Born in Logan County, West Virginia, United States, Hutchison is considered to be the first white rural guitarist to record the blues, as he cut several tracks for Okeh Records. He worked as a coal miner at various coal mines in Logan County, West Virginia, both before and after his career as a recording artist. Between 1926 and 1929, Hutchison recorded forty-one sides for Okeh, of which nine were unissued. Three of the issued sides and three of the unissued were recorded with Sherman Lawson, a Logan County fiddler; others featured Hutchison's guitar, harmonica and voice. Hutchison also performed in the "Okeh Medicine Show," released by Okeh in 1929.
Hutchison is considered to be one of the finest performers of the "white country blues" genre of early folk music. One of his more famous recordings is "The Train That Carried My Girl From Town." His recording of "Stackalee" was included in Harry Smith's 1952 Anthology of American Folk Music, and influenced a number of musicians during the 1950s and 1960s folk revival.
Some years after his recording career had ended and after he left the Logan County coal mines, Hutchison and his wife operated a store in Lake, West Virginia, where he also served as postmaster. His family lived above the store. The store burned down, Hutchison lost everything and reportedly developed alcohol problems after that. He worked as a riverboat entertainer on the Ohio River and eventually moved to Columbus, Ohio.
He died in 1945 at a Dayton, Ohio hospital, of liver disease, aged 54.
Cannon Ball Blues
Frank Hutchison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh the blues ain't nothin' but a good man a-feelin' bad
I know that feelin', it's one I've often had
Went to the bedside, looked in the woman's face
I went to the bedside, and I looked in the woman's face
"I love you, honey, but I don't like your low-down ways."
I opened up the door and I stepped out on the ground
"Good-bye, honey, I'm Alabamoh bound."
Yonder come that train, comin' down the railroad track
Yonder comes that train, she's comin' down the railroad track
She'll take me away, but she ain't a-gonna bring me back
When I leave here, don't you wear no black
Oh, when I leave here, honey, don't you wear no black
If you do, my ghost's gonna sneak right back
That train I ride, she's called the Cannonball
That train I ride, she's called the Cannonball
There's sixteen coaches, she carries no blinds at all
Gonna lay my head down on some railroad line
Gonna lay my head down on some railroad line
Let the Cannonball try and pacify my mind
I looked out the window, as fur as I could see
I looked out the window, as fur as I could see
While the brass band a-playin', "Nearer My God To Thee"
The song "Cannon Ball Blues" by Frank Hutchison describes a man's journey through heartbreak and despair. He recognizes that the blues is an emotion that arises from a good man feeling bad. The singer has experienced this feeling before and empathizes with it. He then addresses a lover who he approaches at bedside and he tells her that he loves her but can no longer bear her "low-down ways." He leaves her and takes a train bound for Alabama, the Cannonball, which he knows will not bring him back. He implores her not to mourn when he is gone or his ghost will come back to haunt her. Lastly, he concludes that he will "lay [his] head down on some railroad line" to try and find some peace for his troubled mind. Looking out the window of the train, he hears the sound of a brass band playing "Nearer My God to Thee."
The song provides a glimpse into the common themes found in blues music such as longing, heartbreak, and the experience of being a traveler. The singer, similar to many blues musicians, is a lone individual seeking to find solace from his troubles through music or other methods of escape. In this case, he travels on a train before arriving at his final destination where he hopes to find some peace of mind. The song also reflects upon the culture of the time, particularly the use of trains as a mode of transportation that many individuals at the time used to escape their problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the blues ain't nothin' but a good man a-feelin' bad
The blues is simply a feeling of sadness and sorrow that even good people can experience.
I know that feelin', it's one I've often had
I have experienced that feeling of the blues many times before.
Went to the bedside, looked in the woman's face
I went to see my lover, and looked into her face.
"I love you, honey, but I don't like your low-down ways."
I still love you, but I hate the way you act sometimes.
I opened up the door and I stepped out on the ground
I left my lover and walked out the door.
"Good-bye, honey, I'm Alabamoh bound."
"Goodbye, my love. I'm headed to Alabama."
Yonder come that train, comin' down the railroad track
I see a train coming down the tracks in the distance.
She'll take me away, but she ain't a-gonna bring me back
The train will take me away, but I know I won't be coming back.
When I leave here, honey, don't you wear no black
If I die, please don't mourn for me by wearing black.
If you do, my ghost's gonna sneak right back
If you do, I'll haunt you from beyond the grave.
That train I ride, she's called the Cannonball
The train I'm taking is known as the Cannonball.
There's sixteen coaches, she carries no blinds at all
The train consists of 16 cars and has no sleeping compartments.
Gonna lay my head down on some railroad line
I'm going to lay down on the railroad tracks.
Let the Cannonball try and pacify my mind
I hope the sound of the train will help calm my troubled mind.
I looked out the window, as fur as I could see
I gazed out the train window as far as I could see.
While the brass band a-playin', "Nearer My God To Thee"
As the brass band played, "Nearer My God to Thee".
Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Lawsoncuhh
Found this 10 years later. He’s my great great grandpa I am named after him! ❤️
@MyMoppet52
"Oh, the blues aint' nothing but a good man feeling sad." Frank Hutchison (1897-1940), has been described the first white country musician to record blues & to record slide guitar. He was a miner with injuries, and started with his music career. He learned a lot of his blues from a friend, black singer & guitarist, Bill Hunt. He is singing "Cannonball Blues" from "Old -Time Mountain Blues - Rural Classics 1927-1939"
@thebrazilianatlantis165
Frank was years later than the earliest white country musicians to record blues. The earliest I can think of are Sam Moore with "Chain Gang Blues" in 1921 and John Carson with "Tom Watson Special" in 1923. (Henry Whitter is often mentioned but those two were earlier.)
@DavidB.Rockin
Amazing!
@screwmaster404
I learn so much from you. Thanks, Barb.
@768abraxaskkk
Fantástico, gracias por compartirlo!!!!
@MyMoppet52
Oh, the blues aint' nothing but a good man feeling sad." Frank Hutchison (1897-1940), has been described the first white country musician to record blues & to record slide guitar.
@charlesbihun5784
He was very good, but there were other white musicians that recorded blues during the same period in which their race was not distinguishable. An example is Dock Boggs of Virginia (first recorded in 1927); some of his recordings can be found on YouTube. Dock credited a strong African-American influence on his style.
@MyMoppet52
charles bihun Appreciate your info. I have several Dock Boggs albums & music. He was great. Someone has commented about the Lomaxes & was giving me an education of that...but I've known about the Lomaxes since I was in second grade. (I'm 62 now, but my daddy started me really early on music.) I have George Mitchell & other compilations. I love old music - mountain/country/old timey & blues especially. Frank Hutchison, at least what I've heard from his, does have a bit different style. Different than Boggs, also. Thanks for listening & commenting. Good music is good music no matter who plays it! My best to you, Moppet
@MyMoppet52
Dear Mr.Ed, you give me too much credit! I know what I like in music, but don't know all these facts. I won't put music up until I read my inserts or go online. I don't want to be a total idiot & I also like to learn and let others learn too if they wish. I don't know this stuff usually until it goes online! Isn't his slide great for a white guy in the mountains of West Virginia back in the 20's? I'm really impressed with him. My best, Moppet