Born in Waveland, Mississippi, he moved to New Orleans in his youth, and studied clarinet with Lorenzo Tio. He played with the bands of Frankie Duson, Kid Ory, and King Oliver. Dodds went to Chicago, played with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, with which he first recorded in 1923. After break up of Oliver's band in 1924, Dodds replaced Alcide Nunez as the house clarinetist and bandleader of Kelly's Stables. He recorded with numerous small groups in Chicago, most notably Louis Armstrong's Hot 5 and Hot 7, and Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers.
Dodds was noted for his professionalism and virtuosity as a musician, and his heartfelt heavily blues laden style. He was an important influence on later clarinetists, notably Benny Goodman.
Dodds did not record for most of the 1930s, affected by ill health. He died in Chicago in 1940.
Lonesome Blues
Johnny Dodds Lyrics
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Livin' way back o' town
Yeah she treated me right
Never let me down
But I wasn't satisfied
I had to run around
Now she's gone and left me
Oh I've searched this world all over
Wonderin' where she could be
I would ask that she forgive me
And maybe she'll come back to me
But I doubt it
I'm lonesome an blue
And I've learned a thing or two
Oh fellas here's a tip
I'm gonna pass on down to you
Never mistreat your woman
Cause it's gonna bounce right back on you
The lyrics to Johnny Dodds's song Lonesome Blues describe the consequences of not appreciating and mistreating a loved one. The singer had a woman who treated him well, but he was not satisfied and decided to cheat on her. As a result, she left him, and now he is filled with regret and longing for her to come back to him. However, he knows deep down that it is unlikely to happen, and he is left feeling lonely and blue. The song ends with a warning to other men not to make the same mistake, as it will only bring bad karma back to them.
The lyrics of Lonesome Blues are a common theme in blues music, as they touch upon the complexities of love and relationships. The song is a reminder of the importance of treating our loved ones well and the consequences that come with neglecting them. Despite the sadness and regret present in the lyrics, the song is musically upbeat and showcases Johnny Dodds's impressive clarinet skills. His improvisational style and use of blues scales are a testament to his talent as a jazz musician.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a woman
I had an intimate partner
Livin' way back o' town
Her dwelling was located in the less urban area of the town
Yeah she treated me right
She treated me well
Never let me down
She always kept her promise
But I wasn't satisfied
However, I wasn't contented
I had to run around
I was unfaithful
Now she's gone and left me
Now she has departed and left me alone
I'm worried as can be
I'm extremely anxious about my situation
Oh I've searched this world all over
I've searched every corner of the world
Wonderin' where she could be
Wondering about her possible location
I would ask that she forgive me
I would humbly request her to forgive me
And maybe she'll come back to me
If I'm lucky, she might come back to me
But I doubt it
However, I'm not optimistic about it
I'm lonesome an blue
I feel sad and lonely
And I've learned a thing or two
And I've gained some valuable experience
Oh fellas here's a tip
Oh guys, here's an advice
I'm gonna pass on down to you
I'm going to share it with you
Never mistreat your woman
Never abuse your partner
Cause it's gonna bounce right back on you
Because it will have a negative consequence on you in return
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LILLIAN HARDIN ARMSTRONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bob boscarato
Too much good all at once, thanks again for posting.
León Blum
THANKS Mr.''HEINZ BECKER'',FOR POSTING ''JOHNNY DODDS''-LONESOME BLUES