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 Blues
Furry Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Believe I'll buy me a graveyard of my own
I′m gonna kill everybody that have done me wrong
If you wanna go to Nashville, mens, ain't got no fare
Wanna go to Nashville, mens, ain't got no fare
Cut your good girl′s throat and the judge will send you there
Get my pistol, forty rounds of ball
I'm gonna shoot my woman just to see her fall
I′d rather hear the screws on my coffin sound
I'd rather hear the screws on my coffin sound
Then to hear my good girl says, "I′m jumpin' down"
Get my pencil and paper, I′m gonna sit right down
Get my pencil and paper, I'm gonna sit right down
I'm gonna write me a letter back to Youngstown
This ain′t my home, I ain′t got no right to stay
This ain't my home, I ain′t got no right to stay
This ain't my home, must be my stoppin′ place
When I left my home, you would not let me be
When I left my home, you would not let me be
Wouldn't rest content until I come to Tennessee
The song "Furry's Blues" by Furry Lewis is a blues classic that speaks to the feelings of anger, frustration, and despair that can come from being wronged. The song's opening lines suggest that the singer is so fed up with the way people have treated him that he wants to buy his own graveyard to kill everyone who has wronged him. This metaphor underscores the extreme level of frustration and anger that the singer feels.
The second verse of the song is equally dark and disturbing, suggesting that in order to get to Nashville, a person might have to cut the throat of their loved one and get convicted by a judge. This line speaks to the challenges that many people face as they try to pursue their dreams and the moral compromises they may have to make along the way.
In the final verse of the song, the singer expresses his disillusionment and sense of displacement. He doesn't feel like he has a home or a place where he belongs, and he implies that he was forced to leave his home because of the way people treated him. This sense of wandering and displacement is a recurring theme in many blues songs, and it speaks to the sense of alienation and disconnection that many people feel in modern society.
Overall, "Furry's Blues" is a powerful and evocative song that speaks to the human experience of anger, frustration, and disillusionment. It is a powerful reminder of the power of music to speak to the deepest emotions and fears that human beings experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe I'll buy me a graveyard of my own
I want to buy a graveyard where I can bury the people who have wronged me.
If you wanna go to Nashville, mens, ain't got no fare
If you want to go to Nashville and you don't have money, kill someone and the judge will send you there.
I'm gonna get my pistol, forty rounds of ball
I am going to get my gun and ammunition to shoot my woman and watch her fall.
I'd rather hear the screws on my coffin sound
I would rather hear the sound of the screws on my coffin when I die than to hear my woman say she wants to die.
Get my pencil and paper, I'm gonna sit right down
I am going to write a letter back to Youngstown.
This ain't my home, I ain't got no right to stay
I don't have the right to stay here because this is not my home.
When I left my home, you would not let me be
When I left my home, you didn't leave me alone and kept bothering me until I came to Tennessee.
Writer(s): Furry Lewis
Contributed by Evan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Firstone Lastone
I grew up in Memphis during the 50's-60's when BB King was a disc jockey on the radio playing this music and am glad to say it reached into my spirit and never left- we knew furry was a God and jumped at every chance to see him perform. He was totally respected by all the rock n rollers. It still makes my skin crawl...
malow87
I know Blues is about feeling blue and stuff, but watching this man making music just makes me feel good, I can't help it.
Fred Wethereld
I love how most of these old bluesmen were also great "showmen".
Pyrognosis
Voice first. Amazing musician. Furry Lewis. Blues is singing first. Guitar is actually just accompaniment. The journey of souls make songs and music. God bless.
Pingu616
0:14, when he turns the song in a totally different direction. I fucking love that. They don't make them like Furry anymore.
BigDukeSixx67
He does make guitar playing look easy!!!!
Michael Lamper
ive been listening to furry for awhile now. First time ive seen him. I think this just changed the way i will think about the guitar for the rest of my life.
Dardo gonzalez dalto
happy b' day Walter! Walter "Furry" Lewis, fue un guitarrista y cantante de blues, nacido en Greenwood, Misisipi, el 6 de marzo de 1893, y fallecido en Memphis, Tennessee, el 14 de septiembre de 1981.
bluefukingreene
i love this guy...i checked him out for the first time about 2 months ago...fucking outstanding...
Kurt Sherrick
I was blessed to grow up in Memphis. Mick Jagger was a huge fan of Furry. The Stones played at the Round House in 78 on the Some Girls Tour. We had to walk through the Feminist Protesting the Album Cover. The Stones brought Furry a new guitar. Mick played the first time on stage the guitar. He said he wanted Furry to see him play. Great Memory!!!