He was born John Ned Shines in Frayser, Tennessee. He spent most of his childhood in Memphis playing slide guitar at an early age in local “jukes” and for tips on the streets. His first musical influences were Blind Lemon Jefferson and Howlin’ Wolf, but he was taught to play the guitar by his mother. Shines moved to Hughes, Arkansas in 1932 and worked on farms for three years putting his musical career on hold. But it was a chance meeting with Robert Johnson, his greatest influence, that gave him the inspiration to return to music. In 1935, Johnny Shines began traveling with Robert Johnson, touring the south and heading as far north as Ontario. There, they both appeared on a local radio program. The two went their separate ways in 1937, one year before Johnson’s death.
Johnny Shines played throughout the U.S. South until 1941 when he decided to head back to Canada and then to Africa. He never made it past Chicago. In Chicago, Shines found work in the construction trade and continued to play in local bars.
He made his first recording in 1946 for Columbia Records, but the takes were never released. He later recorded for Chess and was once again denied. He kept playing with local blues musicians in the Chicago area for several more years. In 1952, Johnny Shines recorded what is considered his best work for the J.O.B. Records label. The recordings were a commercial flop and Shines frustrated with the music industry, sold his equipment and returned to construction.
In 1966, Vanguard records found Shines taking photographs in a Chicago blues club. He recorded with the label takes for the 3rd installment of Chicago/The Blues/Today!. The album has since then become a blues classic and it brought Johnny Shines into to mainstream music scene.
Shines toured with the Chicago All Stars alongside Lee Jackson, Big Walter Horton and Willie Dixon. In the late sixties and seventies, Johnny Shines toured with Robert Johnson’s step-son, Robert Junior Lockwood as the last remaining original delta blues musicians. In 1980, Shines’ music was brought to a standstill when he suffered a stroke. He would later appear in the documentary “Searching for Robert Johnson” and manage to release one last album, Back To The Country. Johnny Shines Died on April 20, 1992 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
In 1989, Johnny Shines met a Minnesota born young blues player named Kent Duchaine, and the two of them toured for the next several years until Shines' death.
Travelling Back Home
Johnny Shines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feelin' 'round for my shoes
Oh Hmm
I feelin' 'round for my shoes
Well the reason why I feelin'
I've got them ole ramblin' blues
Well I feel like walkin'
Woo Mmm
I ain't got no walkin' shoes
Well I still feel like, baby, I got to
Walk away my blues
Well leavin' early in the mornin'
If I have to ride the blinds
Woo Mmm
If I have to ride the blinds
Well you see I've been mistreated
And I swear I don't mind dyin'
"Go ahead, Pop"
Well so soon this mornin', baby
My blues, it came fallin' down
Ooh Mmm
My blues came fallin' down
Well I guess I'd better pack up, baby
This old burnin' town
The lyrics to Johnny Shines's "Travelling Back Home" depict the feeling of being lost and aimless, where the singer of the song wakes up early in the morning feeling around for his shoes. He feels like walking around but doesn't have proper walking shoes which symbolize the lack of direction in his life. The reason why he feels like walking is because he has got the old rambling blues, which represent a feeling of restlessness and desire to leave things behind. He is willing to leave early in the morning, even if he has to ride the blinds, which refers to the practice of hopping on a train without paying for a ticket. The singer's desire to leave is driven by the fact that he has been mistreated and feels like it is time to move on. He swears that he doesn't mind dying because he has lived a life full of pain and has nothing to lose.
In the second verse, the singer sings that his blues came falling down, which could be interpreted as a sense of defeat after being mistreated and disrespected for a long time. As a result, he feels like packing up and leaving town, which suggests that the singer has decided to start fresh and move on, even though it might be hard.
"Travelling Back Home" is a blues song, and it conveys the raw emotion of the genre. It is a relatable song that talks about feeling lost, unsure about your life choices, and wanting to move on. Johnny Shines has put his heart and soul into the lyrics, and his powerful voice adds to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I woke up early this mornin'
Johnny Shines woke up early in the morning, which sets the scene for the rest of the song.
Feelin' 'round for my shoes
Johnny Shines starts getting ready for the day by feeling around for his shoes.
Oh Hmm
This line is more of a filler and doesn't add any new information.
I feelin' 'round for my shoes
Johnny Shines is still searching for his shoes.
Well the reason why I feelin'
Johnny Shines explains why he's looking for his shoes.
I've got them ole ramblin' blues
Johnny Shines is feeling restless and wants to travel.
Well I feel like walkin'
Johnny Shines feels like walking to escape his blues.
I ain't got no walkin' shoes
Johnny Shines doesn't have proper shoes for walking.
Woo Mmm
This line is more of a filler and doesn't add any new information.
Well I still feel like, baby, I got to
Despite not having walking shoes, Johnny Shines still feels the need to travel.
Walk away my blues
Johnny Shines believes that traveling will help him overcome his blues.
Well leavin' early in the mornin'
Johnny Shines plans to leave early in the morning.
If I have to ride the blinds
Johnny Shines is willing to ride a train in any way possible to travel.
Woo Mmm
This line is more of a filler and doesn't add any new information.
If you see me leavin' baby
Johnny Shines is telling someone that he's leaving town.
And I'm moving on down the line
Johnny Shines is not just leaving town, but traveling far away.
Well you see I've been mistreated
Johnny Shines was mistreated in the town he's leaving.
And I swear I don't mind dyin'
Johnny Shines is so unhappy that he doesn't fear death.
"Go ahead, Pop"
This line is more of a filler and doesn't add any new information.
Well so soon this mornin', baby
Johnny Shines is leaving very early in the morning.
My blues, it came fallin' down
Johnny Shines feels relieved after making the decision to leave and his blues disappear.
Ooh Mmm
This line is more of a filler and doesn't add any new information.
Well I guess I'd better pack up, baby
Johnny Shines decides to pack up and leave town.
This old burnin' town
Johnny Shines views the town he's leaving as unpleasant and oppressive.
Writer(s): Johnny Shines
Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.