Lenoir's guitar-playing father introduced him to the music of Blind Lemon Jefferson, whose music became a major influence. During the early 1940s, Lenoir worked with blues artists Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James in New Orleans. Lenoir would eventually find musical influence in Arthur Crudup and Lightnin' Hopkins.
In 1949, he moved to Chicago and Big Bill Broonzy helped introduce him to the local blues community. He began to perform at local nightclubs with musicians such as Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather, and Muddy Waters, and became an important part of the city's blues scene. He began recording in 1951 the J.O.B. and Chess Records labels. His recording of "Korea Blues" was licensed to and released by Chess, as having been performed by 'J. B. and his Bayou Boys'. His band included pianist Sunnyland Slim, guitarist Leroy Foster, and drummer Alfred Wallace.
During the 1950s Lenoir recorded on various record labels in the Chicago area including J.O.B., Chess, Parrot, and Checker. His more successful songs included "Let's Roll", "The Mojo" featuring saxophonist J. T. Brown, and the controversial "Eisenhower Blues" which his record company, Parrot, forced him to re-record as "Tax Paying Blues."
Lenoir was known in the 1950s for his showmanship - in particular his zebra-patterned costumes - and his high-pitched vocals. He became an influential electric guitarist and songwriter, and his penchant for social commentary distinguished him from many other bluesmen of the time. His most commercially successful and enduring release was "Mamma Talk To Your Daughter", recorded for Parrot in 1954 which reached #11 on the Billboard R&B chart and was later recorded by many other blues and rock musicians. In the later 1950s (recording on the Checker label), he wrote several more blues standards including; "Don't Dog Your Woman", and "Don't Touch My Head!!!" (1956).
In 1963, Lenoir recorded for USA Records as 'J. B. Lenoir and his African Hunch Rhythm', developing an interest in African percussion. However, he struggled to work as a professional musician and for a time took menial jobs, including working in the kitchen at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Lenoir was rediscovered by Willie Dixon, who recorded him with drummer Fred Below on the albums Alabama Blues and Down In Mississippi (inspired by the Civil Rights and Free Speech movements). Lenoir toured Europe, and performed in 1965 with the American Folk Blues Festival in the United Kingdom.
Lenoir's work had direct political content relating to racism and the Vietnam War.
"Alabama Blues"
“I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
I never will go back to Alabama, that is not the place for me,
You know they killed my sister and my brother,
And the whole world let them peoples go down there free.”
He died on April 29, 1967 in Urbana, Illinois, aged 38, from a heart attack related to injuries he suffered in a car accident three weeks earlier.
His death was lamented by John Mayall in the songs, "I'm Gonna Fight for You, J.B." and "Death of J. B. Lenoir".
The 2003 documentary film The Soul of a Man, directed by Wim Wenders as the second instalment of Martin Scorsese's series The Blues, explored Lenoir's career, together with those of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson.
In 2011, Lenoir was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame.
Although his name is sometimes mispronounced like the French "lan WAH", Lenoir himself pronounced his name a "la NOR". The initials "J.B." had no specific meaning; his given name was simply "J.B."
Talk to Your Daughter
J.B. Lenoir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mamma mamma please talk to your daughter for me
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
I lay down last night and she called me in my dreams
I lay down last night and she called me in my dreams
I begin to wonder what does she want with me?
My mamma told me love will call again
I'm in love with you baby and I just can't help myself
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
That girl I like the way she walk
that girl I like the way she talk
That girl I like the things she do
I'm telling you baby I'm watching you
You better watch yourself baby
I've got my eye on you
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
Mamma talk to your daughter
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
The lyrics of J.B. Lenoir's song "Mama Talk To Your Daughter" suggest a man pleading to a mother figure to help him communicate his affections for her daughter. He asks for her assistance in convincing her daughter to reciprocate his love for her. He emphasizes how he is unable to resist the woman in question and how she appears even in his dreams, something he is curious about. The lyrics suggest that he is serious about his feelings and is resolute in his decision to stick with her.
The repetition of the phrase "Mama talk to your daughter" underscores the desperation of the man, as he feels that he has no other option but to plead with a third party to mediate in his situation. He also states that he is closely observing the woman and finds her attractive, implying that he is serious about his intentions towards her. The lyrics also emphasize the role of a mother figure in traditional African American households, as someone who holds authority and influence over family dynamics and relationships.
Overall, "Mama Talk To Your Daughter" is a plea from a man who is hopelessly in love and needs assistance in courting his beloved. It highlights the importance of family dynamics in African American culture and draws attention to traditional gender roles within these households.
Line by Line Meaning
Mamma mamma please talk to your daughter for me
Please talk to your daughter for me, as she has made me fall in love with her and I cannot resist her charm.
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
I have fallen in love with her and I will not leave her alone.
I lay down last night and she called me in my dreams
Last night, I dreamt of her calling out to me, making me wonder what she wants from me.
I begin to wonder what does she want with me?
I'm curious about her intentions towards me.
My mamma told me love will call again
My mother told me that love will find me again, and it has in the form of this woman.
I'm in love with you baby and I just can't help myself
I have fallen for you, and I cannot resist the urges that come with being in love.
That girl I like the way she walk
I find her walk attractive.
that girl I like the way she talk
Her way of speaking is appealing to me.
That girl I like the things she do
I admire her actions and behaviors.
I'm telling you baby I'm watching you
I am keeping an eye on you, as my feelings for you are strong.
You better watch yourself baby I've got my eye on you
You should be careful, as I am very interested in you and watching your every move.
Mamma talk to your daughter
Please talk to your daughter on my behalf.
She done made me love her and I ain't gonna leave her be
She has captured my heart, and I will not leave her alone.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALEX ATKINS, J B LENOIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Voorheis
dams albert,I think I can explain it to you in French. I understand your problem since J.B.'s way of expressing himself includes Southern argot or regional language. Generally,he is asking his girlfriend's mother to advise the girl that she's made him fall in love with her,and that he will therefore be pursuing her and not giving up!
I would title the song something like "Avises ta fille" ;)
"Mama, mama please talk to your daughter 'bout me"
- "Maman priere avise ta fille pour moi (2)"
"She had made me to love her and I ain't gonna leave her be" "Had made me to love her" is incorrect English. He means simply "She made me love her",but people in rural areas of our Southland and elsewhere have their own ways of talking! As In France,for example,they speak differently in la Correze than in Paris,non? :) "Leave her be" means leave her alone.
-"Elle a gagne mon coeur - je la suive et ne m'arrete pas" lol Forgive my bad poetry,it's just to help you!
- "I ain't gonna stand no quitting and she won't dog me around" There are different definitions but "dog me around" in blues means humiliate someone by cheating on them. So he's sayin she'd better not quit him or cheat on him.
-" Elle doit pas me quitter,ni me trahir avec un autre"
- " If she dogs me round she'll sleep six feet in the ground." If she cheats on me,I'll bury her in the ground,meaning of course that he'll kill her.
-" Si elle me fait comme ca,je la mis dans le tombeau "
I hope this helps.....I love J.B.'s blues and I'm glad you do too! Salut! =Brian V=
Phil Vigil
JB. Blues legend...those who heard him never forgot his style often inspired legends.
Painless Removals
The great J B Lenoir! Saw him in 1965 on the American Folk Blues Festival. He was the first onstage with just his acoustic guitar - although Fred Below was the house drummer & is playing on this song. He might've seemed like the warm up act but he launched straight into a stunning Alabama Blues. I sat in the front row electrified by that beautiful voice, his sweet guitar & the passion of his performance. Lyrics here are metaphorical but unlikely to gain favour with the girl's mother. Just trying to get across the depth of his feeling for a girl who's obviously playing around with him... Great performance but so much more intense live!
Brian Voorheis
Steve Fanger,man this is so cool! I saw that tour in Munich I think in '65,while in the Army. What a lineup : J.B.,Big Mama,Buddy Guy,Big Walter,Lonesome jimmy Lee on bass,as you say the great Fred "Backbeat" Below, Miz'ssippi Fred McDowell and Roosevelt Sykes. I'm sure I've forgotten someone. Thanks for the reminder!
The Mighty Cadillacs
Great blues. Just great.
Rob Picazo
Such a great peformer, with a great song. From which album is this version?
Slavko Cosic
Wow...This Rocks...Light & Love...
crad renshaw
Lenoir was an excellent singer no question. Though this is not the best version he ever cut of this song.
Michael Hommerich
Großartig!
deskryptic
Genius!
Jimmy J
https://youtu.be/pUE1YKBHtjs is JB Lenoir's best vocals on this song and this song is his best guitar work... Someone should digitally remaster them both and combine it for the masterpiece version of this song...