Born in Rockdale, Texas, United States, there are several stories on how Crayton acquired the name Pee Wee. In a Living Blues article in the 1980s, he stated that friend and singer, Roy Brown, gave him the nickname. This makes sense since Brown had a way of making nicknames for many of his friends. It has also been said that his father gave him the nickname as a tribute to a local Texas piano player.
Crayton began playing guitar seriously after moving to California in 1935, and settling in San Francisco. While there he absorbed the music of T-Bone Walker, but developed his own unique approach. His aggressive playing contrasted with his smooth vocal style, and was copied by many later blues guitarists.
In 1948 he signed a recording contract with Modern Records. One of his first recordings was the instrumental, "Blues After Hours", which reached #1 in the Billboard R&B chart late that year. Its B-side, the pop ballad "I'm Still in Love With You", and the quicker "Texas Hop", were good examples of his work, but his style was of its time and Crayton found it difficult to progress.
He went on to record for many other record labels in the 1950s including Imperial in New Orleans, Louisiana, Vee-Jay in Chicago and Jamie in Philadelphia. It is thought he was the first blues guitarist to use a Fender Stratocaster, given to him by Leo Fender. Crayton largely faded from view until Vanguard unleashed his LP, Things I Used To Do, in 1971. After that his profile was raised somewhat; he toured and made a few more albums prior to his death.
A longtime resident of Los Angeles, California, Crayton died there of a heart attack in 1985, and was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Lucille
Pee Wee Crayton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby do your sister's will
Ah Lucille
Baby do your sister's will
Well you went up and married
But I love you still
Ah Lucille
Ah Lucille
Baby satisfy my soul
Well you know I love baby
I'll never let you go
Babe I woke up this morning
Lucille was not inside
I asked her friends about her
But all their lips were tight
Lucille
Please come back where you belong
Well I'm talking to you baby
I'll never put you on
Ah! Wha'!
Well Lucille
Baby do your sister's will
Oh Lucille
Yeah baby do your sister's will
Well you went up and married
But I love you still
In Pee Wee Crayton's song "Lucille," the singer is speaking directly to his former lover, Lucille, asking her to return to him and do her sister's will. While Lucille has gotten married, he still loves her deeply and wants her to satisfy his soul. The singer wakes up one morning to find Lucille missing and her friends unwilling to divulge her whereabouts. He pleads with Lucille to come back to him and assures her that he will never put her on, meaning he will never betray her.
Although the song seems to be about a romantic relationship, some have interpreted it as a plea to a former slave who has escaped to return to their mistress and work for her once again. This interpretation is based on the fact that "do your sister's will" could be a reference to the servitude that slaves were forced into for their owners' family members. Additionally, the name Lucille was common among African American women who were born into slavery.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Baby do your sister's will
Lucille, please do what your sister asks of you
Ah Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Baby do your sister's will
Lucille, please do what your sister asks of you
Well you went up and married
You got married and left me
But I love you still
But I still love you
Ah Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Baby satisfy my soul
Lucille, please make me happy
Ah Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Baby satisfy my soul
Lucille, please make me happy
Well you know I love baby
You know I love you, baby
I'll never let you go
I'll never leave you
Babe I woke up this morning
I woke up this morning
Lucille was not inside
You were not with me
I asked her friends about her
I asked your friends about you
But all their lips were tight
But they didn't tell me anything
Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Please come back where you belong
Please come back to me
Well I'm talking to you baby
I'm talking to you, baby
I'll never put you on
I'll never deceive you
Ah! Wha'!
Exclamation of frustration
Well Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Baby do your sister's will
Lucille, please do what your sister asks of you
Oh Lucille
Addressing Lucille
Yeah baby do your sister's will
Lucille, please do what your sister asks of you
Well you went up and married
You got married and left me
But I love you still
But I still love you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Penniman, Albert Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind