Charlie was born in Spray, now part of Eden, Rockingham County, in the northern Piedmont region of North Carolina, near the Virginia border.
He learned banjo as a youth. Poole also played baseball, and his three-fingered playing technique was the result of a baseball accident. He bet that he could catch a baseball without a glove. Poole closed his hand too soon, the ball broke his thumb, and resulted in a permanent arch in his right hand.
Poole bought his first good banjo, an Orpheum No. 3 Special, with profits from his moonshine still. Later, he appeared in the 1929 catalog of the Gibson Company, promoting their banjo.
He spent much of his adult life working in textile mills.
Charlie Poole and his brother-in-law, fiddler Posey Rorer - whom he had met in West Virginia in 1917 and whose sister he married - formed a trio with guitarist Norman Woodlieff called the North Carolina Ramblers. The group auditioned in New York for Columbia Records. After landing a contract, they recorded the highly successful "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues" on July 27, 1925. This song sold over 102,000 copies at a time when there were estimated to be only 600,000 phonographs in the Southern United States, according to Poole’s biographer and great nephew, Kinney Rorrer. The band was paid $75 for the session, which would be approximately $950.20 in 2011 dollars (Consumer Price Index).
Poole played the banjo. The guitar was played by Norman Woodlief, and later by former railroad engineer Roy Harvey from West Virginia. Fiddlers in various recording sessions were Posey Rorer, Lonnie Austin and Odell Smith.
The North Carolina Ramblers, a banjo-guitar-fiddle trio with Poole's plain-spoken tenor voice in the lead, in great part created the musical templates for two giants: the bluegrass of Bill Monroe and, by extension, the lyrical aspects of the modern country music of Hank Williams. Bill C. Malone, in his important history of country music, "Country Music, U.S.A." says, "The Rambler sound was predictable: a bluesy fiddle lead, backed up by long, flowing, melodic guitar runs and the finger-style banjo picking of Poole. Predictable as it may be, it was nonetheless outstanding. No string band in early country music equalled the Ramblers' controlled, clean, well-patterned sound."
For the next five years, Poole and the Ramblers were a very popular band. The band's distinctive sound remained consistent though several members came and left, including Posey Rorer and Norm Woodlieff. In all, the band recorded over 60 songs for Columbia Records during the 1920s. These hits included: "Sweet Sunny South", "White House Blues", “He Rambled”, and “Take a Drink on Me”.
Poole was essentially a cover artist, who composed few, if any, of his recordings. Nevertheless, his dynamic renditions were popular with a broad audience in the Southeast. He is considered a primary source for old-time music revivalists and aficionados. Songs like "Bill Morgan And His Gal", "Milwaukee Blues", and "Leavin' Home", have been resurrected by banjo players. Poole developed a unique fingerpicking style, a blend of melody, arpeggio, and rhythm (as distinct from clawhammer/frailing and Scruggs' variations).
In addition to being a talented musician, Poole was a fast living and hard drinking man. He packed several lifetimes of hard and fast living into his 39 years. Textile mill worker, semi-pro ballplayer, and hell-raiser supreme, Poole won his place among the giants of American roots music with his pathfinding work on the banjo, and for heading the innovative North Carolina Ramblers. The original Ramblers played around Spray and Leaksville, North Carolina beginning in 1917. In 1925, the recordings they made for Columbia allowed them to escape life in the textile mills.
Poole's life ended after a 13-week drinking bender. He had been invited to Hollywood to play background music for a film. According to some reports, he was disheartened by the slump in record sales due to the Depression. Poole never made it to Hollywood. He died of a heart attack in May 1931.
The ultimate cause of Poole's death is unknown. He suffered heart failure after excessive drinking. After his last bout with drinking, Poole was examined by a local doctor in Eden, who administered an injection of some kind -possibly to bring him down from the alcohol. Poole died after the injection on the table, and there is speculation that the injection may have been a factor in his death.
Poole’s music enjoyed a revival in the 1960s, and his renditions have been rerecorded by numerous artists, such as John Mellencamp with "White House Blues", The Chieftains and Grateful Dead with "Don’t Let the Deal Go Down", Holy Modal Rounders and Hot Tuna with "Hesitation Blues", and Joan Baez with "Sweet Sunny South". His recordings have also appeared on numerous compilations of old-time music. Since 1995, Poole's legacy has been carried on every year in Eden, North Carolina during the month of June when the Piedmont Folk Legacies, Inc, a non-profit organization, hosts the Charlie Poole Music Festival.
Columbia issued a three-CD box set of his music, entitled You Ain't Talkin' to Me: Charlie Poole and the Roots of Country Music in 2005. The album, produced by Henry "Hank" Sapoznik, was nominated for three Grammy awards. It chronicles the stompin' sides made for Columbia by Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers between 1925 and 1931, including such important songs as "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (the first country mega-hit), "Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?", "Old and Only In the Way" (the title of which was used by Jerry Garcia to name his 1970s bluegrass band with David Grisman, Old and In the Way), and "White House Blues", adapted by John Mellencamp, who in 2004 updated the politically charged lyrics and changed the title to "To Washington". In addition to 43 of Poole's original recordings, the package features performances by other early roots music players and singers, including Fred Van Eps, Arthur Collins, Billy Murray, Floyd Country Ramblers, Uncle Dave Macon and The Red Fox Chasers.
The original liner notes, by Peter Stampfel, state, "Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers recorded an incredible number of songs that are personal favorites of mine. Poole is, in fact, one of the great musicians of the century. No doubt about it." The album's cover art was created by Robert Crumb, the celebrated illustrator and an old-time music afficiando.
Kinney Rorrer penned a biography of Charlie Poole, entitled Ramblin’ Blues: The Life and Songs of Charlie Poole in 1982. Rorrer, a descendant of Poole's fiddler Posey Rorer, is the banjo player for the old-time music group The New North Carolina Ramblers.
Production of a documentary on Poole's life, tentatively titled North Carolina Rambler, was announced in 2007 by producer-director-cinematographer George Goehl. However, no word on the film's progress is available.
A double-CD album paying tribute to Poole was released by singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III in August 2009. The album, entitled High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project, features 30 tracks, including new versions of songs originally recorded by Poole, as well as tunes composed by Wainwright and producer Dick Connette on the artist's life and times; it was awarded the Grammy for 'Best Traditional Folk Album' at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues
Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down to Memphis, Tennessee
Any old place I hang my hat
Looks like home to me
Now I left my little girl crying
Standing in the door
Throwed her arms around my neck
Now I've been all around this whole wide world
Done most everything
I've played cards with the King and the Queen
Discard the ace and the ten
Oh it's don't let your deal go down
Don't let your deal go down
Don't let your deal go down
Before my last gold dollar is gone
Now where did you get them high top shoes?
Dress you wear so fine?
Got my shoes from a railroad man
And my dress from a driver in the mine
Who's gonna shoe your pretty white feet?
Who's gonna glove your hand?
Who's gonna kiss your lily white cheeks?
Who's gonna be your man?
Now Papa may shoe my pretty white feet
Mama can glove my hand
She can kiss my lily white cheeks
'Till you come back again
The lyrics of Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers’ song “Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down Blues” speaks of a man who has traveled far and wide and has made himself comfortable in any place that he has been to. The singer is used to leaving a place when he’s done with it and finds home in any new place he lands in. He has also left his little girl crying at the door and she pleads with him not to go. The singer then brings in a metaphor about playing cards with royalty, indicating that he's played his hand well and is still attempting to do so.
The second half of the lyrics inquires about the singer’s possessions, where he got them from and who will care for them when he’s gone. The singer answers these questions in sequence; he got his high top shoes from a railroad man and his fine dress from a driver in the mine. Then, it asks who will care for the singer's needs when he's gone, who will shoe his pretty white feet, who will glove his hand, who will kiss his lily white cheeks, and who will be his man. The singer answers that his mother will look after him until he comes back again. The song ends with a chorus, repeating the lines “Don’t let your deal go down, don’t let your deal go down, don’t let your deal go down before my last gold dollar is gone.”
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've been all around this whole wide world
I've travelled far and wide
Down to Memphis, Tennessee
I've travelled to Memphis, Tennessee
Any old place I hang my hat
I feel at home anywhere I go
Looks like home to me
No matter where I am, it always feels like home
Now I left my little girl crying
When I left, my girlfriend was crying
Standing in the door
She was standing in the doorway
Throwed her arms around my neck
She hugged me tightly
Saying 'Honey, don't you go'
She pleaded with me not to leave
Now I've been all around this whole wide world
I've travelled far and wide
Done most everything
I've experienced a lot
I've played cards with the King and the Queen
I've even played cards with royalty
Discard the ace and the ten
I know how to play the game
Oh it's don't let your deal go down
Don't give up too easily
Don't let your deal go down
Keep trying until you succeed
Don't let your deal go down
Don't give up
Before my last gold dollar is gone
Don't give up until you've exhausted all possibilities
Now where did you get them high top shoes?
Where did you buy those nice shoes?
Dress you wear so fine?
You look very well-dressed
Got my shoes from a railroad man
I got my shoes from a railroad worker
And my dress from a driver in the mine
I got my dress from a miner
Who's gonna shoe your pretty white feet?
Who will take care of you?
Who's gonna glove your hand?
Who will hold your hand?
Who's gonna kiss your lily white cheeks?
Who will kiss you?
Who's gonna be your man?
Who will be with you?
Now Papa may shoe my pretty white feet
My father will take care of me
Mama can glove my hand
My mother will hold my hand
She can kiss my lily white cheeks
She will kiss me
'Till you come back again
Until you come back and take care of me
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: CHARLIE POOLE, NORMAN WOODLIEFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ranch Radio
I have the 4 CD set of Charlie Poole’s recordings on JSP records. 97 tunes but no Hard Times. Poole’s White House Blues is about Mckinley’s assassination, and one line is “It's hard times. Hard times”. Here are the lyrics:
McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled.
Doc said "McKinley I can't find that ball."
From Buffalo to Washington.
Roosevelt in the White House, he's doing his best.
McKinley's in the graveyard, he's taking his rest.
He is gone. A long, long time.
Hush up, little children. Now, don't you fret.
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Roosevelt in the White House drinking out of the silver cup.
McKinley in the graveyard, he'll never wake up.
He is gone. A long old time.
Ain't but one thing that grieves my mind.
That is to die and leave my poor wife behind.
I am gone. Long, long time.
Lookee here little children [unintelligible].
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Standing at the station, just lookin' at the time.
See if I could run it by half past nine.
From Buffalo to Washington.
[Unintelligible] the train, she's just on time.
She's running about a mile from eight o' clock til nine.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Yonder come the train, she's coming down the line.
Slow into the station, Mr. McKinley's a-dying.
It's hard times. Hard times.
Lookee here, you rascal, you see what you've done.
You shot my husband and I've got your gun.
Gave his badge to Washington.
And thanks for your interesting comment.
Ranch Radio
I left off the last two stanzas
Doc told the horse, he'd throw down his rein.
He said to the horse "You gotta outrun this train."
From Buffalo to Washington
The doc came a-running, he taked off his specs.
Said "Mr. McKinley, better cash in your checks
You're bound to die, you're bound to die."
buzz kirschner
Charlie Poole is legend, true legend and of course he paid for it with his life. nothing can touch him period.
Rob McCarthy
Charlie Poole helped popularise 3 finger banjo pickin in the 1920s. There seems to have been quite a lot of 3 finger pickers in the NC area influenced by parlor guitar picking. They were playing well before Earl Scruggs developed his rolling syncopated style in Bluegrass Music.
Ed Ljungdahl
This is my favorite song Charlie wrote next to White House Blues.
snailspace
Real rock stars, not like the crap they have today.
Shawn Klein
There's a fictional story by Andy Duncan with Charlie at 9 years old as the main character in the September-October 2019 edition of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine that I'm reading right now. This song was mentioned as a challenging piece. His mentor in the story says it took him until middle age to master the bridge Charlie masters right away learning from this hermit in the woods, so I just Googled it and here I am. The story is called Charlie Tells Another One. Was expecting some kind of Ralph Stanley-style razamatazz the way his banjo lessons are described, but I can see why there wouldn't be at that stage of his life. It starts with Charlie encountering the hermit as he's in the process of composing Hard Times, but I couldn't find a version on Youtube with lyrics, just an entry in a the Alabama Song Book on Google Books. It doesn't seem to mention President McKinley like the version in the story does, poetic license I guess. Like if Asimov's brought you here.
Ranch Radio
I have the 4 CD set of Charlie Poole’s recordings on JSP records. 97 tunes but no Hard Times. Poole’s White House Blues is about Mckinley’s assassination, and one line is “It's hard times. Hard times”. Here are the lyrics:
McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled.
Doc said "McKinley I can't find that ball."
From Buffalo to Washington.
Roosevelt in the White House, he's doing his best.
McKinley's in the graveyard, he's taking his rest.
He is gone. A long, long time.
Hush up, little children. Now, don't you fret.
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Roosevelt in the White House drinking out of the silver cup.
McKinley in the graveyard, he'll never wake up.
He is gone. A long old time.
Ain't but one thing that grieves my mind.
That is to die and leave my poor wife behind.
I am gone. Long, long time.
Lookee here little children [unintelligible].
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Standing at the station, just lookin' at the time.
See if I could run it by half past nine.
From Buffalo to Washington.
[Unintelligible] the train, she's just on time.
She's running about a mile from eight o' clock til nine.
From Buffalo to Washington.
Yonder come the train, she's coming down the line.
Slow into the station, Mr. McKinley's a-dying.
It's hard times. Hard times.
Lookee here, you rascal, you see what you've done.
You shot my husband and I've got your gun.
Gave his badge to Washington.
And thanks for your interesting comment.
Ranch Radio
I left off the last two stanzas
Doc told the horse, he'd throw down his rein.
He said to the horse "You gotta outrun this train."
From Buffalo to Washington
The doc came a-running, he taked off his specs.
Said "Mr. McKinley, better cash in your checks
You're bound to die, you're bound to die."
Shawn Klein
@Ranch Radio Thanks for the reply. Yes it seems the author used some of those lyrics modified a bit, for the bit where Charlie meets the hermit Danner Johnson who is composing the song in 1899 2 years before McKinley's death. He leaves out any mention of Roosevelt and for example changes one lyric to: "Look here you rascal, you see what you've done? You shot my husband with an Ivor Johnson gun. He's bound to die, he's bound to die. Mr. McKinley he ain't done no rong, all he hoped to do was help the terriff along. We'll lay him down boys, we'll lay him down." I'll stop now to keep from posting spoilers. It was quite a story though, in keeping with some of the spooky stuff they put in their September/October issue.
Ed Ljungdahl
I get the feeling it was suppose to be Charlie Poole who would define Bluegrass. But after Charlie Poole died Earl Scruggs took his place started Bluegrass. Hey that's just me
Michael Hill
Charlie Poole was the fore runner of Bluegrass. Earl Scruggs did not invent the three finger style. In the PBS documentary "Give Me The Banjo", he says that he stumbled upon the three finger style quite by accident. He had been playing a two finger style and noticed that his middle finger was playing strings. Snuffy Jenkins played the three finger style. He bought his first real banjo in 1927, and soon fell under the influence of Smith Hammett and Rex Brooks, two early banjo players who did much for the development of Jenkins' style.