John Mayall is often referred to as the "Father of the British blues." His well-known band is still called John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. They started out in the late 1950s in England, using Chicago style blues as a starting basis for their sound, which has evolved from album to album. And while at one point John Mayall was playing a fairly jazzy sound, he has always come back to the blues.
One of the interesting features of the Bluesbreakers is that members have changed on a very regular basis, and many have gone on to well deserved fame and fortune with other bands and as solo acts. Past members include: Eric Clapton, and Jack Bruce, (also of Cream), Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor, (who went on to a five -year stint with the Stones.) The studio album recorded with Clapton, entitled John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, was recorded in 1966, and is widely considered to be one of the great classic blues albums on either side of the stormy Atlantic. Cream came round right after.
John Mayall stands out for several reasons - his standing up for the blues, while experimenting with different approaches, his ability to attract the best of musicians; and perhaps most notably his willingness to work with musicians who far outshine him in sheer ability. And he himself sounds very good!
From:Wikipedia
Parchman Farm
John Mayall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
Ain't never done no man no harm.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack,
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
Ain't never done no man no harm.
The first stanza of John Mayall's song "Parchman Farm" portrays the singer as a prisoner who is sitting on a farm in Parchman. Parchman is a correctional facility in Mississippi that became infamous for its harsh treatment of inmates. The repetition of the phrase "I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm" creates a sense of confinement and hopelessness for the singer. However, the following line, "Ain't never done no man no harm," suggests that the singer does not deserve the punishment he is receiving. This line hints at the cruel and unjust nature of the prison system that locks away even those who have not committed any serious crime.
The second stanza reinforces the singer's imprisonment with the imagery of putting cotton in a never-full sack. This line could be interpreted as a metaphor for the endless labor that the prisoners had to endure. The twelve-gauge shotgun at the singer's back symbolizes the constant threat of violence that the prisoners faced. The repetition of the first and last line of each stanza highlights the monotony of life on the farm and the lack of hope for the prisoners.
Overall, the song "Parchman Farm" is a powerful critique of the justice system and its mistreatment of prisoners. The unrelenting repetition of the phrase "I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm" conveys the feelings of confinement and despair that the prisoners experienced. The song suggests that the prison system is unjust and unfairly punishes people who may not have done anything wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I am imprisoned in Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm.
I am still trapped in the Parchman farm.
I'm sitting over here on Parchman farm,
My current location is the Parchman farm.
Ain't never done no man no harm.
I am not guilty of harming anyone.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
I am laboring in the fields by collecting cotton and storing it in an infinite bag.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack.
My daily activity is to collect cotton and put it in a bottomless bag.
Well, I'm putting that cotton in a never-full sack,
I am collecting cotton and storing it constantly in the field.
A twelve-gauge shotgun at my back.
I am supervised while I work, as an armed guard watches me from behind with a twelve-gauge shotgun.
Ain't never done no man no harm.
I reiterate that I have never caused any harm to anyone.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MOSE ALLISON
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