Lizzie Douglas was born on June 3, 1897 in Algiers, Louisiana. She was the eldest from her 13 other siblings. Her parents Abe and Gertrude Douglas nicknamed her the Kid during her early childhood. At the age of 7 she and her family moved to Walls, Mississippi, which was just south of Memphis. The following year after she moved, she received her first guitar for Christmas. She began to practice and learn how to play both the banjo and the guitar and it was seen that she had a great talent as a musician. When she first began performing she did not use her first name Lizzie, but played under the name Kid Douglas. When she was 13 years old she ran away from her home to live on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. She would play on street corners for most of her teenage years and would eventually go home when she ran out of money. She began to get noticed singing and playing guitar on the street corners. This brought an opportunity for her to tour, travel, and play with the Ringling Brothers Circus. Eventually she came back to Beale Street and got consumed in the blues scene. At the time, women, whiskey, and cocaine were high in demand with the people and places she would be around. She made her money by playing guitar, singing, and prostitution, which was not uncommon at the time. Most of the female performers were prostitutes because of financial desperation. It was said “She received $12 for her services-an outrageous fee for the time.” (Memphis Minnie Biography,1). She was known as a woman that was very strong and that could take care of herself.
She had been married three times in her life; first with Will Weldon sometime in the 1920s, then Joe McCoy (1929–1934), and finally to Earnest Lawlars (a.k.a. Little Son Joe), in 1939. She and McCoy would perform together during their marriage. During this time, a talent scout from Columbia Records discovered her. When she and McCoy went to record in New York, she decided to change her name to Memphis Minnie. During the next few years she and McCoy released many singles and duets. She released the song “Bumble Bee” in 1930, which ended up being one of her favorite songs, and led her to a recording contract with the label Vocalion. Under this label, they continued to produce recording for two years, one of them being “I’m Talking About You”, which was one of her more popular songs. They soon decided to leave Vocalion and move to Chicago. She and McCoy introduced country blues to the urban environment and became very well known.
Memphis Minnie continued to have success throughout the years recording under many different labels like Decca Records and Chess Records. Some believe her fame was the reason for her divorce with McCoy due to jealousy and resentment towards her. She remarried after to Earnest Lawlars (a.k.a. Little Son Joe) and began recording material with him. She became very well known in the blues industry and ended up being one of the most famous blues performers of all time, competing with both men and women.
She continued to record throughout the 50’s, but her health began to become a problem for her. She retired from her musical career and ended up going back to Memphis. “Periodically, she would appear on Memphis radio stations to encourage young blues musicians. As the Garons wrote in Women With Guitar, 'She never laid her guitar down, until she could literally no longer pick it up.'” She suffered a stroke in 1960, which caused her to be bound by wheelchair. The following year her husband, Earnest “Little Son Joe” Lawlars died. She had another stroke a short while after and eventually ended up in the Jell Nursing Home. She could no longer survive on her social security income so magazines wrote about her and readers sent her money for assistance. On August 6, 1973 she died of a stroke. She was buried in an unmarked grave at the New Hope Cemetery in Memphis. A headstone paid for by Bonnie Raitt was erected by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund on October 13, 1996 with 35 family members in attendance including her sister, numerous nieces (including Laverne Baker) and nephews. Her headstone is marked:
Lizzie "Kid" Douglas Lawlers
aka Memphis Minnie
The inscription on the back of her gravestone reads:
"The hundreds of sides Minnie recorded are the perfect material to teach us about the blues. For the blues are at once general, and particular, speaking for millions, but in a highly singular, individual voice. Listening to Minnie's songs we hear her fantasies, her dreams, her desires, but we will hear them as if they were our own."
After her death some of her old work began to surface and some of her songs were featured on blues compilations. She was one of the first 20 blues artists that were inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame.
Frisco Town
Memphis Minnie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That old 'Frisco train makes a mile a minute
Well, in that old coach, I'm gonna sit right in it
I'm on my way, to 'Frisco town
You can toot your whistle, you can ring your bell
You can toot your whistle, you can ring your bell
But I know you been wanting it by the way you smell
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
There's a boa constrictor and a lemon stick
There's a boa constrictor and a lemon stick
I don't mind being with you but my mama's sick
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
I would tell you what's the matter, but I done got scared
I would tell you what's the matter, but I done got scared
You got to wait now, until we go to bed
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
If you was sick, I wouldn't worry you
If you was sick, I wouldn't worry you
I wouldn't want you to do something that you couldn't do
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
Well, if you want it, you can get it, and I ain't mad
Well, if you want it, you can get it, and I ain't mad
If you tell me this is something that you ain't never had
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
Look-a here, you get mad everytime I call your name
Look-a here, you get mad everytime I call your name
I ain't never told you that you couldn't get that thing
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
I woke up this morning about half past five
I woke up this morning about half past five
My baby turned over, cried just like a child
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
I got something to tell you, I don't want to make you mad
I got something to tell you, I don't want to make you mad
I got something for you, make you feel glad
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
Look-a here, look-a here, what you want me to do
Look-a here, look-a here, what you want me to do
Give you my jelly, then die for you
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
I got something to tell you, gonna break your heart
I got something to tell you, gonna break your heart
We been together so far, we gotta get apart
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
The song "Frisco Town" by Memphis Minnie is about a journey to San Francisco. The singer is excited to be boarding the "old 'Frisco train" which makes a mile a minute. She's looking forward to sitting in the old coach and embarking on her journey to "Frisco town." The singer can hear the train's whistle and bell, which only adds to her excitement. However, she also notices that her companion has been wanting something by the way they smell. Despite this, the singer is still determined to make it to San Francisco.
Throughout the song, the singer talks about various things she sees and experiences on her journey. She mentions a boa constrictor and a lemon stick, though she's more concerned about her sickly mother. She also hints at a secret she's afraid to share, but suggests that it will have to wait until bedtime. The singer tells her companion that if they were sick, she wouldn't want them to do something they couldn't handle. Despite the occasional argument, the singer is enjoying her journey to San Francisco and has a surprise for her companion that will make them feel glad.
Overall, "Frisco Town" is a playful song about a journey to San Francisco. The singer is full of anticipation and excitement, despite some disagreements along the way. The song highlights the unique experiences and sights one might encounter on a train journey, and the singer's enthusiasm is infectious.
Line by Line Meaning
That old 'Frisco train makes a mile a minute
The train to San Francisco is a fast one.
Well, in that old coach, I'm gonna sit right in it
I want to sit in the train and go to San Francisco.
You can toot your whistle, you can ring your bell
The train conductor can announce the departure in any way he wants.
But I know you been wanting it by the way you smell
I can tell the conductor wants to leave because of the smell of the steam engine.
There's a boa constrictor and a lemon stick
There are strange things on the train.
I don't mind being with you but my mama's sick
I want to go to San Francisco, but I'm worried about my sick mother.
I would tell you what's the matter, but I done got scared
I want to share my concern with someone, but I'm scared to do so.
You got to wait now, until we go to bed
I'll share my worries with my companion on the train when we're in a more intimate setting.
If you was sick, I wouldn't worry you
I wouldn't want to burden a sick person with my worries.
I wouldn't want you to do something that you couldn't do
I wouldn't want to put pressure on a sick person to do something beyond their capacity.
Well, if you want it, you can get it, and I ain't mad
I'm willing to go out of my way to help someone if they want my assistance.
If you tell me this is something that you ain't never had
I'm happy to give someone something new and exciting.
Look-a here, you get mad everytime I call your name
You're getting upset with me for no reason when I call your name.
I ain't never told you that you couldn't get that thing
I never said you couldn't do something you wanted to do.
I woke up this morning about half past five
I woke up early in the morning.
My baby turned over, cried just like a child
My partner is crying like a child in their sleep.
I'm on my way to 'Frisco town
I'm going to San Francisco.
I got something to tell you, I don't want to make you mad
I have something to say that might make you upset, but I don't want to upset you.
I got something for you, make you feel glad
I have something that could make you happy.
Look-a here, look-a here, what you want me to do
What do you need from me?
Give you my jelly, then die for you
I'm willing to do anything for you, even sacrifice my life.
I got something to tell you, gonna break your heart
I have bad news that will hurt you.
We been together so far, we gotta get apart
We have to part ways after being together for a while.
Contributed by Aubrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-lo8el2nj6c
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@sfgiantpoet
lets be real minnie. its in texas.