Luke Jordan (January 28, 1892 – June 25, 1952) was an American blues guitar… Read Full Bio ↴Luke Jordan (January 28, 1892 – June 25, 1952) was an American blues guitarist and vocalist of some renown in his local area of Lynchburg, Virginia.
Born in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States, his professional career started at age 35, when he was noticed by Victor Records, and went to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1927 to record several records. These records sold moderately well, and Victor decided to take Jordan to New York in 1929, for two more sessions. He recorded very few known tracks in his career, but a few remain intact.
He died in Lynchburg in June 1952. His song, "Church Bells Blues" was later recorded by Ralph Willis.

Recorded August 16, 1927, Charlotte, North Carolina:

39819-1. "Church Bells Blues." Victor unissued
39819-2. "Church Bells Blues." Vi 21076
39820-1. "Pick Poor Robin Clean." Victor unissued
39820-2. "Pick Poor Robin Clean." Vi 20957
39821-2. "Cocaine Blues." Vi 21076
39822-1. "Traveling Coon." Vi 20957

Recorded November 18, 1929, New York City:

57703-1. "My Gal's Done Quit Me." Vi V38564
57704-3. "Won't You Be Kind?" Vi V38564
[edit]Recorded November 19, 1929, New York City
57705- . "If I Call You Mama." Vi 23400
57706-2. "Look Up, Look Down." Victor unissued
57707- . "Tom Brown Sits in His Prison Cell." Vi 23400
57708-2. "That's A Plenty." Victor unissued

Pick Poor Robin Clean
Luke Jordan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You better pick poor robin clean, pick poor robin clean
I picked his head, I picked his feet, I picked his body but it wasn't fit to eat
You better pick poor robin clean, poor robin clean
So I'll be satisfied, havin' your family

Get off my money and don't get funny
'Cause I'm a nigger, don't cut no figure
Gamblin' for Sadie, she is my lady

I'm a hustling coon, that's just what I am

You better pick poor robin clean, poor robin clean
I picked his head, I picked his feet, would-a picked his body but it wasn't fit to eat
You better pick poor robin clean, pick poor robin clean
Says, I'll be satisfied, havin' your family

Oh, didn't that jaybird laugh when he picked poor robin clean?
Picked poor robin clean, poor robin clean
Oh, didn't that jaybird laugh when he picked poor robin clean?
Says I'll be satisfied, havin' the family

You better pick poor robin clean, poor robin clean
I picked his head, I picked his feet, would-a picked his body but it wasn't fit to eat
You better pick poor robin clean, pick poor robin clean
Says, I'll be satisfied, havin' your family

Now if you have that gal o' mine, I'm gonna have your ma
Your sister, too, your auntie, three
If your great-grandmammy do the shivaree I'm gonna have her, four
I be satisfied, havin' the family

You better pick poor robin clean, pick poor robin clean
I picked his head, I picked his feet, I would-a picked his body but it wasn't fit to eat

You better pick poor robin clean, poor robin clean
Says, I'll be satisfied, havin' your family

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Luke Jordan's song "Pick Poor Robin Clean" tell a story of a hustler who is willing to do anything to survive, even if it means stealing from others. The title refers to a bird, robin, which the singer has already picked clean, indicating that he has nothing left to eat but desires to have a satisfying meal. The first verse establishes this theme, with the singer encouraging someone to pick poor Robin clean, even though it wasn't entirely edible, just to satisfy his hunger. The chorus reiterates this desire, with the singer saying he will be satisfied by having his family.

The following verses include the singer's speech asserting his identity as a black man, who is also a gambler and has a girlfriend named Sadie. The line "don't get funny, 'cause I'm a nigger, don't cut no figure" suggests that the singer is aware of the prejudice against him but doesn't let it slow him down. The final verse shows how far the singer would go to get what he wants. If he can't have his girl back, he threatens to take the family of the one who took her away from him.

The song's lyrics convey a sense of desperation and survival that may have been common during the Great Depression era. Jordan's simple and direct lyrics, along with the upbeat melody, create a sense of urgency that emphasizes the character's desperation.

Line by Line Meaning

You better pick poor robin clean, pick poor robin clean
You need to take everything from Poor Robin that you can get

I picked his head, I picked his feet, I picked his body but it wasn't fit to eat
I took everything I could from Poor Robin, but he was in such poor shape that I couldn't even eat his flesh

So I'll be satisfied, havin' your family
Since I can't get anything from Poor Robin, I will take what I can get from your family instead

Get off my money and don't get funny
Don't try to trick me out of my money or play games with me

'Cause I'm a nigger, don't cut no figure
My race doesn't make me any less of a person, so don't treat me like it does

Gamblin' for Sadie, she is my lady
I'm gambling to try and win some money for my girlfriend Sadie

I'm a hustling coon, that's just what I am
I am a hustler and I do what I need to do to survive

Oh, didn't that jaybird laugh when he picked poor robin clean?
The jaybird found humor in taking what little was left of Poor Robin's remains

Now if you have that gal o' mine, I'm gonna have your ma / Your sister, too, your auntie, three / If your great-grandmammy do the shivaree I'm gonna have her, four / I be satisfied, havin' the family
If you have my girlfriend, I will take members of your family as revenge. I will keep taking until I feel satisfied.

You better pick poor robin clean, poor robin clean
I am emphasizing the importance of taking everything you can get from Poor Robin

Says, I'll be satisfied, havin' your family
I will not stop until I have taken what I need from your family to compensate for what I couldn't get from Poor Robin.

Contributed by Gabriella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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