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.
Going To Brownsville
Furry Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An I'm going to Brownsville, gonna take that right hand road
Lord I ain't gone stop walking till I get to my baby's door
And that woman I loving she got great long curly hair
And that woman I loving got great long curly hair
But her mother and father don't allow Furry there
I'm going write me a letter I'm going to mail it in the air
Lord if a man stay here can stay most everywhere
And my first name Furry my second name ain't be told
Well my first name Furry my second name ain't never be told
I been waiting on you baby since you were 12 years old
Babe you had no business treating me this a way
Then you had no business treating me this a way
I'm going back to Georgia, going back there to stay
In Furry Lewis's song "Going to Brownsville" the singer is expressing his journey on his way to Brownsville. The singer is determined to make it to his lover's door no matter the obstacles he may face along the way. He is fixated on reuniting with her once again. The love interest's appearance is described as having great long, curly hair, however, the singer is unable to see her due to her parents who do not allow him into their home. He then writes a letter, but instead of mailing it, he simply throws it in the air hoping that it reaches his beloved.
The song depicts the struggles of the black men and women who were denied equality and basic human rights. The lyrics "And my first name Furry my second name ain't be told" refers to the anonymity that black men and women faced during that time period. Furry Lewis was an advocate for civil rights and used his music to express his beliefs. The song also highlights the significance of love during times of turmoil and social injustice. The singer's desperate need to reunite with his lover despite the societal pressures is a symbol of hope and love overcoming the obstacles placed before him.
Line by Line Meaning
An I'm going to Brownsville, gonna take that right hand road
I am heading towards Brownsville by taking the road on my right-hand side
Lord I ain't gone stop walking till I get to my baby's door
I will keep walking until I reach my lover's house
And that woman I loving she got great long curly hair
The woman I love has beautiful, long, curly hair
But her mother and father don't allow Furry there
Unfortunately, her parents do not permit me to be around
I'm going write me a letter I'm going to mail it in the air
I am planning to compose a letter and send it through the air-mail service
Lord if a man stay here can stay most everywhere
If someone stays here, he can survive quite properly
And my first name Furry my second name ain't be told
My name is Furry, but I won't share my last name
I been waiting on you baby since you were 12 years old
I have been longing for you since you turned twelve years old
Babe you had no business treating me this a way
Darling, you had no reason to treat me the way you did
I'm going back to Georgia, going back there to stay
I am returning to Georgia, where I plan on staying
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@HermitOfBlackLake
Legend... No one will ever play guitar quite like this again.
@gordonm.7387
This guy was something else! Virtuoso picking and sliding and great sense of humour! Ry Cooder reveres him.
@scottsutherland9126
The finger work is mesmerizing. An entire band in those fingers.
@81founder
furry was my godgranddaddy. made video with my Lil brothers bird with whistle. he was talented and I feel a lot of people took advantage of him cause he died poor. please keep his memory alive. gifted and black in those days people took advantage of him. but at least he left his legacy. buried in Hollywood cement are on Hernando Rd if anyone wanth to pay tribute to a great man.
@Stringmeester
Respect!,
@stacyblue1980
😔🙏🦅He is alive and lives with us all. Believe it.
@jimcounce7355
Absolutely amazing! Total control of the guitar. He was not in a class of experts. He was The Expert! Never seen such picking as he did.
@simaginfan
There is an even better version of this on a documentary muddy waters made many years ago. I only have it on vhs so if anyone can post it PLEASE do!! Furry had a unique technique with the right thumb and first finger playing past each other while picking treble notes out with the middle finger of the left hand. 'Guitar Control' does a decent exposition of the basics, and is worth a look.
@rosswoodskiwi
Here's that doco: https://www.folkstreams.net/film-detail.php?id=436 start at 39:45 for Furry Lewis
@TheRoyayers
Mr Fingers! And Mr Voice ! So much energy at his old days