Curley James Weaver (March 25, 1906 - September 20, 1962) was an American b… Read Full Bio ↴Curley James Weaver (March 25, 1906 - September 20, 1962) was an American blues musician, also known as Slim Gordon.

He was born in Covington, Georgia and raised on a farm near Porterdale. His mother, Savannah "Dip" Shepard Weaver, was a well-respected pianist and guitarist, who taught Curley together with her friend's sons, "Barbecue Bob" Hicks and Charlie Hicks. The three formed a group with harmonica player Eddie Mapp, and played in the local area.

In 1925 Weaver moved to Atlanta, working as a laborer and playing on the streets and at various social events. In 1928, he first recorded with Columbia Records, later releasing records on several different record labels. Although he recorded on his own during the 1920s and 1930s, first in the style taught by his mother and later with the spreading Piedmont style, he was best known for duets with Blind Willie McTell - with whom he worked until the 1950s - as well as Barbecue Bob, Fred McMullen, and harmonica and guitar player Buddy Moss. He was also a member of the recording groups The Georgia Browns (Weaver, Moss, McMullen) and The Georgia Cotton Pickers (Bob, Weaver, Moss), examples of the sort of bands that played house parties in those days.

After World War II he recorded in New York and Atlanta both solo, and with McTell. His final recordings were in 1949. Weaver lost his sight in the 1950s after working on the railroad, and died of uremia in Almon, Georgia in 1962, at the age of 56.

His daughter Cora Mae Bryant (born May 1, 1926) continued in her father's tradition as a blues musician until her own death in late 2008.

You Was Born To Die
Curley Weaver Lyrics

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Spoken "oh, Play that thing boy, I know you're blue"

Don't want no woman
That run around
Stay out in the street
And like a badfoot clown
You made me love you
And you made me cry

You should remember, that you were born to die

The stream are yellow
Tossed it black and brown
I gotta black woman
Used to be the woman in town
You made me love you
And you made me cry

You should remember, that you were born to die

"Play it now for me"

I'm home at morning
Face full of frown
I know about that baby
You been running around
You made me love you
And you made me cry

You should remember, that you were born to die

Now look here woman
Give me your right hand
I thought you my woman
You go to your man
You made me love you
And you made me cry

You should remember, that you were born to die

Overall Meaning

The song "You Was Born To Die" by Curley Weaver is a blues song that speaks about the pain and heartbreak caused by a woman who runs around and does not stay committed to a relationship. Weaver expresses his feelings of betrayal and sadness, by stating that he does not want a woman who behaves like a badfoot clown and does not remember that she was born to die. He also mentions that the streams are yellow and tossed with black and brown, which symbolizes the darkness and despair he feels.

The singer talks about being home in the morning with a face full of a frown, implying that he knows about the woman's infidelity. He tells her that he thought she was his woman, and she should remember that she was born to die as she caused him pain and made him cry. Weaver reflects the emotions of many blues musicians of his time, who saw music as a means of expressing personal feelings of pain, loss, and heartache through their lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't want no woman
I do not desire a woman

That run around
who wanders from place to place without a purpose

Stay out in the street
who spends her time outdoors

And like a badfoot clown
and acts like a mischievous and untrustworthy individual

You made me love you
You caused me to fall in love with you

And you made me cry
And you have caused me to be sad

You should remember, that you were born to die
You should keep in mind that your life will come to an end eventually

The stream are yellow
The water is discolored

Tossed it black and brown
Dark and muddy water is being churned up

I gotta black woman
I have a black girlfriend

Used to be the woman in town
Who was known as the most desirable woman in the area