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.
I Will Turn Your Money Green
Furry Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would not let me be
Wouldn't rest content
'Till I came to Tennessee
If you follow me baby
I'll turn your money green
I show you more money
If the river was whiskey
Baby and I was a duck
I'd dive to the bottom
Lord and I'd never come up
Lord the woman I hate
I see her every day
But the woman I love
She's so far away
Talk about *sweetheart*
I declare I'm a honest man
Give my woman so many dollars
It broke her apron string
All she give me was trouble
I'm troubled all the time
I been troubled so long
Trouble don't worry my mind
I been down so long
It seem like up to me
Woman I love
She done quit poor me
What's the need of me hollering
What's the need of me crying
Woman I love
She don't pay me no mind
The lyrics to Furry Lewis's song "I Will Turn Your Money Green" are full of vivid imagery and emotions. The song tells the story of a man who leaves Missouri and travels to Tennessee because he could not find peace in Missouri. The man promises a woman that he can help her earn more money than Rockefeller ever had, and he asks her to follow him so that he can "turn her money green." He then describes the scenario of the river being whiskey, and he as a duck diving to the bottom and never coming up. This line could represent the man's desire to have control over his life or his willingness to indulge in the pleasures of life.
The song then takes a nostalgic turn, as the man talks about the woman he loves being far away, and he laments the fact that she does not pay him any attention. He contrasts this with the woman he hates, whom he sees every day. He then talks about giving his woman so much money that it broke her apron string. However, all she gave him was trouble, and he has been troubled for so long that it does not worry his mind anymore. The song ends on a somber note, with the man acknowledging that the woman he loves has left him, and there is no need for him to holler or cry.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was in Missouri
I couldn't stay in Missouri any longer
Would not let me be
I wasn't happy staying there anymore
Wouldn't rest content
I wasn't content or satisfied living there
'Till I came to Tennessee
So I left and came to Tennessee to try and find happiness
If you follow me baby
If you come with me, my dear
I'll turn your money green
I'll show you how to make more money
I show you more money
I can show you how to make more cash
Rockerfeller ever seen
More than even Rockefeller has seen
If the river was whiskey
If the river was full of alcohol
Baby and I was a duck
If we were ducks swimming in it
I'd dive to the bottom
I would go deep and stay there
Lord and I'd never come up
And I would never surface
Lord the woman I hate
I despise one woman
I see her every day
I have to see her all the time
But the woman I love
But the one I love
She's so far away
Is too far from me
Talk about sweetheart
Let me talk about love
I declare I'm a honest man
I am an honest man
Give my woman so many dollars
I gave my girlfriend so much money
It broke her apron string
It was too much for her to handle
All she give me was trouble
She keeps causing problems for me
I'm troubled all the time
I am always worried and anxious
I been troubled so long
I have been dealing with problems for so long
Trouble don't worry my mind
But now, I am used to it and it doesn't bother my mind
I been down so long
I have been feeling low for a long time
It seem like up to me
Everything else seems like it's great compared to how I feel
Woman I love
The woman I am in love with
She done quit poor me
Has left and abandoned me, leaving me feeling pitiful and alone
What's the need of me hollering
What is the point of me shouting out loud
What's the need of me crying
What is the use of me shedding tears
Woman I love
The woman I am in love with
She don't pay me no mind
Is not thinking about me or paying attention to me at all
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: FURRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CADD1EBLUES
3.08 with Booker T white, what a duet!
RAMLIA1
❤️❤️❤️