Dupree's birth date is disputed, given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, in the years 1908, 1909, or 1910. He died January 21, 1992, in Hanover, Germany. Dupree's playing is almost all straight blues and boogie woogie, with no ballads or pop songs, not even blues ballads. He was not a sophisticated musician or singer, but he had a wry and clever way with words: "Mama, move your false teeth, papa wanna scratch your gums." He sometimes sang as if he had a cleft palate and even recorded under the name Harelip Jack Dupree. This was an artistic conceit, as Dupree had excellent clear articulation, particularly for a blues singer.
He sang about life as he found it, singing about jail, drinking, drug addiction, although he himself was a light drinker and did not use other drugs. His "Junker's Blues" is still sung in New Orleans, and was also transmogrified by Fats Domino into his first hit "The Fat Man". Dupree's songs included not only gloomy topics, such as "TB Blues" and "Angola Blues" (about the infamous Louisiana prison farm), but also cheerful subjects like the "Dupree Shake Dance": "Come on, mama, on your hands and knees, do that shake dance as you please".
On his best known LP, 1958's "Blues from the Gutter" for Atlantic, he was accompanied on guitar by Larry Dale, whose playing on that LP inspired Brian Jones (of Rolling Stones fame) ("Yeah! I have to play this… what a sound").
Dupree was a New Orleans blues and boogie-woogie pianist, a barrelhouse "professor". His father was from the Belgian Congo and his mother was part African American and Cherokee. His birth date has been given as July 4, July 10, and July 23, 1908, 1909, or 1910; the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc give July 4, 1910.
He was orphaned at the age of eight and was sent to the Colored Waifs Home in New Orleans, an institution for orphaned or delinquent boys (about the same time, Louis Armstrong was also sent there as a child, after being arrested as a "dangerous and suspicious character". Dupree taught himself to play the piano there and later apprenticed with Tuts Washington and Willie Hall, whom he called his father and from whom he learned "Junker's Blues". He was also a "spy boy" for the Yellow Pocahontas tribe of the Mardi Gras Indians. He soon began playing in barrelhouses and other drinking establishments.
He began a life of travelling, living in Chicago, where he worked with Georgia Tom, and in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he met Scrapper Blackwell and Leroy Carr. He also worked as a cook. In Detroit, after Joe Louis encouraged him to become a boxer, he fought 107 bouts, winning Golden Gloves and other championships and picking up the nickname Champion Jack, which he used the rest of his life.
He returned to Chicago at the age of 30 and joined a circle of recording artists, including Big Bill Broonzy and Tampa Red, who introduced him to the record producer Lester Melrose. Many of Dupree's songs were later credited to Melrose as composer, and Melrose claimed publishing rights to them.
Dupree's career was interrupted by military service in World War II. He was a cook in the United States Navy and was held by the Japanese for two years as a prisoner of war.
After the war, his biggest commercial success was "Walkin' the Blues", which he recorded as a duet with Teddy McRae. This led to several national tours and eventually a European tour. In 1959 he played an unofficial (and unpaid) duo gig with Alexis Korner at the London School of Economics.
Dupree moved to Europe in 1960, settling first in Switzerland and then Denmark, England, Sweden and, finally, Germany. On June 17, 1971, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, in the Casino Kursaal, with King Curtis, backed by Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass and Oliver Jackson on drums. The recording of the concert was released in 1973 as the album King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux on the Atlantic label.
During the 1970s and 1980s he lived at Ovenden in Halifax, England. A piano he used was later discovered at Calderdale College in Halifax. He continued to record in Europe with the Kenn Lending Band, Louisiana Red and Axel Zwingenberger and made many live appearances. He also worked again as a cook, specializing in New Orleans cuisine. He returned to the United States from time to time and performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
It seemed that Dupree could not escape from the prejudice and racism anywhere he settled in the United States. Finally in late 1958, he decided to move to Europe. Over the next 32 years, he lived in a number of locales in Switzerland, France, England, Denmark and Germany. He also recorded a multitude of wonderful albums during this time for a long list of European labels. Among these is the outstanding live recording, "Blues at Montreux" on Atco that also featured sax great, King Curtis.
He died from complications of cancer on January 21, 1992 in Hanover. As one of the most prolific recording Bluesmen of all time, he left a large catalog of material. Champion Jack Dupree was posthumously honored by the Blues Foundation, receiving election into their Hall of Fame, along with "Blues From The Gutter" being selected as an entry as a "Classic of Blues" recording (Albums).
All Around The World
Champion Jack Dupree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world I'd-a rather be a fly
I'll lite on my baby n' stay with her 'till I die
With a toothpick in my hand, I'd dig a ten foot ditch
And run through the jungle fighting lions with a switch
'Cause you know I love you, baby
Yes, you know I love you, baby
Well, if I don't love you, baby
Grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world I got blisters on my feet
Trying to find my baby n' bring her home with me
You better run into me baby and be convinced
If you don't run into me, woman, you ain't got no sense
'Cause you know I love you, baby
Well, you know I love you, baby
Well, if I don't love you, baby
Grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry
And Mona Lisa was a man
All around the world, I never will forget
Lost all my money, my woman and my pet
I got to have you baby, settle for nothing less
Give up all my good time girls an' set for happiness
'Cause you know I love you, baby
Well, you know I love you, baby
Well, you know I want you, baby
Yes, your smiling face is my heaven in life
Well, you know I love you, baby
Yes, you know I love you, baby
Ooh-ooh, you know I love you, baby
Yeah, you know I love you, baby
Well, if I don't love you, baby
Grits ain't groceries
Eggs ain't poultry
Mona Lisa was a man.
The song "All Around the World" by Champion Jack Dupree is a blues classic that speaks of the depth of love and dedication that the singer has for his lover. The lyrics are peppered with metaphors and analogies that help to showcase just how much he adores her. The opening line, "Well if I don't love you baby, grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry, and Mona Lisa was a man," sets the tone for the entire song. The performer emphasizes the significance of his love for his partner, implying that it is as vital as basic food staples, and that denying this would be impossible. Other metaphors used include the idea of being a fly, digging a ten-foot ditch and fighting lions with a switch, which showcases his dedication and willingness to do whatever it takes to be with his beloved.
The chorus of the song repeats that the performer loves the woman, and that there is nothing that could ever change that. The constantly repeated line helps emphasize the idea of an unbreakable bond that he feels for her that can never waver. The final verse of the song speaks of how he has tried to find her and bring her back to him and how he will give up anything and everything to be with her.
Overall, "All Around the World" is an excellent example of the blues, tackling the familiar themes of love and devotion through metaphor and a catchy chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, if I don't love you baby
If I don't love you, then some basic facts about the world are not true
Grits ain't groceries, eggs ain't poultry
If I don't love you, then nothing is as it seems
And Mona Lisa was a man
If I don't love you, then even the most famous artwork can be a lie
All around the world I'd-a rather be a fly
I'd do anything just to be near you
I'll lite on my baby n' stay with her 'till I die
I'll be with you forever, no matter what
With a toothpick in my hand, I'd dig a ten foot ditch
I'd do anything to prove my love for you, even if it's difficult or dangerous
And run through the jungle fighting lions with a switch
I'll face any obstacle or challenge if it means being with you
'Cause you know I love you, baby
It's clear to you that I deeply care for you
All around the world I got blisters on my feet
I've traveled far and wide to find you
Trying to find my baby n' bring her home with me
My only goal is to be reunited with you
You better run into me baby and be convinced
Once you see me, you'll know how much I love you
If you don't run into me, woman, you ain't got no sense
It would be foolish not to accept my love for you
All around the world, I never will forget
My love for you transcends geography and time
Lost all my money, my woman and my pet
I've sacrificed everything to find you and be with you
I got to have you baby, settle for nothing less
You are the only one for me, I won't compromise on that
Give up all my good time girls an' set for happiness
I'll give up any other distractions or opportunities for the sake of being with you
Well, you know I want you, baby
I'm completely devoted to you and want only you
Yes, your smiling face is my heaven in life
Being with you is all I need to be happy
Ooh-ooh, you know I love you, baby
You already know how deeply I love you
Yeah, you know I love you, baby
There's no doubt in your mind about my love for you
Well, if I don't love you, baby
If I don't love you, then the world is not as it should be
Grits ain't groceries
Without my love for you, everything loses its value
Eggs ain't poultry
Without my love for you, everything loses its meaning
Mona Lisa was a man.
Without my love for you, even the most famous works of art can be false or meaningless.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TITUS TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jake Fantom
on She Cooks Me Cabbage
The only line that confuses me is "and she called them turnip greens." Anyone got an idea what Champion Jack is trying to convey here? Why would she cook him cabbage and call it turnip greens?