Furry Lewis (March 6, 1899 - September 14, 1981) was a blues guitarist from… Read Full Bio ↴Furry Lewis (March 6, 1899 - September 14, 1981) was a blues guitarist from Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He was one of the first of the old-time blues musicians of the 1920s to be brought out of retirement by the folk blues revival of the 1960s.
Furry's style of blues was in many ways typical of the songsters who operated in and around Memphis in the 1920s, for whom the value of a song was the story it told, and who tended to back their words with hypnotic repetitive riffs and subtle slide guitars. Furry Lewis's soft voice and quick slide work were particularly effective in this style. He recorded many successful records in the late '20s including "Kassie Jones",Billy Lyons, Stack-O-Lee and Judge Harsh Blues (later called Good morning judge).
This success was limited to the race records of the time, cheap sides by black musicians for black customers. Furry received neither fame nor fortune for his efforts. In 1962, however, he was recorded by the folklorist Adrian Mitchell and his fortunes began to pick up. Before he died in 1981 Furry opened twice for the Rolling Stones, played on Johnny Carson's Tonight show and had a part in a Burt Reynolds movie, some justice for this great player of the blues and his inimitable slide guitar style.
Joni Mitchell's song, "Furry Sings the Blues" (on her Hejira album), is about Lewis. According to Wikipedia, Lewis despised the Mitchell song and demanded she pay him royalties.
Furry's style of blues was in many ways typical of the songsters who operated in and around Memphis in the 1920s, for whom the value of a song was the story it told, and who tended to back their words with hypnotic repetitive riffs and subtle slide guitars. Furry Lewis's soft voice and quick slide work were particularly effective in this style. He recorded many successful records in the late '20s including "Kassie Jones",Billy Lyons, Stack-O-Lee and Judge Harsh Blues (later called Good morning judge).
This success was limited to the race records of the time, cheap sides by black musicians for black customers. Furry received neither fame nor fortune for his efforts. In 1962, however, he was recorded by the folklorist Adrian Mitchell and his fortunes began to pick up. Before he died in 1981 Furry opened twice for the Rolling Stones, played on Johnny Carson's Tonight show and had a part in a Burt Reynolds movie, some justice for this great player of the blues and his inimitable slide guitar style.
Joni Mitchell's song, "Furry Sings the Blues" (on her Hejira album), is about Lewis. According to Wikipedia, Lewis despised the Mitchell song and demanded she pay him royalties.
Dry Land Blues
Furry Lewis Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Furry Lewis:
Billy Lyons And Stack O'Lee I remember one September on one Friday night Stack O’Lee an…
Billy Lyons and Stock O'lee I remember one September, On one Friday night Stack O′lee an…
Cannonball Blues Please take me, baby, try me one more time Take me,…
Falling Down Blues I got the blues so bad it hurts my feet…
Furry's Blues I believe I′ll buy me a graveyard of my own Believe…
Going To Brownsville An I'm going to Brownsville, gonna take that right hand…
Good Morning Judge Good morning judge, what may be my fine? Good morning judge…
I Will Turn Your Money Green When I was in Missouri Would not let me be Wouldn't rest…
I'm Going To Brownsville An I'm going to Brownsville, gonna take that right hand…
Judge Boushay Blues Good mornin' judge, what may be my fine? Good mornin' judge…
Judge Harsh Blues Good morning judge, what may be my fine? Good morning judge…
Kassie Jones PART 1: I woke up this mornin', four o'clock. Mister Casey…
Mean Old Bedbug Blues Mean old bedbug sho′ is evil, he don't mean me…
Rock Island Blues I'd the Rock Island Blues waiting on the Rock Island…
Shake 'Em On Down I went to the gypsy for to get my hambone…
St Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Sweet Papa Moan Oooooh, wonder where my gal tonight Oooooh, wonder where my …
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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DNAblues
Thank you so much for uploading this incredible recording.
Bill Weiner
My idol, blues guru was a guy named Mike Stewart, aka Backwards Sam Firk. At the age of 19 in 1962 I heard Mike play 'East St.Louis Blues' "I walked all the way to East St. Louis, didn't have but one thin dime. Rather than spend it for even my own use, you save it for that high brown skin of mine." He played it the same as you hear this song with that little pull-off thing in E. So Mike got the playing of that song from Furry Lewis
Brian J. Carnevale
Greenwood native Walter "Furry" Lewis (c. 1899-1981) was a favorite figure on the Memphis blues revival scene of the 1960s and '70s, Thank you Ron Crowder for sharing your story.
Robert K Cleland
Thanks for this "Masterpiece"
TOMMY TRAMP
Guitar sounds Like Crow Jane Dont cha Hold Your Head So High 😆 GOD I LOVE FURY !!!😇 THANK YOU dhamago !
ashwin42
thanks to allmemphismusic, I wouldnt have known about this guy if it was for net radio. Something so different for us over here
JimiLuvsMusic
That is the way it is done.
rustcity
wow Furry ripped the standard tunings too
Alonzo Couture
I am told, to get Furry to play a show...you had to pay $20 to get his guitar out of pawn. Wich, BTW, was an obvious scam, lol. He also required beer in the payment. This is Memphis blues.
Aaron McCoy
what is he drankin sterno..lol