Although his recording career was cut short by an early death, Carr left behind a large body of work. He had a long-time partnership with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell. His light bluesy piano combined with Blackwell's melodic jazz guitar to attract a sophisticated black audience. Carr's vocal style moved blues singing toward an urban sophistication, influencing such singers as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Amos Milburn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ray Charles among others.
Count Basie and Jimmy Rushing used some of Carr's songs and Basie's band shows the influence of Carr's piano style.
His music has been covered by notable artists such as Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Big Bill Broonzy, Moon Mullican, Champion Jack Dupree, Lonnie Donegan and Memphis Slim.
Carr died of nephritis shortly after his thirtieth birthday.
Barrelhouse Woman
Leroy Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She barrelhouse all the time
She's low and squatty
But I love that girl of mine
When she gets up in the morning
She starts to drink her corn
Every time I think of that woman
She struts around all day
She barrelhouses the whole night through
But when she loves me
I forget that I ever was blue
I wish that I could cure
Her barrelhousing ways
And is I stay with her
I'll barrelhouse some day myself
Now I love my woman
Swear that she won't act right
Gets her head full of whiskey
And wants to start a fight
The song "Barrelhouse Woman" by Leroy Carr tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman who spends all her time in a "barrelhouse," or a low-class establishment where alcohol is served. Despite this, he is completely enamored with her, even though she's not the most conventionally attractive woman. The man acknowledges that she's "squatty" and "low," but he still loves her anyway. He laments that every time he thinks of her, he wishes he had never been born, which seems to suggest that her barrelhousing ways are causing him some kind of inner turmoil.
The lyrics also describe the woman as being combative and quick to pick a fight, especially when she's had too much to drink. The singer loves her, but acknowledges that she won't act right and has a tendency to get into trouble. Nevertheless, he still wants to be with her even though he knows that he might eventually start to barrelhouse himself if he stays with her.
Overall, "Barrelhouse Woman" is a song about a complicated love between two people who are drawn to each other despite their flaws and bad habits. It's a portrayal of a gritty, rough-around-the-edges kind of love that exists on the fringes of society.
Line by Line Meaning
My woman so lowdown
I'm telling you, my woman, she ain't no good.
She barrelhouse all the time
She's always going to the bar, playing music and getting drunk.
She's low and squatty
She's not very tall, kind of short and a little bit chubby.
But I love that girl of mine
Despite all her flaws, I love her anyway.
When she gets up in the morning
As soon as she wakes up from sleeping.
She starts to drink her corn
She starts drinking her homemade liquor first thing in the morning.
Every time I think of that woman
Whenever I start thinking about my woman.
I wished I had never been born
I regret ever being born, because that means I have to deal with her.
She struts around all day
She walks around all day with a certain attitude or swagger.
She barrelhouses the whole night through
She drinks and plays music all night until morning.
But when she loves me
When she expresses affection towards me.
I forget that I ever was blue
I forget all the sadness and trouble I've ever had in my life.
I wish that I could cure
I wish I could fix or change.
Her barrelhousing ways
Her excessive drinking and partying habits.
And is I stay with her
If I continue to be with her.
I'll barrelhouse some day myself
I'll develop the same drinking and partying habits she has.
Now I love my woman
I really do care for my woman.
Swear that she won't act right
I promise you, she won't behave properly.
Gets her head full of whiskey
She becomes very drunk and irrational.
And wants to start a fight
She becomes aggressive and confrontational.
Contributed by Vivian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.