Allison learned piano in grammar school, followed by trumpet in high school. He went to college at the University of Mississippi and Louisiana State University. He received a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy. After serving in the U.S. Army, he moved to New York City and launched his music career.
Allison's first exposure to blues on record was through Louis Jordan recordings, including "Outskirts of Town" and "Pinetop Blues." Allison credits Jordan as being a major influence on him, and also credits Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller. He started out on trumpet but later switched to piano. In his youth, he had easy access, via the radio, to the music of Pete Johnson , Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis . Allison also credits the songwriter Percy Mayfield , "The Poet Laureate of the Blues," as being a major inspiration on his songwriting.
After a stint in college and the Army, Allison's first professional gig was in Lake Charles, LA, in 1950. He returned to college to finish up at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he studied English and Philosophy, a far cry from his initial path as a chemical engineering major.
Allison began his recording career with the Prestige label in 1956, shortly after he moved to New York City. He recorded an album with Al Cohn and Bobby Brookmeyer , and then in 1957 got his own record contract. A big break was the opportunity to play with Cohn and Zoot Sims shortly after his arrival in New York, but he later became more well known after playing with saxophonist Stan Getz. After leaving Prestige Records, where he recorded now classic albums like Back Country Suite (1957), Young Man Mose (1958), and Seventh Son (1958-59), he moved to Columbia for two years before meeting up with Nesuhi Ertegun of Atlantic Records. He recalled that he signed his contract with Atlantic after about ten minutes in Nesuhi's office. Allison spent a big part of his recording career at Atlantic Records, where he became most friendly with Ertegun. After the company saw substantial growth and Allison was no longer working directly with him, he became discouraged and left. Allison has also recorded for Columbia (before he began his long relationship with Atlantic), and the Epic and Prestige labels.
Allison's discography is a lengthy one, and there are gems to be found on all of his albums, many of which can be found in vinyl shops. His output since 1957 has averaged at least one album a year until 1976, when he finished up at Atlantic with the classic Your Mind Is On Vacation. There was a gap of six years before he recorded again, this time for Elektra's Musician subsidiary in 1982, when he recorded Middle Class White Boy. Since 1987, he's been with Bluenote/Capitol. His debut for that label was Ever Since the World Ended. Allison has recorded some of the most creative material of his career with the Bluenote subsidiary of Capitol Records, including My Backyard (1992) and The Earth Wants You (1994), both produced by Ben Sidran. Also in 1994, Rhino Records released a boxed set, Allison Wonderland.
Although his boogie woogie and bebop-laden piano style is innovative and fresh sounding when it comes to blues and jazz, it is as a songwriter that Allison really shines.
His music has influenced many blues and rock artists including The Rolling Stones, John Mayall, JJ Cale and The Who, who played his song Young Man Blues on several tours. Allison is the subject of the Pixies song Allison and Greg Brown song Mose Allison played here. His song Look Here was covered by The Clash on their album Sandinista; and Blue Cheer famously covered Parchman Farm but renamed or misspelled it as Parchment Farm. Van Morrison released an album of his songs entitled Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison.
He is the father of country songwriter Amy Allison.
Mose Allison was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
The Seventh Son
Mose Allison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the whole wide world there is only one
And I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can tell your future, it will come to pass
Look in the sky, predict the rain
Tell when a woman's got another man
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet
They will even make your little heart skip a beat
Heal the sick, raise the dead
Make the little girls talk outta their heads
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
In Mose Allison's song "Seventh Son," the singer proclaims himself as the only seventh son in the world and the one with special powers. He boasts about his ability to predict the future, influence emotions, and perform miracles such as healing the sick and raising the dead. Even more, he can make little girls swoon with his words. The seventh son, believed to be a mystical figure in folklore and popular culture, is believed to have exceptional abilities and powers beyond the reach of ordinary people. The lyrics of the song hint at a sense of exclusivity and uniqueness that comes with being a seventh son.
The song's opening line, "Everybody talkin' 'bout the seventh son, in the whole wide world there is only one," showcases the singer's confidence in his abilities and his belief that he is set apart from everyone else. The song's melody is upbeat and jazzy, blending blues and rock and roll in a catchy and memorable way. The lyrics employ various literary devices such as alliteration, rhyme, and repetition to create a sense of rhythm and urgency. The song's ultimate message is that the seventh son has special powers that can make people happy, and the singer is proud to be that person.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody talkin' 'bout the seventh son
People all over the world are talking about the seventh son.
In the whole wide world there is only one
There is only one person in the entire world who is the seventh son.
And I'm the one, I'm the one
I am that person, I am the one and only seventh son.
I can tell your future, it will come to pass
I have the ability to predict your future, and what I say will happen.
I can do things to you make your heart feel glad
I possess the power to make you happy and fill your heart with joy.
Look in the sky, predict the rain
I can even predict the weather by looking up at the sky.
Tell when a woman's got another man
I can also tell when a woman is being unfaithful to her partner.
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
Once again, I need to emphasize that I am the one and only seventh son.
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet
I have the ability to speak words that are so charming and sweet they will delight you.
They will even make your little heart skip a beat
My words are so enchanting they will even make your heart skip a beat.
Heal the sick, raise the dead
I am capable of healing the sick and even raising the dead.
Make the little girls talk outta their heads
Young girls will be so overwhelmed by my charm they will become tongue-tied and giddy.
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
In case you didn't believe me before, I am still the one and only seventh son.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SYLVESTER STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pajaro Sin Rama
Everybody talkin' 'bout the seventh son
In the whole wide world there is only one
And I'm the one, I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can tell your future, it will come to pass
I can do things to you make your heart feel glad
Look in the sky, predict the rain
Tell when a woman's got another man
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son
I can talk these words that will sound so sweet
They will even make your little heart skip a beat
I can heal the sick, raise the dead
Make the little girls talk outta their heads
I'm the one, oh I'm the one
I'm the one, I'm the one
The one they call the seventh son.
Jerome Goverman
the best version of this song by far. His phrasing on the way he syncopates the melody adds layers of meaning and depth
justin liberati
yes !
Gerard Ross
I will be grateful to my dying day to my friend Jim Autry for turning me onto the music of Mose Allison. An American music master if there ever was one.
robert royal
I have been a fan since that 1950s and finally saw him in person at Huey’s on a Sunday night in downtown Memphis. Thankful for the opportunity to finally see and hear him in person.
Linda Mae Chover
yes lucky you
sah 2714
have loved mose since the 50"s. he's unique. his songs are playful and deep.
rory toomey
Thanks for the tunes Mose. So many fine, soulful performances. Seeing you live in London in January 98 and meeting you afterwards was a highlight of my life as a music lover. Vale.
Patricia Darrah
another fantastic find. This music is so real. As I find these gems you can see how it has influenced some of the greats. I pray that that will continue. IT MUST.
JukeJunkies
Chalone, yet again, you've picked a winner here! I love the raw and true jazzy feel of this one! It's the perfect mix of raw and progressive. Some of the more hardcore Jazz out there has too many "Holes" in it but like I said, this is perfect! Thanks and 5 stars to mewe65 for this upload. JJ~
lmwilliamsjr1
It is great to hear one Mississippian cover another and these are two all time greats. The pride of Tippo plays the Bard of Vicksburg!