Wheatstraw was born William Bunch in Ripley, Tennessee but grew up in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, where his family relocated soon after his birth. Little is known of his early life, other than that he took up playing both the piano and guitar at a young age.
Bunch left Cotton Plant in 1927 and began living the life of an itinerant musician traveling throughout the Deep South. Like many African Americans of this time period, the great migration eventually drew his attention to the cities of the North. Places such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit were favoured destinations, due to the wealth of employment in the factories located in these cities. St. Louis was another city that drew its share of uprooted individuals who sought a better life than that offered by the toil of sharecropping. It was in St. Louis that Bunch landed in 1929.
Having honed his musical talents while travelling, and influenced by the popularity of the Blues duet of pianist Leroy Carr and guitar player Scrapper Blackwell, Bunch found easy work in the clubs of both St. Louis and East St. Louis on the other side of the Mississippi River.
It was around this time Bunch decided to change his name to Peetie Wheatstraw. He also called himself "The Devil's Son-in-Law" and this title is under his name starting with his earliest recordings.
Wheatstraw's self-promotion swiftly paid off as he became a popular performer in East St. Louis, to the extent that he was asked to Chicago in 1930 to partake in recording sessions. He first entered the Vocalion Studios on August 13, 1930, and recorded a handful of numbers which included "Four O'Clock In The Morning" and "Tennessee Peaches Blues". Over the following decade, he would make several such treks, recording over 160 sides for the Vocalion, Decca and Bluebird labels.
Wheatstraw was known for his laid-back approach and adept singing and songwriting, though his instrumental talents were average at best. His songwriting appealed to working class minorities, due to their nature of the content—he often wrote about social issues such as unemployment and public assistance. There were also pieces about the immoral ways of loose women, and true to his own self-publicity, death and the supernatural. Almost all of his songs included his trademark "Ooh, well well", usually accentuated in the third verse, and this has been carried on by many subsequent Bluesmen, most noteworthy today being R.L. Burnside.
On his records Wheatstraw is occasionally heard playing guitar, but he usually took to the piano and required a guitarist to play with him—among his collaborators were Kokomo Arnold, Lonnie Johnson, Charlie Jordan, Charlie McCoy and Teddy Bunn, in addition to pianist Champion Jack Dupree. On some of his last dates, Peetie Wheatstraw recorded within a jazz inspired framework, collaborating with Lil Armstrong and trumpeter Jonah Jones.
Wheatstraw's influence was enormous during the 1930s. Perhaps the most obvious example of Wheatstraw's impact can be seen in the writings of Robert Johnson, often considered the most important Blues figure of the era. Many of Johnson's own recordings were actually re-workings of other popular artists of the time, and he drew heavily from Wheatstraw's repertoire.
Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp
Peetie Wheatstraw Lyrics
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Peetie Wheatstraw (William Bunch)
(Bunch)
Mar 26, 1937 Decca 7292
Album: Peetie Wheatstraw Essentials Album
Allego Classic Blues CBL 200037
Women all ravin'
Women all ravin'
About Peetie Wheatstraw in this land
He got so many women
They're goin' from hand to hand
Don't tell all the girls
What that Peetie Wheatstraw can do
Woo-hoo-well, that Peetie Wheatstraw can do
That will cause suspicion
Now an you know they will try him, too
(piano)
'Now play a little bit more, let's see how women clown'
If you wanna see the women an men clown
If you wanna see the women an men clown
Just let that Peetie Wheatstraw, come into your town
(piano)
I am Peetie Wheatstraw
The High Sheriff From Hell
I am Peetie Wheatstraw
The High Sheriff From Hell
The way I strut my stuff
Woo-well now, you never can tell.
(piano)
'Now do your stuff, Peetie'
(piano to end)
~
The song Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp is a blues composition by Peetie Wheatstraw, also known as William Bunch, that is filled with playful language and euphemisms. The opening lines of the song set the tone as women are described as being "all ravin'" about Peetie Wheatstraw. The lyrics go on to explain that the man has so many women that they go "from hand to hand." The second verse warns that not all women should be told about what Peetie Wheatstraw can do, as this knowledge will cause suspicion and lead to more competition for his attention. Additionally, the lyrics suggest that both men and women enjoy watching Peetie Wheatstraw's presence or performance.
The third verse has Peetie Wheatstraw introducing himself as the "High Sheriff From Hell," thereby claiming to be a powerful and dominant figure in society. The final line in this verse speaks to his confidence, as he notes that his talents and abilities are unpredictable.
The playful language used in Peetie Wheatstraw Stomp has made it popular amongst blues enthusiasts. Besides, the song features intricate and complex piano playing, especially in the second and fourth verses, which emphasizes the playful nature of the song. In conclusion, this song showcases Peetie's unique talent for blending humor, sensuality, and confident swagger into one catchy tune.
Line by Line Meaning
Women all ravin'
Women everywhere are talking excitedly about Peetie Wheatstraw
About Peetie Wheatstraw in this land
They're talking specifically about Peetie Wheatstraw in this area
He got so many women
Peetie Wheatstraw has a large number of female admirers
They're goin' from hand to hand
These women are moving from one man to another, trying to be with Peetie Wheatstraw
Don't tell all the girls
Don't reveal Peetie Wheatstraw's skills to everyone
What that Peetie Wheatstraw can do
Don't let people know about the things Peetie Wheatstraw is capable of
That will cause suspicion
It'll create doubt among people and they'll doubt his abilities
Now an you know they will try him, too
People will test Peetie Wheatstraw's skills once they know about it
If you wanna see the women an men clown
If you want to see people acting silly and foolish
Just let that Peetie Wheatstraw, come into your town
Just bring Peetie Wheatstraw to your town and watch the craziness ensue
I am Peetie Wheatstraw
I am Peetie Wheatstraw
The High Sheriff From Hell
I'm the one with the most power around here
The way I strut my stuff
The way I carry myself
Woo-well now, you never can tell.
It's hard to predict what I'll do next
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.