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.
St. Louis Blues
Furry Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man till the day I die
Furry Lewis's song "St. Louis Blues" is a song of heartbreak and loss. The singer is lamenting the departure of their lover, and the pain that comes with their absence. The first set of lyrics, "I hate to see that evening sun go down, 'Cause my baby, he's gone left this town" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer isn't upset about the sunset itself, but rather what it symbolizes - the end of another day bringing them farther away from their lost love.
The second set of lyrics, "Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today, If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today, I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way" expresses the singer's lack of hope for the future. They feel that tomorrow will be just as painful as today, and are ready to give up and leave town if nothing changes.
The third set of lyrics, "St. Louis woman with her diamond ring, Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her, That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere" shows the singer's resentment towards the woman who seemingly stole their lover away. But at the same time, they acknowledge that their lover wasn't going anywhere without her influence either.
Overall, "St. Louis Blues" is a timeless blues classic that beautifully captures the heartache of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down
I'm sad to see the sun go down because it means my loved one has left this town.
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
My loved one has left this town and I miss them deeply.
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If tomorrow feels like today, I'll leave this place with everything I have.
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I wake up tomorrow feeling the same way I do today, I'm going to pack my things and leave.
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
I'll leave this place without a second thought.
St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
There's a woman in St. Louis with a diamond ring that has a lot of influence over a man in my life.
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
If it weren't for that woman and her influence, the man I love would not have gone anywhere.
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
The man I love would still be by my side if it weren't for that woman's influence.
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
I'm feeling the St. Louis blues and it's making me very sad.
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
The man I love has a heart as hard as a rock that's been cast into the sea.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
The reason the man I love has gone so far from me is because his heart is hard and cold.
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
I love the man in my life with a passion that is similar to a school boy's love for pie.
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
My love for the man in my life is as strong as a Kentucky colonel's love for their signature drink, mint and rye.
I love my man till the day I die
My love for the man in my life is so strong that it will last until the day I die and beyond.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WILLIAM C HANDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
slideharp1
A great piece of live FL...bought an album (vinyl) when in Helena, Ark. One side Furry and the other was Fred McD....one of my favorites ever. Gouged all to hell by crazy girlfriend with knife.....true!
BigDukeSixx67
This is incredible!!! Thanks for posting man!!
Mickey Turner
wow! i just found this clip and went right to my guitar and started playing in that way. it is such an easy way to play. i found it easier to use my middle finger instead of an small bit of pipe
George Lair
Furry toured with the Alabama State Troopers in the 1970's - great group of musicians!
ashwin42
heard this fella on allmemphismusic tonight. God I love that station. Bringing me back to all these guys i never heard
Silas Buckley
His Casey Jones was infectious - listened to it as a regular diet off Harry Smith collection, signed on as a devotee!
DirkJefferson
Saw Furry play in '74 at Cornell. It was a big folk fest - lot's of biggies - Arlo, Vassar, Loudon, etc. Furry zinged some old slide song, singing up a storm incomprehensibly, to a beat that only he knew. He was going to beat the band. Then suddenly in mid-song, he put his elbow on his knee, held his chin in his hand, and smiled. Caught everybody by surprise with his ending. It was his way of jiving us.
Algiz
Nice vid. That Furry Lewis sure was a character in his own right too.
vleb
Please, tell us more about that story !
randalbyrd
We used to party with Furry in Memphis back in the early 70's. He'd get a little drunk, and play out of tune, and we all had a good time.