He was the brother of another blues musician, Jesse Thomas.
Ramblin' Thomas is best remembered for his slide guitar playing, and recording several pieces in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Blues scholars seem undecided if Thomas's nickname of Ramblin' was in reference to his style of playing, or itinerant nature.
Willard Thomas was born in Logansport, Louisiana, one of nine children. His father played the fiddle, and three brothers Joe L., Jesse, and Willard learnt to play the guitar, with Willard particularly practising slide guitar techniques. Thomas relocated to Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas in the late 1920s, and was influenced by the playing of Lonnie Johnson. He performed in San Antonio, Oklahoma and possibly St. Louis, Missouri in his subsequent travels. Thomas recorded in both Dallas and Chicago between 1928 and 1932, for Paramount Records and Victor Records.
Document Records are amongst the record labels (e.g. Heritage Records) to have released retrospective compilations of Thomas' work, although the artist's sporadic recording stints meant that no albums were released in his lifetime.
The rediscovery of bluesman Jesse "Babyface" Thomas in the '70s was the equivalent of a blues archivist's two-for-one sale. It turned out that the mysterious and up-til-then totally obscure '20s recording artist known as Ramblin' Thomas was the brother of Jesse Thomas, and the latter man was able to spill the beans on just who the rambling man with the fascinating guitar style really was. The Thomas clan, which also included the guitar picking older brother Joe L. Thomas, were sons of an old-time fiddler and were raised in Louisiana close to the Texas border. The boys got into playing guitar after looking with admiration at various models in a Sears catalog. Jesse Thomas has recalled that the mail-order guitar purchased by his brother, Willard Ramblin' Thomas, came equipped with a metal bar for playing slide; indicating the tremendous popularity of country blues at the time or the possibility that someone at Sears knew the guitar was headed into the arms of a Southern bluesman.
Thomas rambled, indeed he did. He was discovered by recording scouts playing in Dallas, but prior to that had performed in San Antonio and Oklahoma. His style also seemed influenced by the double threat of blues guitarist and pianist Lonnie Johnson, suggesting a possible St. Louis sojourn as well. Thomas played quite a bit in the key of E, making him harmonically quite a typical Delta bluesman. His picking style is curious, however, and even more interesting is his timing. His rhythmic variations suggest that his nickname might have been handed out by a musician attempting to accompany him, and not just relate to his geographical roaming. On some of his recordings for Paramount and Victor, such as "Ground Hog Blues," he plays it a little straighter, going for an imitation of then current hitmaker Tampa Red. The Document label is among several blues record companies that have released collections of Thomas' material, usually in the form of either a compilation or a collection of several artists; since Thomas was apparently too busy rambling to record a full album's worth of material.
Thomas reportedly died of tuberculosis in Memphis, circa 1945.
Poor Boy Blues appears on Anthology of American Folk Music (disc 3b)
Poor Boy Blues
Ramblin' Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was down in Lou'siana, doin' as I please
Now I'm in Texas, I've got to work or leave
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home
"If your home in Lou'siana, what you doin' over here"
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home
I don't care if the boat don't never land
'Cause I can stay on water as long as any man
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home
And my boat come a-rockin' just like a drunken man
And my home's on the water and I sure don't like land
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boys a long ways from home
The lyrics to Ramblin' Thomas's song "Poor Boy Blues" tell the story of a poor boy who is far away from his home. The song starts with the repeated line, "poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home," which serves as a reminder of the boy's current situation. Throughout the song, the listener is given a glimpse into the life of the poor boy who seems to be a wanderer or drifter, moving from place to place.
The first verse describes the poor boy's time in Louisiana where he was able to do whatever he pleased. However, when he makes his way to Texas, he realizes that he must work or leave. This could signify that he has been lazy or irresponsible in Louisiana and must now face the consequences of his actions.
The second verse is a conversation between the poor boy and someone from Texas who questions why he is there if his home is in Louisiana. The poor boy replies that he does not care where he lives as long as he can survive.
The third and final verse seems to indicate that the poor boy is living on a boat, perhaps as a means of survival. He states that he can stay on the water as long as any man and that he does not care if the boat never lands. It would seem that the poor boy's life is a constant struggle and he has learned to adapt to his circumstances, wherever they may take him.
Overall, the lyrics to "Poor Boy Blues" paint a picture of a life of hardship and struggle. The poor boy is constantly on the move, trying to survive in a world that seems to be against him. However, the repeated refrain of "poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home" also shows a sense of determination and courage that keeps the poor boy going.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boy long ways from home
The singer is a poor boy who is far away from his home.
I was down in Lou'siana, doin' as I please
The singer was in Louisiana and was doing whatever he wanted.
Now I'm in Texas, I've got to work or leave
The singer is now in Texas and needs to work or leave.
"If your home in Lou'siana, what you doin' over here"
Say, "My home ain't in Texas, and I sure don't care"
When asked why he's in Texas, the singer replies that his home is not in Texas and he doesn't care where he is.
I don't care if the boat don't never land
'Cause I can stay on water as long as any man
The singer doesn't mind if his boat never docks because he can stay on the water as long as anyone else.
And my boat come a-rockin' just like a drunken man
And my home's on the water and I sure don't like land
The singer's boat rocks like a drunken man and he prefers living on the water instead of on land.
Poor boy, poor boy, poor boys a long ways from home
The singer repeats that he is a poor boy who is far away from his home.
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mikekaatman3194
Pure and brilliant..
@luminous3357
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@caballitoharp9856
De que año es?
@princeali5737
1929