See Willie Dixon's and Memphis Slim's individual descriptions for more info.
Album: Willie's Blues AllMusic Review by Stephen Cook
According to the original liner notes, this 1959 Willie Dixon session was cut during a two hour span in between flights. This certainly explains the relaxed, jam session feel of the recordings. Unfortunately, the songs come out sounding sluggish and stilted at times; this is partly due, no doubt, to the makeshift nature of the date, but also, more surprisingly, because of drummer Gus Johnson's overly slick and formalized playing. On top of this, one has to contend with Dixon's less-then-inspired vocals -- it's Dixon's writing talents and A&R savvy in the blues world that warrant him a place in the pantheon, not his skills at the microphone. That all said, this still is an enjoyable disc to listen to, not least of all because of the quality of Dixon's many originals and the freshness of pianist Memphis Slim's playing. And while the vaudevillian comedy of a song like "Built for Comfort" can be traced to Dixon's earlier pop R&B work with the Big Three Trio, rougher blues standouts like "Go Easy" and "Move Me" lead back to the Chicago blues world Dixon shared with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Not a first disc for curious listeners, but certainly a pleasant enough addition to the blues lover's collection.
Album: Baby Please Come Home! Live in Paris AllMusic Review by Richie Unterberger
Recorded live in Paris, this has the two blues legends accompanying each other (Slim on piano, Dixon on bass) and trading lead vocals, backed by drummer Phillipe Combelle. It's not a landmark event in either of the legends' distinguished recording careers, but it's a nice enough outing with a friendly, low-key tone. Slim recorded a lot of LPs in the early '60s, often as a solo pianist/vocalist, and this is frankly more lively than his norm for the era, if for nothing else than the fact that he's playing in a band. The Dixon-sung tracks are interesting inasmuch as he didn't record much during this period, though he's really adequate at best as a singer. When Slim sings, he sticks mostly to self-penned material; the Dixon-fronted cuts may stir some curiosity among blues fans due to the inclusion of some of Willie's more obscure compositions, like the novelty-tinged "African Hunch with a Boogie Beat."
All By Myself
Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I get back I'll have diamonds and pearls
All by myself, all by myself
I don't need nobody help me, I can do it all by myself
Now they locked up in jail that's no hanging crime
Now I'm on the farm, I'm doing time
All by myself, all by myself
I got a wife, I got fourteen kids
I ain't ashamed, don't try to keep it hid
All by myself, all by myself
I don't nobody to help me, I can do it all by myself
I got a house full of women, they all full of pep
I can take care of them I don't need no help
All by myself, all by myself
I don't need nobody help me now, I can do it all by myself
Of course I'd sue, told old pop-eyed Jim
Call Uncle Sam, so's I can take care of them
All by myself, All by myself
If I don't need nobody help me, I can do it all by myself
Now the Jack and the mule runnin' neck and neck
The Jack told the mule, "I got you son, what you bet?"
All by myself, all by myself
I don't need nobody else I can do it all by myself
The song "All by Myself" is a confident and self-asserting blues-style song recorded by Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon. The song is about independence, self-sufficiency and the ability to take care of oneself without anyone else. From the beginning of the song, the singer declares that they are out to succeed and will not accept any help from anyone to do so. They are confident in their abilities and have no qualms about declaring it loudly, whether they are going around the world to make a fortune or taking care of their household.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about their experiences and the situations they find themselves in, but they remain firm in their stance. They sing about being in jail and on the farm doing time, but that it does not matter since they can do it all by themselves. They also mention having a wife and fourteen children, but they are not ashamed of it and can take care of them on their own. They speak about having a house full of women and how they can handle them without any assistance. The singer believes that there is nothing they cannot accomplish alone, and they are not shy about expressing it.
The song "All by Myself" has been interpreted in various ways. Some have interpreted the song to mean that the singer is in jail, and the song is a message to their partner or family that they can survive without them. Others have interpreted it as an anthem of individualism and hard work, where the singer wants to inspire listeners to rely on their abilities to succeed. Overall, the song is a celebration of self-sufficiency and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on my way around the world
I am traveling around the world.
When I get back I'll have diamonds and pearls
I will have valuable items when I return.
All by myself, all by myself
I am alone and can do everything independently.
I don't need nobody help me, I can do it all by myself
I do not require anyone's assistance.
Now they locked up in jail that's no hanging crime
Being in prison is not punishable by hanging.
Now I'm on the farm, I'm doing time
I am on a farm and serving a prison sentence.
I got a wife, I got fourteen kids
I am married and have fourteen children.
I ain't ashamed, don't try to keep it hid
I am not ashamed of my large family.
I don't nobody to help me, I can do it all by myself
I need nobody's help to manage my family affairs.
I got a house full of women, they all full of pep
There are lively women in my household.
I can take care of them I don't need no help
I can take care of the women without assistance.
Of course I'd sue, told old pop-eyed Jim
I would sue, as I told Jim.
Call Uncle Sam, so's I can take care of them
I will call the government to help me manage my family situation.
If I don't need nobody help me, I can do it all by myself
I am self-sufficient and do not need any help.
Now the Jack and the mule runnin' neck and neck
A Jack and a mule are running closely and competitively.
The Jack told the mule, "I got you son, what you bet?"
The Jack is confident that he will win and is challenging the mule.
I don't need nobody else I can do it all by myself
I am self-reliant and require no assistance from anyone else.
Contributed by Adam S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.