Life and careerJunior Wells was born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas, though other sources report that his birth was in West Memphis. Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, Wells learned how to play the harmonica by the age of seven with surprising skill. He moved to Chicago in 1948 with his mother after her divorce and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and taverns. Wild and rebellious but needing an outlet for his talents, he began performing with The Aces (guitarist brothers Dave and Louis Myers and drummer Fred Below) and developed a more modern amplified harmonica style influenced by Little Walter. In 1952, he made his first recordings, when he replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters' band and appeared on one of Waters' sessions for Chess Records in 1952. His first recordings as a band leader were made in the following year for States Records. In the later 1950s and early 1960s he also recorded singles for Chief Records and its Profile Records subsidiary, including "Messin' with the Kid", "Come on in This House", and "It Hurts Me Too", which would remain in his repertoire throughout his career. His 1960 Profile single "Little by Little" (written by Chief owner and producer Mel London) reached #23 in the Billboard R&B chart, making it the first of two Wells' singles to enter the chart.
Junior Wells worked with guitarist Buddy Guy in the 1960s, and featured Guy on guitar when he recorded his first album, Hoodoo Man Blues for Delmark Records. Wells and Guy supported the Rolling Stones on numerous occasions in the 1970s.[6] Although his albums South Side Blues Jam (1971) and On Tap (1975) proved he had not lost his aptitude for Chicago blues, his 1980s and 1990s discs were inconsistent. However, 1996's Come On in This House was an intriguing set of classic blues songs with a rotating cast of slide guitarists, among them Alvin Youngblood Hart, Corey Harris, Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks. Wells made an appearance in the film Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers, which was released in 1998.
Wells continued performing until he was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1997. That fall, he suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment, sending him into a coma. Wells died in Chicago, after succumbing to lymphoma on January 15, 1998, and was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.
Early in the Morning
Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band Lyrics
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I had a little date with my baby last night
I said, early in the morning (early in the morning)
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
I went to her house and she don't live there no more
I said, early in the morning (early in the morning)
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
I went to a girlfriend's house and she was out
I knocked on her father's door and he began to shout
I said early in the morning (early in the morning)
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
(yeah)
(early in the morning)
(early in the morning)
(early in the morning)
(yeah)
(blues)
I went to Bob Evans to get me something to eat (yeah)
The waitress looked at me said, "Buddy, you sure look beat" (yeah)
I said early in the morning (early in the morning)
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
I had a lot of money when I started out (yeah)
I can't find my baby, you know my money run out (yeah)
I said early in the morning (early in the morning)
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
Early in the morning (yeah)
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
The lyrics to Junior Wells's song "Early In The Morning" depicts the story of a man who had a date with his beloved the night before and finds himself alone and downhearted early in the morning, with nothing but the blues. The song's somber and melancholic tone conveys the sense of sadness and helplessness felt by the singer who, in spite of his best efforts, can't seem to forget his lover, who appears to have moved on from their relationship.
The lyrics paint a picture of the man's attempts to find his significant other by visiting the familiar places they frequented together, such as her house and their girlfriend's place. However, these attempts are met with disappointment and frustration as he finds no trace of his love. He even tries to find comfort in food at a Bob Evans restaurant, but even the waitress there can sense his despair. The singer is left alone to face his reality, with nothing to lift him from the blues that have engulfed him.
Overall, Junior Wells's "Early In The Morning" is a poignant and emotional depiction of heartbreak and loss. The lyrics demonstrate the pain that comes from not being able to find someone you love, and the resulting feeling of emptiness that fills the void where that person used to be. The song's message is one that many people can relate to, as it taps into the universal experiences of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning I can't get right
When I wake up in the morning I feel lost and out of sorts.
I had a little date with my baby last night
I went on a date with my lover last night.
I know it's early in the morning (early in the morning)
I am aware that it is early in the morning.
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
I am feeling sad and depressed about my current situation.
I went to the places where we used to go
I visited the locations where we used to spend time together.
I went to her house and she don't live there no more
I went to her house but she no longer resides there.
I went to a girlfriend's house and she was out
I went to the house of a female friend, but she was not there.
I knocked on her father's door and he began to shout
I tried to contact her by knocking on her father's door, but he got angry and shouted at me.
I went to Bob Evans to get me something to eat
I went to a restaurant called Bob Evans to get some food.
The waitress looked at me said, 'Buddy, you sure look beat'
The waitress saw me and commented that I looked tired and worn out.
I had a lot of money when I started out (yeah)
I had a significant amount of money when I began this journey.
I can't find my baby, you know my money run out (yeah)
I cannot find my lover, and my funds have been depleted.
And I ain't got nothin' but the blues (blues)
I am feeling sad and depressed about my current situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE SEAGO, MIKE LEANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind