from Henry Stuckey.
He first recorded for the Victor Records label in 1930 as Washington White. His recordings for Victor, like those of many other bluesmen, fluctuated between country blues and gospel numbers. His gospel songs were done in the style of Blind Willie Johnson, with a female singer accentuating the last phrase of each line.
Nine years later, while serving time for assault, he recorded for folklorist John Lomax. The few songs he recorded around this time became his most well-known: "Shake 'Em on Down," and "Po' Boy."
Bob Dylan covered his song "Fixin' to Die Blues", which aided a "rediscovery" of White in 1963 by guitarist John Fahey and ED Denson, which propelled him onto the folk revival scene of the 1960s. White had recorded the song simply because his other songs had not particularly impressed the Victor record producer. It was a studio composition of which White had thought little until it re-emerged thirty years later.
White was at one time managed by experienced blues manager Arne Brogger. Fahey and Denson found White easily enough: Fahey wrote a letter to "Bukka White (Old Blues Singer), c/o General Delivery, Aberdeen, Mississippi." Fahey had assumed, given White's song, "Aberdeen, Mississippi", that White still lived there, or nearby. The postcard was forwarded to Memphis, Tennessee, where White worked in a tank factory. Fahey and Denson soon traveled to meet White, and White and Fahey remained friends through the remainder of White's life. He recorded a new album for Denson and Fahey's Takoma Records, whilst Denson became his manager.
White was, later in life, also friends with fellow musician Furry Lewis. The two recorded, mostly in Lewis' Memphis apartment, an album together, Furry Lewis, Bukka White & Friends: Party! At Home.
One of his most famous songs, "Parchman Farm Blues", about the Mississippi State Penitentiary (also known as Parchman Farm) in Sunflower County, Mississippi, was released on Harry Smith's fourth volume of the Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 4. The song was covered by The Traits/aka Roy Head and the Traits with Johnny Winter in the late 1960s. His 1937 version of the oft-recorded song, "Shake 'Em On Down," is considered definitive, and became a hit while White was serving time in Parchman.
White died in February 1977 from cancer, at the age of 67, in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1990 he was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (along with Blind Blake and Lonnie Johnson). On November 21, 2011, The Recording Academy announced that "Fixin' to Die Blues" was to be added to its 2012 list of Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients.
The Led Zeppelin song Hats Off to (Roy) Harper, on the band's 1970 album Led Zeppelin III was based in large part on White's "Shake 'Em on Down." Custard Pie, a song on Led Zeppelin's 1975 album Physical Graffiti, also references "Shake 'Em on Down."
The 1963 recordings of White's song "Shake 'em on Down" and spoken-word piece "Remembrance of Charlie Patton" were both sampled by electronic artist Recoil (mostly a one-man effort by Alan Wilder of Depeche Mode) for the track "Electro Blues For Bukka White" on the 1992 album Bloodline. The song was reworked and re-released on the 2000 EP, "Jezebel".
On January 26, 2010, Eric Bibb released Booker's Guitar (TEL 31756 02) through Telarc International Corporation after becoming inspired by the hidden stories Bibb felt through holding White's famous guitar.
White's song "Parchman Farm Blues" was recorded by Jeff Buckley, which was released posthumously on the bonus disc of Buckley's album, Grace: Legacy Edition.
Fixin' to Die Blues
Bukka White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry, how my children's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
In Bukka White's song "Fixin' to Die Blues," the singer expresses a sense of impending death through the repetition of the refrain "I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die." He acknowledges the inevitability of death and frames it as a natural part of life: "Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die." However, he also laments the pain and sadness that his death will cause his loved ones, particularly his children: "I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'" and "So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry." He struggles with the idea of leaving his family behind, especially given the love and care he has received from his partner's mother, which makes it difficult to return home to die.
The song takes on a spiritual dimension in the final verse, as the singer imagines himself already among the dead: "Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground / Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down." He seeks comfort from his mother, asking her to take his children back before they witness his death, and underscoring the idea that death is cyclical and that he will join his ancestors in the afterlife: "Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down / I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die, believe I'm fixin' to die
I can feel death coming and it's affecting me physically and mentally.
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
I understand that mortality is part of life, but I don't want to leave my children grief-stricken.
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
It's an inevitable truth that everyone dies.
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me with affection and care, as if I were her own child.
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
The thought of leaving behind loving people makes me reluctant to die.
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
I remember how my partner would cry when we talked about death and leaving behind our children.
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Having to say goodbye to loved ones is a painful experience.
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
I see a cemetery in the distance.
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
There are thousands of bodies buried in the graveyard, reminding me of my mortality.
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't want my children to be upset and cry at my funeral.
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
The thought of my children mourning over my death at my grave site is heartbreaking.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Booker T. Washington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fulopistvan6417
Correct lyrics for this version:
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
And I believe I'm fixin' to die
Believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I'm fixin' to die, yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Just as sho' we live
It's a, sho' we's born to die
Sho' we's born to die
Just as sho's we live
Sho' we's born to die
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Yo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That's why's I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
How my chillen's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
'Cause I told the mother I had to say, goodbye
Look over yon-der
On the buryin' ground
On the buryin' ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand
Standin' still to let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
'Fore they let me down
Ain't no need a-them screamin' an cryin'
On the graveyard ground.
@colinsbane
As previously pointed out by Keith Peterson, the lyrics supplied by Hypno Toad are by Bob Dylan. Here are Bukka's lyrics (taken from the Bob Dylan's Commentaries website) :
I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
And I believe I’m fixin’ to die
Believe I’m fixin’ to die
I’m lookin’ funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I’m fixin’ to die, yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahJust as sho’ we live
It’s a, sho’ we’s born to die
Sho’ we’s born to die
Just as sho’s we live
Sho’ we’s born to die
Yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin’
YeahYo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That’s why’s I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
Yeah
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
How my chillen’s mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen’s mother would cry
‘Cause I told the mother I had to say, goodbye
Look over yon-der
On the buryin’ ground
On the buryin’ ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon’ stand ten thousand
Standin’ still to let me down
Yeah
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
‘Fore they let me down
Ain’t no need a-them screamin’ an cryin’
On the graveyard ground.
@michelguerinel9692
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die, believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixin' to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Just as sho' as we livin', just as sho' we born to die, sho' we born to die
Just as sho' as we livin', sho' we born to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children cryin'
Your mother treated me children like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child
That's why's I find it so hard to come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry, how my children's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
Cause I told the mother I had to say goodbye
Look over yonder, on the burying ground, on the burying ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand, standin' still to let me down
Mother take my children back, before they let me down, before they let me down
Mother take my children back, 'fore they let me down
I don't need for them to screamin' and cryin' on the graveyard ground
@jmch6359
One of the greatest blues performances ever. In my top five, along with Smokestack Lightnin' by Howlin Wolf.
@johnstrawb3521
@JMcH I'd put Lightnin Hopkins "Bring Me My Shotgun" on that list as well.
@bradfordeaton6558
The first time I heard this song I played it over and over again.
@fulopistvan6417
Correct lyrics for this version:
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
And I believe I'm fixin' to die
Believe I'm fixin' to die
I'm lookin' funny in my eyes
Now, I believe I'm fixin' to die, yeah
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Just as sho' we live
It's a, sho' we's born to die
Sho' we's born to die
Just as sho's we live
Sho' we's born to die
I know I was born to die
But I hate to leave my children around cryin'
Yo mother treated me, children
Like I was her baby child
Was her baby child
Yo mother treated me
Like I was her baby child
That's why's I sighed
Sighed so hard
And come back home to die
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
How my chillen's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside
How my chillen's mother would cry
'Cause I told the mother I had to say, goodbye
Look over yon-der
On the buryin' ground
On the buryin' ground
Look over yonder, on the burying ground
Yon' stand ten thousand
Standin' still to let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
Before they let me down
Before they let me down
Mother, take my chillen back
'Fore they let me down
Ain't no need a-them screamin' an cryin'
On the graveyard ground.
@wesleyculpepper4571
Thank you for posting the correct lyrics 💯
@charleshall3372
One of Blues Greatest Performers!
@matthewcoombs3282
There is it folks....the roots of rock and roll. The Rossetta Stone of rock, I can hear the Stones, Zeppelin and even the Stooges in that blues song.
@jameswebb4337
A cover/reworking of this was the first song to be played at Woodstock!!
@psa8420
Yeap. Memphis boys. Look up Orange Mound. We weren't free until we was able to buy a house. It started then. A lil after 1890. Bukka Whites mother is BB Kings grandmother. In a black Memphis neighborhood is were it was turned into something great. Beale st is the first place fans could hear it. Then it went to different cities. Then some European boys came to Chicago and got schooled. And they took it around the world. Rollin Stones
@ruf1980
Well I discovered bukka white because of iggy pop so I guess you're right.