James John (Jimmy) Witherspoon, also known by the nickname “Spoon”, was a versatile "blues shouter" who achieved commercial success and critical acclaim in the genres of blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues. His 1947 recording “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” was a hit in 1949 and became his signature song.
His date of birth is usually given as August 8, 1923, but some sources give the birth year as 1920, and more than one source gives the birth date as August 18, 1921, attributing the information to his son. Since he may have run away from home to Los Angeles, California, as early as 1935, the earlier dates seem more plausible. In a 1996 interview, he gave his age as seventy-four, which also corresponds with the 1921 date.
Jimmy Witherspoon was born in Gurdon (Clark County) Arkansas to Leonard Witherspoon, a Missouri Pacific Railroad brakeman, and Eva Tatum Witherspoon, a church pianist. The family was devoutly religious. His parents were members of the choir at their Baptist church.
He didn't pursue music professionally until after his stint in the Merchant Marines in World War II. On his return to the Unites States in 1944, he replaced Walter Brown in Jay McShann's band, and performed with Big Joe Turner and T-Bone Walker.
Witherpoon's first hit record was "Ain't Nobody's Business", which he followed in 1949 with a reworking of the Leroy Carr song "In the Evening When the Sun Goes Down". His hit "Ain't Nobody's Business" was one of the biggest records of the era, and stayed on the Billboard charts for 34 weeks. Spoon made at least 200 recordings, and was one of the few true giants of the post-war blues boom.
Witherspoon recorded for a variety of labels through the 1950s, including cornerstone sides with Swingtime, Federal, Chess, RCA, and even a Dixieland session with The Wilbur de Paris New Orleans Jazz Band for Atlantic in 1956. His long career included performances on jazz stages around the world, from Carnegie Hall to the Newport Jazz Festival, touring Japan with Count Basie, and European tours with Buck Clayton's All Stars. Witherspoon managed to span the worlds of blues, R&B, and jazz with his deep baritone voice and unique style.
Witherspoon died September 18, 1997 in Los Angeles, California.
Spoon first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during World War II. Witherspoon made his first records with Jay McShann's band in 1945. In 1949, recording under his own name with the McShann band, he had his first hit, "Ain't Nobody's Business,"[2] a song which came to be regarded as his signature tune. In 1950 he had hits with two more songs closely identified with him: "No Rollin' Blues", "Big Fine Girl", as well as "Failing By Degrees" and "New Orleans Woman" recorded with the Gene Gilbeaux Orchestra which included Herman Washington and Don Hill on the Modern Records label. These were recorded from a live performance on May 10, 1949 at a "Just Jazz" concert Pasadena, CA sponsored by Gene Norman. Another classic Witherspoon composition is "Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough".
Witherspoon's style of blues - that of the "blues shouter" - became unfashionable in the mid-1950s, but he returned to popularity with his 1959 album, Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival, which featured Roy Eldridge, Woody Herman, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines and Mel Lewis, among others. He later recorded with Gerry Mulligan, Leroy Vinnegar, Richard "Groove" Holmes and T-Bone Walker.
Tours and successes
In 1961 he toured Europe with Buck Clayton and returned to the UK on many occasions, featuring on a mid-sixties live UK recording Spoon Sings and Swings (1966) with tenor sax player Dick Morrissey's quartet. In 1970, he appeared on Brother Jack McDuff's London Blue Note recording To Seek a New Home together with British jazz musicians, including Dick Morrissey, again, and Terry Smith. In the 1970s he also recorded the album Guilty! (later released on CD as Black & White Blues) with Eric Burdon and featuring Ike White & the San Quentin Prison Band. He then toured with a band of his own featuring Robben Ford and Russ Ferrante. A recording from this period, Spoonful, featured 'Spoon accompanied by Robben Ford, Joe Sample, Cornell Dupree, Thad Jones and Bernard Purdie. He continued performing and recording into the 1990s.
Other performers with whom Witherspoon recorded include Jimmy Rowles, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Vernon Alley, Mel Lewis, Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wiggins, John Clayton, Paul Humphrey, Pepper Adams, Kenny Burrell, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jimmy Smith, Long John Baldry, Junior Mance, Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode, Kenny Clarke, Gerry Mulligan, Jim Mullen, Count Basie, Van Morrison, Dutch Swing College Band, Gene Gilbeaux and others.
Acting
In the 1995 film Georgia, Witherspoon portrayed a traveling, gun-collecting blues singer, Trucker, who has a relationship with the troubled character Sadie, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Goin' Down Slow
Jimmy Witherspoon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
And they don't even know about it.
And good times? mmm....
(sings)
if I never get well no more
I have had my fun
if I never get well no more
Whoa, my health is fadin'
Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.
(speaking)
Now looky here.
I did not say I was a millionare.
But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
And women? Well, great googly moogly.
(sings)
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in
Please write my mama
Tell her the shape I'm in
Tell her pray for me
Forgive me for my sins
The lyrics to Jimmy Witherspoon's song 'Goin' Down Slow' are full of depth and meaning. In the beginning of the song, Witherspoon speaks about how he has enjoyed things that kings and queens may never have or even know about. He has lived a life full of pleasures and good times, but he's aware that his health is slowly deteriorating. The repetition of "I have had my fun, if I never get well no more" signifies that despite the impending doom of ill health, he is content with the life he has led thus far.
Witherspoon makes a statement about his wealth, or rather, what could have been if he had saved all the money he had spent. He acknowledges that he may not be a millionaire, but he has surely spent more than one could ever imagine. He then whispers 'women', perhaps suggesting that he has enjoyed the company of many women throughout his life. The song ends with him requesting someone to write to his mother and share the sorry state of his health, and ask for forgiveness for his sins.
The song's lyrics deal with the inevitability of death and the acceptance of one's fate. It reminds us that life is not just about accumulating wealth, but also about the experiences and memories that we make along the way, even if it means that our health suffers in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, you know I've enjoyed things that kings and queens will never have
I have experienced things that not even the wealthiest royal figures can have, which means that they cannot even imagine the level of happiness and pleasure I have attained.
In fact, things kings and queens can't never get.
The things I have experienced are beyond the reach of even the wealthiest persons, as they cannot buy one's contentment and joy.
And they don't even know about it.
The rich and royal folks are unaware of the things and happiness I have experienced.
I have had my fun
I have enjoyed life to the fullest.
if I never get well no more
Even if I do not recover from my current health issues.
Whoa, my health is fadin'
I am suffering from poor health that is deteriorating rapidly.
Oh yeah, I'm goin' down slow.
I am slowly approaching my end.
Now looky here.
Listen carefully to what I am about to say.
I did not say I was a millionare.
I never asserted that I am a millionaire.
But I said I have spent more money than a millionare.
I meant that I have spent such a significant amount of money that can only be compared to what a millionaire would probably own.
Cause if I had kept all of the money I had already spent,
If I had kept every penny that I had spent up till now,
I'd woulda been a millionare a long time ago.
Then by now, I would have become a millionaire.
And women? Well, great googly moogly.
Oh, and the women I have been with! The unimaginable joy, ecstasy, and pleasure I experienced with them are beyond words.
Please write my mama
Kindly write to my mother
Tell her the shape I'm in
Inform her of my present state
Tell her pray for me
Request her to pray for my well-being.
Forgive me for my sins
Apologize to her on my behalf for any sins that I have possibly committed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Murp h
Great great blues singer --- this music will never die --- bless your soul Spoon
Cat Beauregard
WOW, I just say wow, every time I listen to the "spoon" lucky enough to see him a while back in NYC at a small club... SO grateful for that night.... Amazing musician... amazing music...
Insert Witty Meme Here
I wish I'd been there with you...
murp h
Cat Beauregard yes I agree great cat great music
Anna Maria Elias
Beautiful 🎶🎶❤️❤️
Elisabeth Axelsson
Woww ,this is great love it, Spoon and Eric Burdon did a good version of this song togheter in 1975 IF i remember right. Love Spoons voice he was great blues singer, and Eric Burdon is my favorit singer from the 60s and forward
Lana Rose
Stunning...
grosper
Great!
Mike Floyd
sounds like Luther Tucker on guitar...what a voice.
maazvdo
Super ! Thanks for posting, screwmaster404 .