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.
Please Don't Stop Him
Memphis Minnie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I think he's got it all
And please don't stop him
He's all right with me
He's just a long tall daddy
Got something that I really need
Now look here, boy
I want to talk to you
I've got little work
I want you to help me to do
Oh, don't stop him
Let him come home with me
He's just a long tall daddy
Got something that I really need
Now look here, girls
Don't keep him so long
You'll know what he's been missing
Since he's been gone
Please don't stop him
He's all right with me
He's just a long tall daddy
Got something that I really need
Yes, play it now
Ain't anyone home
This time of night in the rain
When you go with me
And ricocheted that thing
And please don't stop him
He's all right with me
He's just a long tall daddy
Got something that I really need
Now don't you feel good
That you have done got it
You don't have to be worried
With no other miss
Ah, don't stop him
Let him come home with me
He's just a long tall daddy
Got something that I really need
The song "Please Don't Stop Him" by Memphis Minnie is a classic blues tune that speaks to the singer's desire for a specific man who she describes as "long and tall." She believes that he possesses everything she needs and implores those around her to not inhibit his presence in her life as they "got something that [she] really need[s]." She goes on to ask the man to help her with some work, as he has attributes and qualities that she finds desirable. The singer is essentially arguing that the man should be allowed to choose her rather than someone else, as they have a special connection.
The lyrics portray a woman who knows what she wants and is not hesitant to go after it. She is confident in her own desires and doesn't want anyone to stand in the way of her receiving what she needs. The repetition of the phrase "please don't stop him" emphasizes the singer's desperation and longing for this man, who she believes is perfect for her.
In addition to the straightforward message of the song, "Please Don't Stop Him" is also notable for its upbeat and catchy rhythm. The song showcases the singer's impressive vocal range, and is a classic example of the Blues genre. It is clear that the song also celebrates the strong, charismatic personality of the singer, who exudes power and confidence throughout the song. Overall, the song serves to express the singer's strong desire to be with a certain man, and her confidence in herself and her ability to secure what she wants.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the man I love is long and tall
The man Memphis Minnie loves is physically tall and has many qualities she finds desirable.
Sometimes I think he's got it all
Minnie believes her man has many desirable qualities and attributes, and is the total package.
And please don't stop him
Minnie requests that no obstacles prevent her man from being with her.
He's all right with me
Minnie is expressing her belief that her man is acceptable and pleasing to her.
He's just a long tall daddy
Minnie describes her man as being an attractive, tall and mature individual.
Got something that I really need
Minnie feels that her man has something to offer her that is important and beneficial.
Now look here, boy
Minnie directs her words to the man she is interested in.
I want to talk to you
Minnie desires to have a conversation with the man she is interested in.
I've got little work
Minnie has some small tasks that she would like the man to help her with.
I want you to help me to do
Minnie is asking the man to assist her with some small tasks.
Oh, don't stop him
Minnie reiterates her earlier statement that she does not want anything to prevent her man from being with her.
Let him come home with me
Minnie invites the man to come back with her to her home.
Now look here, girls
Minnie addresses a group of girls in her surroundings.
Don't keep him so long
Minnie advises the girls not to spend too much time with her man.
You'll know what he's been missing
Minnie implies that the girls may not have the same qualities that she can offer to her man.
Since he's been gone
Minnie is referring to a time when her man was not with her.
Yes, play it now
Minnie affirms that the music should continue playing and the good times should continue.
Ain't anyone home
Minnie questions if there is anyone at home.
This time of night in the rain
Minnie is describing the current weather and time of night to set the scene.
When you go with me
Minnie invites the man to leave with her and accompany her to her home.
And ricocheted that thing
Minnie is using a term used in blues music to describe dancing in a lively and enjoyable manner.
Now don't you feel good
Minnie observes that the man is feeling good after dancing and being with her.
That you have done got it
Minnie suggests that the man has found what he was looking for by being with her.
You don't have to be worried
Minnie reassures the man that he does not have to worry about anything when he is with her.
With no other miss
Minnie wants the man to focus his attention solely on her and not have any other woman in his life.
Ah, don't stop him
Minnie repeats again that she does not want anything to prevent her man from being with her.
Let him come home with me
Minnie repeats her invitation to the man to join her at her home.
He's just a long tall daddy
Minnie repeats her description of the man as being tall and attractive.
Got something that I really need
Minnie repeats that the man has something important to offer her and that she needs him in her life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE MCCOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind