Rory Block was born in Princeton, New Jersey and grew up in Manhattan. Her father, Allan Block, ran a sandal shop in Greenwich Village in the 1960s, and the constant presence of members of the Greenwich Village folk music scene made an impression on the young girl, who studied classical guitar. Around age 14, she began to be fascinated by old Mississippi Delta blues, listening to old albums, transcribing them, and learning to play the songs. At age 15, she left home to seek out the remaining blues giants, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Reverend Gary Davis and Son House, and hone her craft in the traditional manner of blues musicians; then she moved to California where she played in clubs and coffeehouses.
After retiring temporarily to raise a family, Block returned to the music business in the 1970s with middling success until signing with Rounder Records in 1981, who encouraged her to return to her love for the classical blues form. Since then she has carved out her own niche, releasing numerous critically acclaimed albums of original and traditional songs, including many Robert Johnson covers. Block has won four W. C. Handy Awards, two for "Traditional Blues Female Artist" (1997, 1998), and two for "Acoustic Blues Album of the Year" (1996, 1999).
Statesboro Blues
Rory Block Lyrics
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Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Have you got the nerve to drive Papa McTell from your door?
My mother died and left me reckless, my daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
Mother died and left me reckless, Daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
No, I'm not good lookin', but I'm some sweet woman's angel child
She's a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way
When I leave this town, pretty mama, I'm going away to stay
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen
Treat me like I was a king and she was a dog-gone queen
Sister, tell your Brother, Brother tell your Auntie, Auntie, tell your Uncle,
Uncle tell my Cousin, Cousin tell my friend
Goin' up the country, Mama, don't you want to go?
May take me a fair brown, may take me one or two more
Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop
You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot. You can
Reach over in the corner, Mama, and hand me my travelin' shoes
You know by that, I've got them Statesboro blues
Sister got 'em, Auntie got 'em
Brother got 'em, friend got 'em, I got 'em
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues
I looked over in the corner,
Grandma and Grandpa had 'em too.
The song Statesboro Blues tells the story of the singer’s hardships in life after being left alone by his parents. The lyrics are a mix of pain, sadness, and resentment towards his lover that left him. He wakes up his mother and tells her to turn her lamp down low while wondering if she had the nerve to drive Papa McTell from her door. The singer reflects on his past, how his mother died and left him feeling reckless, and his father died leaving him wild. Despite all these trials and tribulations, he acknowledges that he is not good looking, but some sweet woman’s angel child. He then continues to talk about the woman he once loved that treated him like a king, but now treats him with such disdain.
The song transitions into the singer stating that he is going away to stay and seeks his family’s help to spread the word. He uses the metaphor of going up the country and wants his Mama to join him, even if it takes taking one or two more women. He talks about the train leaving Savannah and how he has his traveling shoes with him, indicating that he is ready to leave. Finally, the song declares that everyone has the Statesboro blues, showing how universal this pain is.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
Asking the motherly figure in his life to be patient and understanding even when things are difficult.
Have you got the nerve to drive Papa McTell from your door?
Challenging the mother to decide on whether he is welcome or not, connecting to Papa McTell, a reference to an influential blues man.
Mother died and left me reckless, Daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild
Life's events have brought him to a place of recklessness and wild tendencies, orphaned by the loss of his parents.
No, I'm not good lookin', but I'm some sweet woman's angel child
Despite not being considered handsome, he's important to someone else and makes a difference in the world.
She's a mighty mean woman, to do me this a-way
A woman, previously held in high regard, has done something cruel to him.
When I leave this town, pretty mama, I'm going away to stay
He plans to escape his current situation and leave the town for good.
I once loved a woman, better than I ever seen
A woman previously loved beyond measure.
Treat me like I was a king and she was a dog-gone queen
He was treated like royalty by his love.
Sister, tell your Brother, Brother tell your Auntie, Auntie, tell your Uncle, Uncle tell my Cousin, Cousin tell my friend
A request for those close to him to hear his message and spread it to others.
Goin' up the country, Mama, don't you want to go? May take me a fair brown, may take me one or two more
He plans on leaving town and wants to know if his mother would like to go with him.
Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot. You can Reach over in the corner, Mama, and hand me my travelin' shoes You know by that, I've got them Statesboro blues
Evokes images of a train and a hot and fast paced journey, showing restlessness and anticipation for a new chapter of his life.
Sister got 'em, Auntie got 'em Brother got 'em, friend got 'em, I got 'em
A shared sense of having the 'Statesboro blues', creating a sense of community solidarity in his sadness.
Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues I looked over in the corner, Grandma and Grandpa had 'em too.
The sadness pervading throughout the family and community, impacting even the older generations, showing the longevity of sadness and connecting it with a shared history of experience.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Willie McTell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind