Joe Louis Walker (b. 1949) is a U.S. blues guitarist, singer, and producer.… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Louis Walker (b. 1949) is a U.S. blues guitarist, singer, and producer.

Walker was born on 25th December 1949 in San Francisco, California; his parents were blues fans, and introduced him to the music when he was young. He learnt to play the guitar at the age of fourteen, and left home at sixteen to work as a performer. He soon met Mike Bloomfield, who introduced him to the Bay Area Blues scene. During the 1960s, Walker opened for such artists as Earl Hooker, Freddie King, and Lowell Fulson.

In 1975 he left the blues scene for ten years to sing with a gospel quartet called The Spiritual Corinthians. In 1980, he recorded an album with this group called God Will Provide. Walker left the Spiritual Corinthians in 1985, but has maintained a gospel influence in his music.

He returned to San Francisco in 1985, and formed a group called the Bosstalkers. He released four albums on the Hightone Records label before moving to Verve/Gitanes (a division of Polydor/Polygram). Walker released six albums with this label, and won a series of awards in the 1990s.

Walker has released several albums since leaving Verve, including four separate works between 2002 and 2003.

* Official site

Shade Tree Mechanic
Joe Louis Walker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I′m your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows that I'm the one

I can oil and lube you

And not lose a single drop, no no
I can cool you down
When you start to runnin′ hot
I'm your shade tree mechanic
I never leave my shady spot

I can check your battery baby
With my special pressure gage
My work is guaranteed
Guaranteed for thirty days
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I'm your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows I′m the one

(Guitar solo)

I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
Cause I′m your shade tree mechanic
And heaven knows I'm the one

You say your drive shaft may misfire
Your piston rod is running flat
Don′t you worry about a thing
I got the tools for that
I want you to put me under your shade tree
Please get me out of the sun
My work is guaranteed
I've got just what you need
You can call me day or night

I′ll always treat u right
I am the one

Overall Meaning

The song Shade Tree Mechanic by Joe Louis Walker presents the singer as a skilled mechanic who offers to repair a car under a shade tree. The opening lines of the song depict a hot sun, and the singer requests the owner of the car to offer him shelter under a shade tree. He identifies himself as a competent "shade tree mechanic," expressing confidence in his abilities to fix the car. He assures the owner of his skills by stating that he can oil and lube the car and cool it down when it starts to overheat. The singer also states that he never leaves his shady spot, insinuating that he can fix the car under any environment.

The second stanza of the song further expounds on the singer's knowledge of a car. He claims to have a special pressure gauge to check the battery, and his work is guaranteed for thirty days. The guitar solo presents a break in the song, allowing the listener to appreciate the music. The third verse of the song assures the owner of the car that the singer can fix the drive shaft and piston rod, promising that the tools he has are sufficient to do the job. The song's chorus reinforces the importance of the shade tree mechanic and declares him as the go-to person for car repairs.

Line by Line Meaning

I want you to put me under your shade tree
I'm seeking your shelter and assistance

Please get me out of the sun
I need to be shielded from the scorching heat

Cause I′m your shade tree mechanic
I'm an expert in fixing cars under shade trees

And heaven knows that I'm the one
I have the ability and knowledge to fix your car's problems

I can oil and lube you
I can lubricate and maintain your vehicle's engine

And not lose a single drop, no no
I'm skilled in performing the task neatly without any wastage

I can cool you down
I can fix your car's overheating issues

When you start to runnin' hot
When your car engine starts overheating

I never leave my shady spot
I always work under the shade tree to fix your car

I can check your battery baby
I can inspect your car battery

With my special pressure gauge
Using my specialized tool to measure the battery's pressure