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
Tom Brown Sits In His Prison Cell
Luke Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To pay his little fine, to raise it he had tried
Was out with a minstrel troupe, were caught up in a fight
He telegrammed his baby for some coin on Saturday night
On Sunday, on Monday, poor Tom, he had the blues
To double his trouble, if his baby would refuse
But the next day, just at noon-time
I've got more money now than I really know how to use
I've just received a telegram from baby
Answer to the one she got from me
I found she was a most obliging lady
Just as I'd expected her to be
I knew my baby would not disappoint me
I never gave her cause to turn me down
She wired me this roll of twenty
Boys, I know that is a-plenty
For to take me back to town
They turned Tom loose, but first he split his bankroll just in half
He roamed around the jail to give the other boys a laugh
He said: It's very wrong, y'all, to get in such a scrape
Unless you have a baby to help make your escape
I've got one, she's not one, a girl that's least bit slow
To save me, she gave me this little roll of dough
So if the train leaves at the right time
I'll be back home at noon-time
Goodbye, my boys, I'm sorry, I really have got to go
I've just received a telegram from baby
Answer to the one she got from me
I found she was a most obliging lady
Just as I'd expected her to be
I knew my baby would not disappoint me
I never gave her cause to turn me down
She wired me this roll of twenty
Boys, I know that is a-plenty
For to take me back to town
The song "Tom Brown Sits In His Prison Cell" highlights the story of Tom Brown who is imprisoned in his cell after he got into a fight while he was out with a minstrel troupe. To pay his fine and get out of jail, Tom tries to raise the money but fails, and telegraphs his girlfriend for help. In the following days, Tom feels worried that his girlfriend may refuse to give him the money, but to his relief, she sends him a telegram to let him know that she has sent the money. Tom finally gets his money, and in a twist of events, he splits it with his fellow inmates and leaves for home.
The lyrics show how Tom Brown and his girlfriend are in a difficult financial situation, and Tom's imprisonment intensifies these troubles. However, the song portrays the romantic relationship between Tom and his girlfriend as supportive, loyal, and reliable, as she obligingly sends him money to rescue him from jail. The last lines illustrate how Tom shared the money with the other prisoners, which may indicate that they too had families to support and were struggling to raise money for their release.
In summary, "Tom Brown Sits In His Prison Cell" is a song that revolves around loyalty, love, and financial struggles. It portrays how even in difficult times, relationships that are built on trust and support can withstand obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Tom Brown sat in his prison cell, could not sit outside
Tom Brown was confined within a prison cell and unable to leave it
To pay his little fine, to raise it he had tried
He attempted to raise the money for his fine, which was small
Was out with a minstrel troupe, were caught up in a fight
While with a group of minstrels, they became involved in a physical altercation
He telegrammed his baby for some coin on Saturday night
He sent a telegram to his significant other, asking for money on a Saturday evening
On Sunday, on Monday, poor Tom, he had the blues
Tom felt despondent on both Sunday and Monday
To double his trouble, if his baby would refuse
He would be in even greater difficulty if his partner declined to provide him with the funds he required
But the next day, just at noon-time
The following day, at approximately midday
Was singing songs in coon-time
He sang songs in a traditional African-American style
I've got more money now than I really know how to use
He was now in possession of a larger amount of money than he knew what to do with
I've just received a telegram from baby
He had received a telegram from his significant other
Answer to the one she got from me
The message he received was in response to one he had sent previously
I found she was a most obliging lady
He discovered that his partner was quite accommodating
Just as I'd expected her to be
This was not surprising to him
I knew my baby would not disappoint me
He had faith that his partner would not let him down
I never gave her cause to turn me down
He had not done anything to warrant his partner refusing to assist him
She wired me this roll of twenty
She had sent him a sum of twenty dollars by wire
Boys, I know that is a-plenty
He believed that this amount of money was more than enough
For to take me back to town
This amount of money would enable him to return home
They turned Tom loose, but first he split his bankroll just in half
Tom was released from prison, but first he divided his money evenly
He roamed around the jail to give the other boys a laugh
He walked about the prison to provide amusement for the other inmates
He said: It's very wrong, y'all, to get in such a scrape
He admonished the others and told them that it was ill-advised to end up in a similar predicament
Unless you have a baby to help make your escape
He suggested that one would require the assistance of a significant other in order to escape incarceration
I've got one, she's not one, a girl that's least bit slow
He had a partner who was not in the least bit sluggish
To save me, she gave me this little roll of dough
To assist him, she had given him a small sum of money
So if the train leaves at the right time
Provided the train departs at the appropriate moment
I'll be back home at noon-time
He would be able to return home by midday
Goodbye, my boys, I'm sorry, I really have got to go
He bid farewell to his fellow inmates, expressing regret that he had to depart
Contributed by Max C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.