Patton was born in Hinds County, Mississippi, near the town of Edwards, and lived most of his life in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. Some sources say he was born May 1, 1891, but there is some debate about this, and the years 1887 and 1894 have also been suggested.
Patton's parentage and race have been the subject of debate. Although born to Bill and Annie Patton, locally he was regarded as having been fathered by former slave Henderson Chatmon, many of whose other children also became popular Delta musicians both as solo acts and as members of groups such as the Mississippi Sheiks. Biographer John Fahey describes Patton as having "light skin and Caucasian features." Though Patton was considered African-American, because of his light complexion there have been rumors that he was Mexican, or possibly a full-blood Cherokee, a theory endorsed by Howlin' Wolf. In actuality, Patton was a mix of white, black, and Cherokee (one of his grandmothers was a full-blooded Cherokee). Patton himself sang in "Down the Dirt Road Blues" of having gone to "the Nation" and "the Territo'"—meaning the Cherokee Nation portion of the Indian Territory (which became part of the state of Oklahoma in 1907), where a number of Black Indians tried unsuccessfully to claim a place on the tribal rolls and thereby obtain land.
In 1900, his family moved 100 miles (160 km) north to the legendary 10,000-acre (40 km2) Dockery Plantation sawmill and cotton farm near Ruleville, Mississippi. It was here that both John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf fell under the Patton spell as well as Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Fiddlin' Joe Martin. It was also here that Robert Johnson played and was given his first guitar. At Dockery, Charley fell under the tutelage of Henry Sloan, who had a new, unusual style of playing music which today would be considered very early blues. Charley followed Henry Sloan around, and, by the time he was about 19, had become an accomplished performer and songwriter in his own right, having already composed "Pony Blues," a seminal song of the era.
Robert Palmer describes Patton as a "jack-of all-trades bluesman" who played "deep blues, white hillbilly songs, nineteenth-century ballads, and other varieties of black and white country dance music with equal facility". He was extremely popular across the Southern United States and also performed annually in Chicago, Illinois and, in 1934, New York City. In contrast to the itinerant wandering of most blues musicians of his time, Patton played scheduled engagements at plantations and taverns. Long before Jimi Hendrix impressed audiences with flashy guitar playing, Patton gained notoriety for his showmanship, often playing with the guitar down on his knees, behind his head, or behind his back. Although Patton was a small man at about 5 foot 5,[8] his gravelly voice was rumored to have been loud enough to carry 500 yards without amplification. Patton's gritty bellowing was a major influence on the singing style of his young friend Chester Burnett, who went on to gain fame in Chicago as Howlin' Wolf.
Patton settled in Holly Ridge, Mississippi with his common-law wife and recording partner Bertha Lee in 1933. He died on the Heathman-Dedham plantation near Indianola on April 28, 1934 and is buried in Holly Ridge (both towns are located in Sunflower County). Patton's death certificate states that he died of a mitral valve disorder. Bertha Lee is not mentioned on the certificate, the only informant listed being one Willie Calvin. His death was not reported in the newspapers. A memorial headstone was erected on Patton's grave (the location of which was identified by the cemetery caretaker C. Howard who claimed to have been present at the burial) paid for by musician John Fogerty through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in July, 1990. The spelling of Patton's name was dictated by Jim O'Neal, who also composed the Patton epitaph.
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton (2001) is a boxed set collecting Patton's recorded works. It also featured recordings by many of his friends and associates. The set won three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Best Historical Album, Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and Best Album Notes. Another collection of Patton recordings, released under Catfish Records, is titled The Definitive Charley Patton.
Charley Patton's song "Pony Blues" (1929) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2006. The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
In 2013 Jack White's Third Man Records teamed up with Document Records to reissue The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and The Mississippi Sheiks.
The Mississippi Blues Trail placed its first historic marker on Charley Patton's grave in Holly Ridge, Mississippi, in recognition of his legendary status as a bluesman and his importance in the development of the blues in Mississippi. It placed another historic marker at the site where the Peavine Railroad intersects with Highway 446 in Boyle, Mississippi, designating it as a second site related to Patton on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the original lyrics of Patton's "Peavine Blues" that describe the railway branch of Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, which ran south from Dockery Plantation to Boyle. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape.
Tributes
"Blind Owl" Alan Wilson & Canned Heat covered Patton songs "Pony Blues", "Shake It and Break It" and "Yellow Bee".
Bob Dylan dedicated his song "High Water (For Charley Patton)", on his 2001 album "Love and Theft", to Patton.
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band internationally touring American country blues recording/touring artists, fronted by Kentucky Colonel, The Reverend Peyton, produced a tribute recording to Charley Patton: Peyton on Patton, which was released July 19, 2011. The album entered the Billboard Blues Album chart at #7.
French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel refers to Charley Patton in the song "Cent Ans de Plus" on his 1999 album Hors-Saison.
Indie rock band Gomez recorded a song on their 2006 release How We Operate, entitled "Charley Patton Songs".
There is a picture of Charley Patton in the recording studio used for The White Stripes' album Icky Thump. It can be seen in the background of the short demo video on their website
Jule Brown recorded an updated arrangement of Patton's "Green River Blues", on their 2006 release Smoke and Mirrors.
Robert Crumb narrated Patton's life in a comic book.
The 1980s NYC Punk/Blues band Hi Sheriffs of Blue (which included visual artists Mark Dagley, George Condo and Elliott Sharp) was named after the Patton song "High Sheriff Blues".
Discography
Gennett Records, Richmond, Indiana, 1929
"Pony Blues"
"Mississippi Boweavil Blues"
"Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues"
"Down The Dirt Road Blues"
"Banty Rooster Blues"
"Pea Vine Blues"
"It Won't Be Long"
"Tom Rushen Blues"
"A Spoonful Blues"
"Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama)"
"Prayer Of Death Part 1 & 2"
"Lord I'm Discouraged"
"I'm Goin' Home"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1929
"Going To Move To Alabama"
"Elder Greene Blues"
"Circle Round The Moon"
"Devil Sent The Rain Blues"
"Mean Black Cat Blues"
"Frankie And Albert"
"Some These Days I'll Be Gone"
"Green River Blues"
"Hammer Blues"
"Magnolia Blues"
"When Your Way Gets Dark"
"Heart Like Railroad Steel"
"Some Happy Day"
"You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 1"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 2"
"High Water Everywhere Part 1"
"High Water Everywhere Part 2"
"Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker"
"I Shall Not Be Moved"
"Rattlesnake Blues"
"Running Wild Blues"
"Joe Kirby"
"Mean Black Moan"
"Farrell Blues"
"Come Back Corrina"
"Tell Me Man Blues"
"Be True Be True Blues"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1930
"Dry Well Blues"
"Some Summer Day"
"Moon Going Down"
"Bird Nest Bound"
Vocalion Records, New York City, New York, 1934
"Jersey Bull Blues"
"High Sheriff Blues"
"Stone Pony Blues"
"34 Blues"
"Love My Stuff"
"Revenue Man Blues"
"Oh Death"
"Troubled 'Bout My Mother"
"Poor Me"
"Hang It On The Wall"
"Yellow Bee"
"Mind Reader Blues"
Rattlesnake Blues
Charley Patton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say I′m just like a rattlesnake, baby I say, in the middle of his curl
I ain't goin′ to have no hard time mama rollin' through this world
When I leave here mama I'm goin′ further down the road
I say when I leave here mama I′m goin' further down the road
So if I meet him up there I′m goin back to Gulf of Mexico
I'm goin shake glad hands I say with you lovin′ boy
Fixin' to eat my supper in Shelby Illinois
Vicksburg on a high hill and Louisiana Lord just below
Vicksburg on a high hill mama you know Louisiana just below
If I get back there I ain't goin′ never be bad no more
And my baby′s got a heart like a piece of railroad steel
Baby's got a heart like a piece of railroad steel
If I leave here this morning never say "daddy how do you feel?"
The lyrics of Charley Patton's "Rattlesnake Blues" depict the singer drawing comparisons between himself and a rattlesnake. He describes himself as being like a rattlesnake in the middle of its curl, suggesting that he possesses a certain level of danger and unpredictability. However, he asserts that he won't have a difficult time navigating through life. He then expresses his intention to travel further down the road and return to the Gulf of Mexico if he meets someone there. This could be interpreted as an act of seeking familiarity and comfort in a place he knows well.
The singer also mentions shaking glad hands and enjoying the company of a loving partner. He plans to have supper in Shelby, Illinois, implying that he desires stability and a sense of homecoming. Then, he mentions Vicksburg being on a high hill with Louisiana below. This could be seen as a metaphor for the singer striving for a higher state or a better life. He promises that if he gets back there, he will never be bad again.
Finally, the song concludes with the singer asserting that his baby has a heart as tough as railroad steel. This line showcases the resilience and strength of the person he loves. He ponders leaving in the morning without receiving any concern or love from his baby, questioning if she would even inquire about his well-being.
Overall, "Rattlesnake Blues" is a song that presents a mixture of danger, longing for stability, and the endurance of love. It reveals the singer's desire to navigate through life with confidence and find solace in known places and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like a rattlesnake, I say mama Lordy, in the middle of his curl
I am comparing myself to a rattlesnake, mama, all coiled up and ready to strike
I say I'm just like a rattlesnake, baby I say, in the middle of his curl
I am emphasizing again that I am like a rattlesnake, baby, all coiled up and dangerous
I ain't goin' to have no hard time mama rollin' through this world
I won't let anything give me a hard time, mama, as I navigate through this world
When I leave here mama I'm goin' further down the road
Once I leave this place, mama, I am determined to continue my journey down the road
I say when I leave here mama I'm goin' further down the road
Again, I am emphasizing that when I depart this place, mama, I will move even farther along the road
So if I meet him up there I'm goin' back to Gulf of Mexico
If I happen to encounter someone up there, mama, I will return to the Gulf of Mexico
I'm goin to shake glad hands mama I say Lord you lovin' boy
I am expressing my intention to warmly greet people, mama, and let them know that I am a loving individual
I'm goin shake glad hands I say with you lovin' boy
Once again, I am stating that I will shake happy hands, mama, alongside my fellow loving individuals
Fixin' to eat my supper in Shelby Illinois
I am getting ready to enjoy my meal in Shelby Illinois
Vicksburg on a high hill and Louisiana Lord just below
Vicksburg is situated on a high hill, mama, with Louisiana located just below it
Vicksburg on a high hill mama you know Louisiana just below
Once again, I am reminding you that Vicksburg is on a high hill, mama, and Louisiana is positioned beneath it
If I get back there I ain't goin' never be bad no more
If I return to that place, mama, I will never behave badly again
And my baby's got a heart like a piece of railroad steel
My baby has a heart that is as strong and unyielding as a piece of railroad steel
Baby's got a heart like a piece of railroad steel
Once again, I am emphasizing that my baby possesses a heart as tough as railroad steel
If I leave here this morning never say 'daddy how do you feel?'
In the event that I depart this place in the morning, my baby should never inquire about my feelings, saying 'daddy how do you feel?'
Writer(s): Charley Patton
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ZevanCassidy
I say I'm just like a rattlesnake baby : I say in the
middle of his coil
I ain't going to have no hard time : mama rolling through
this world
When I leave here mama : I'm going further down the road
So if I meet him up there : I'm going back to the Gulf of
Mexico
I'm going to shake glad hands mama : I say Lord with your
loving boy
Fixing to eat my supper : in Shelby Illinois
Vicksburg on a high hill : and Louisiana Lord it's just
below
If I get back there : I ain't going to never be bad no
more
And my baby's got a heart : like a piece of railroad
steel
If I leave here this morning : never say daddy how do you
feel
steinsteel
After 22 years of Intense listening, I never get used to Charley Patton.His one of the greatest timeless artists i ever heard.Theres always something New when i come to listen.
Safranpollen Goldfish
I agree totally, I discovered him very late, but when I heard spoonful, I was addicted in a unbelievable shiny way. I can sit at a takeoff sumwhere in the world, watching the mountains, the wind and I hear Pattons sound and I feel the spirit for eternity...
jackuppercut
"My baby got a heart like a piece of railroad steel" - I think that is the single most emotional line in any blues song anywhere, ever recorded...the way he sings it gives me shivers every time
johnny.w
yeah, he's something. The line is traditional, sung by many, such as Tommy Johnson, etc
PhillipThunderGrunge
he probably has more soul in his fingernail than most people have in their entire body today
Bryson Arnold
Yep good soul and good music to
VuduhGazzi
Truth spoken
johnny.w
Alcohol helped ... but Charlie was inimitable.
John Patterson
Imagine if he and the other early blues musicians had not made recordings. We would never know what they sounded like. This is great stuff for any blues fan.
Marco Venieri
the fury and the power of his voice was incredible.