Ziegler's recordings appear on the follow… Read Full Bio ↴John Lee Ziegler 1929-2008
Ziegler's recordings appear on the following collections: Georgia Blues Today (issued by Flyright in 1981 and reissued by Fat Possum), John Lee Ziegler: The George Mitchell Collection Vol. 6 (the same tracks appear on The George Mitchell Collection 7-CD box set) plus Expressin' The Blues, Blues Sweet Blues, Georgia Blues Today and Cames So Far all on the Music Maker label.
Part of John Lee Ziegler's unorthodox style comes from the fact that he was a left-handed guitarist who played a right-handed guitar upside-down, with the bass strings at the bottom. Born in 1929 in Houston County, Ziegler started playing guitar at age 15 as a fluke: when his parents couldn't find him the bicycle he requested as a gift, they returned from Macon with a guitar instead. It didn't take Ziegler long to get good enough to play local clubs and house parties; he even spent some time in New York playing with a band. He also told Mitchell he'd spent some time with John Lee Hooker in Hawkinsville, Georgia. When Mitchell came across him in the late 1970s, Ziegler was still residing in Houston County, working as a plumber and playing at his house for any neighbors interested in stopping by to hear. He had one of the most diverse repertories of any Chattahoochee performer Mitchell encountered, playing John Lee Hooker songs, Sam Cooke's pop hits, and traditional Chattahoochee songs like "If I Lose Let Me Lose" all in his distinctive style. Ziegler could sing some gospel, but while a lot of the musicians Mitchell recorded had given up blues for the church, Ziegler was content in his choice to stick with secular music.
George Mitchell: John Lee had a spoons player named Rufus and people would gather out in the front yard and listen to them play as we'd be recording. And kids would be dancin' all over the yard. We recorded a version of John Lee doing "John Henry" where he shouts in the middle, "Look at that little kid dancin', there!" It was some scene. John Lee wanted his own record, which was fine by me, but I told him, "John Lee you got to come up with some more songs of your own. You can't just come record all this Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker shit." And be did eventually come up with a bunch of new songs. He was a nice, gentle guy, but he was hard to deal with – he thought I was ripping him off, and wanted to get lawyers involved and all this shit – and the record never happened. But he was something else.
Poor Boy
John Lee Ziegler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm worried, I'm worried from my home
How long since that evening train been gone?
Take a rider, you sure can't keep her long
The lyrics of "Poor Boy" by John Lee Ziegler portray a sense of displacement and restlessness in the singer. The song starts with the lyrics, "Poor boy, I ain't got nowhere to go" which suggests a feeling of being lost and directionless. The singer is worried about being away from home or not having a permanent place to stay. The line "I'm worried, I'm worried from my home" emphasizes the singer's anxiety about missing out on something important back home.
The second verse of the song, "How long since that evening train been gone?" further emphasizes the singer's need to find a way out of his current situation. The evening train symbolizes a way out of his current predicament and the fact that it's been gone for too long only adds to his sense of despair. Lastly, the line "Take a rider, you sure can't keep her long" suggests that the singer has had romantic relationships but due to his restless nature, they have never lasted.
Overall, John Lee Ziegler's "Poor Boy" is a song about displacement, restlessness, and fleeting relationships. It evokes a sense of longing for something better, whether it be a home to return to or a stable relationship, which the singer seems to be lacking.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor boy, I ain't got nowhere to go
I am a poor person with no specific destination in mind.
I'm worried, I'm worried from my home
I am feeling anxious and uneasy about my situation at home.
How long since that evening train been gone?
I am curious about the duration since the evening train departed.
Take a rider, you sure can't keep her long
It is difficult to maintain a romantic relationship with someone who is always on the move.
Contributed by Aubrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Broadcasts From Poor Farm
One of my favorite recordings. The kids in the background, the unhurried guitar playing, the foot stomps, the perfect tone. It's like a photograph you can listen to.
Omega –
So soothing ✊🏾
One string bluesman
This is the way music should have stayed shame on corporate America radio🎙️📻 stations
jussi silliman
good lordy
Nash Williams
Joe bonamassa sounds like this
Nash Williams
Grey Area and your frontal lobe can’t process something called a joke. Well done.