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).
Can't Kick the Habit
Champion Jack Dupree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Champion Jack Dupree
(Jack Dupree)
Jack Dupree - vocal & piano
Ennis Lowry - guitar
Wendell Marshall - bass, Willie Jones - drums.
Album: 'Blues From The Gutter'
And this junk is killin' me
Yes, I can't kick this habit
And this junk is killin' me
Ever since I started this habit
Ev'rything's been down on me
I hung around my friends
And smoked reefer
And I thought I was doin', alright
Yes, I hung around my friends
And smoked reefer
And I thought, I thought
I's doin', alright
Now, I done lost a good woman
And I have no place to sleep at night
Well, I went to the doctor
See could he cure this habit for me
Yes, I went to the doctor
See could he cure this habit for me
He looked at me and shook his head
And said this dope is killin' me
(Oh, play it for me!)
(Oh, yeah!)
(guitar, piano & instrumental)
'Yes, I know it's killin' me'
'I don't feel good, anyhow'
'I wished I would-a listened
To what my mother said'
'She told me that dope wasn't no good'
'I didn't pay it no mind
I thought I was doin' alright'
'Now, I'm stayin' sick as I could be'
It don't pay, nobody
Just to live their life so bad
It don't pay, nobody
Hoo-ooo!
Just to live, to live their life so bad
If you just take it slow and easy
Just as long as this habit lasts.
~
Champion Jack Dupree's song Can't Kick the Habit is about the singer's struggle with drug addiction. Dupree sings about how he can't seem to break his habit and how it's slowly killing him. He also mentions how his addiction has ruined his life, causing him to lose a good woman and leave him homeless. Despite seeking help from a doctor, he is told that the drug is killing him.
The lyrics of this song highlight the destructive nature of addiction and how it ruins people's lives. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of seeking help and overcoming addiction. Dupree's piano playing and soulful vocal delivery add to the emotional impact of the song, making it a classic blues track that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I can't kick this habit
I am unable to stop this addiction
And this junk is killin' me
This substance is causing harm to my health
Yes, I can't kick this habit
I have tried to stop but cannot
Ever since I started this habit
My life has taken a turn for the worse since I started using this drug
Ev'rything's been down on me
Everything in my life has gone downhill since then
I hung around my friends
I spent time with my companions
And smoked reefer
And used marijuana
And I thought I was doin', alright
And believed that everything was fine
Now, I done lost a good woman
I have lost a valuable woman in my life
And I have no place to sleep at night
I have nowhere to stay at night
Well, I went to the doctor
I visited a medical practitioner
See could he cure this habit for me
To inquire if he could cure my addiction
He looked at me and shook his head
But he appeared doubtful
And said this dope is killin' me
And told me that the drug is causing harm to his health
Yes, I know it's killin' me'
I am aware that this addiction is harming my life
'I don't feel good, anyhow'
In any case, I don't feel good either way
'I wished I would-a listened
I regret not listening to
To what my mother said
What my mother told me about substance abuse
'She told me that dope wasn't no good'
She warned me that drug use was detrimental to my health
'I didn't pay it no mind
However, I disregarded her advice and warnings
Now, I'm stayin' sick as I could be'
I am always feeling sick
It don't pay, nobody
It is not beneficial for anyone
Just to live their life so bad
To live a life with poor decision-making
If you just take it slow and easy
If you proceed gradually and with caution
Just as long as this habit lasts.
As long as you have the addiction.
Contributed by Emily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steezy Steve
This shits smooth, hell yeah 😌😎
John Vigorito
Say it again big jack!!!!!!
Njezi Patrick Ndongeni
The most underrated blues singer,he brings me memories,the blues will never die.
Yvonne Carter
WOW, REEKING THE REAL BLUES....
Aki Shizuno & Nagi
😻
BlackSnakeRollin
👍👍
MENFUSSMIKE
Currently listening at Alex's Tavern on Jackson Avenue Memphis Tennessee. EARTH. Milky Way
José Pedro Costa Alemão
Jesus!
Greg OriZ
Well, I can't kick this habit
And this junk is killin' me
Yes, I can't kick this habit
And this junk is killin' me
Ever since I started this habit
Ev'rything's been down on me
I hung around my friends
And smoked reefer
And I thought I was doin', alright
Yes, I hung around my friends
And smoked reefer
And I thought, I thought
I's doin', alright
Now, I done lost a good woman
And I have no place to sleep at night
Well, I went to the doctor
See could he cure this habit for me
Yes, I went to the doctor
See could he cure this habit for me
He looked at me and shook his head
And said this dope is killin' me
(Oh, play it for me!)
(Oh, yeah!)
(guitar, piano & instrumental)
'Yes, I know it's killin' me'
'I don't feel good, anyhow'
'I wished I would-a listened
to what my mother said'
'She told me that dope wasn't no good'
'I didn't pay it no mind
I thought I was doin' alright'
'Now, I'm stayin' sick as I could be'
It don't pay, nobody
Just to live their life so bad
It don't pay, nobody
Hoo-ooo!
Just to live, to live their life so bad
If you just take it slow and easy
Just as long as this habit lasts.
mix Meenil
one comment