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.
Rock Island Blues
Furry Lewis Lyrics
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Rock Island Blues waiting on the Rock Island Train
Got a girl in Texas and I'm scared to call her name
Don't you wish your girl was long and tall like mine
Don't you wish your girl was long and tall like mine
Lord she ain't good-looking but I 'clare she takes her time
Baby baby, where you stay last night?
Lord you didn't come home till the moon was shining bright
I'm gon' wash my face in the Gulf of Mexico
I'm gon' wash my face in the Gulf of Mexico
I'm gon' eat my breakfast a thousand miles below
Wonder will my suitcase hold my clothes?
Wonder will my suitcase hold my clothes?
I ain't got so many but I got so fur to go
I ain't got no woman, I ain't got no lady friend
I ain't got no woman, ain't got no lady friend
I ain't got nobody t'say Furry where you been?
Furry Lewis's song "Rock Island Blues" speaks about the experiences of a man waiting for the Rock Island Train while facing a number of uncertainties. Throughout the song, the lonely narrator contemplates his love life, noting that he has a girl in Texas but is afraid to call her name. He also muses about the physical appearance of his woman, admitting that she may not be conventionally attractive but she takes her time with him. The singer questions the whereabouts of his lover the night before, noting that she didn't come home until the moon was shining bright. As he awaits the train, the singer contemplates his future journey, mentioning that he will wash his face in the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy his breakfast thousands of miles below. The song also touches on the singer's worry about whether his suitcase will hold all of his clothes, and he admits that he doesn't have a woman or lady friend to ask where he's been.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd the Rock Island Blues waiting on the Rock Island Train
I am experiencing the Rock Island Blues while waiting for the Rock Island Train
Got a girl in Texas and I'm scared to call her name
I have a girl in Texas, but I am hesitant to mention her name
Don't you wish your girl was long and tall like mine
Isn't it desirable for your girl to be as long and tall as my girl?
Lord she ain't good-looking but I 'clare she takes her time
Although she may not be attractive, she certainly knows how to take her time
Baby, where you stay last night?
Hey baby, where did you stay last night?
Lord you didn't come home till the moon was shining bright
You did not come back home until the moon was shining bright
I'm gon' wash my face in the Gulf of Mexico
I intend to cleanse my face in the Gulf of Mexico
I'm gon' eat my breakfast a thousand miles below
I plan to have my breakfast a thousand miles below
Wonder will my suitcase hold my clothes?
I wonder if my suitcase should contain all my clothes?
I ain't got so many but I got so fur to go
I don't have many things to carry, but I have a long way to go
I ain't got no woman, ain't got no lady friend
I don't have any woman or female friend in my life
I ain't got nobody t'say Furry where you been?
There's nobody to ask me, 'Furry, where have you been?'
Lyrics © MADISON LEISURE CORP.
Written by: WALTER FURRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind