John Adam Estes (born in Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, January 25, … Read Full Bio ↴John Adam Estes (born in Ripley, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, January 25, 1899 — Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee, June 5, 1977) best known as Sleepy John Estes or Sleepy John, was a blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist.
In 1915, Estes' father, a sharecropper who also played some guitar, moved the family to Brownsville, Tennessee. Not long after, Estes lost the sight of his right eye when a friend threw a rock at him during a baseball game. At the age of 19, while working as a field hand, he began to perform professionally. The venues were mostly local parties and picnics, with the accompaniment of Hammie Nixon, a harmonica player, and James "Yank" Rachell, a guitarist and mandolin player. He would continue to work on and off with both musicians for more than fifty years.
Estes made his debut as a recording artist in Memphis, Tennessee in 1929, at a session organized by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. His partnership with Nixon was first documented on songs such as "Drop Down Mama" and "Someday Baby Blues" in 1935; later sides replaced the harmonica player with the guitarists Son Bonds or Charlie Pickett. He later recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, with his last pre-war recording session taking place in 1941. He made a brief return to recording at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1952, recording "Runnin' Around" and "Rats in My Kitchen", but otherwise was largely out of the public eye for two decades.
Estes was a fine singer, with a distinctive "crying" vocal style. He frequently teamed with more capable musicians, like "Yank" Rachell, Hammie Nixon, and the piano player Jab Jones. Estes sounded so much like an old man, even on his early records, that blues revivalists reportedly delayed looking for him because they assumed he would have to be long dead, and because fellow musician Big Bill Broonzy had written that Estes had died. By the time he was tracked down, by Bob Koester and Samuel Charters in 1962, he had become completely blind and was living in poverty. He resumed touring and recording, reunited with Nixon and toured Europe several times and Japan, with a clutch of albums released on the Delmark Records label. His later records are generally considered less interesting than his pre-war output. Nevertheless, Estes, Nixon and Rachell also made a successful appearance at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.
Bob Dylan mentions Estes in the sleevenotes to Bringing It All Back Home (1965).
Many of Estes' original songs were based on events in his own life or on people he knew from his home town of Brownsville, Tennessee, such as the local lawyer ("Lawyer Clark Blues"), local auto mechanic ("Vassie Williams' Blues"), or an amorously inclined teenage girl ("Little Laura Blues"). "Lawyer Clark Blues" referenced the lawyer, and later judge and senator, Hugh L. Clarke. Clarke and his family lived in Brownsville, and according to the song let Estes 'off the hook' for an offense.
He also dispensed advice on agricultural matters ("Working Man Blues") and chronicled his own attempt to reach a recording studio for a session by hopping a freight train ("Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)"). His lyrics combined keen observation with an ability to turn an effective phrase.
Some accounts attribute his nickname "Sleepy" to a blood pressure disorder and/or narcolepsy. Others, such as blues historian Bob Koester, claim he simply had a "tendency to withdraw from his surroundings into drowsiness whenever life was too cruel or too boring to warrant full attention".
Estes suffered a stroke while preparing for a European tour, and died on June 5, 1977, at his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Estes is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County, Tennessee.
His gravemarker reads:
Sleepy John Estes
".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore"
In Memory
John Adam Estes
Jan. 25, 1899
June 5, 1977
Blues Pioneer
Guitarist – Songwriter – Poet
Sleepy John Estes' epitaph ".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore" was derived from his song, "Someday Baby Blues." "I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More" was recorded in 1935, and in his song "Drop Down Mama", also recorded in 1935, Sleepy John refers to himself as "Poor John". Estes' grave at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville is located off a country road and at the far end of the cemetery. His grave is adjacent to a small grove of trees, secluded but not hidden.
In 1991, Estes was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
In 1915, Estes' father, a sharecropper who also played some guitar, moved the family to Brownsville, Tennessee. Not long after, Estes lost the sight of his right eye when a friend threw a rock at him during a baseball game. At the age of 19, while working as a field hand, he began to perform professionally. The venues were mostly local parties and picnics, with the accompaniment of Hammie Nixon, a harmonica player, and James "Yank" Rachell, a guitarist and mandolin player. He would continue to work on and off with both musicians for more than fifty years.
Estes made his debut as a recording artist in Memphis, Tennessee in 1929, at a session organized by Ralph Peer for Victor Records. His partnership with Nixon was first documented on songs such as "Drop Down Mama" and "Someday Baby Blues" in 1935; later sides replaced the harmonica player with the guitarists Son Bonds or Charlie Pickett. He later recorded for the Decca and Bluebird labels, with his last pre-war recording session taking place in 1941. He made a brief return to recording at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1952, recording "Runnin' Around" and "Rats in My Kitchen", but otherwise was largely out of the public eye for two decades.
Estes was a fine singer, with a distinctive "crying" vocal style. He frequently teamed with more capable musicians, like "Yank" Rachell, Hammie Nixon, and the piano player Jab Jones. Estes sounded so much like an old man, even on his early records, that blues revivalists reportedly delayed looking for him because they assumed he would have to be long dead, and because fellow musician Big Bill Broonzy had written that Estes had died. By the time he was tracked down, by Bob Koester and Samuel Charters in 1962, he had become completely blind and was living in poverty. He resumed touring and recording, reunited with Nixon and toured Europe several times and Japan, with a clutch of albums released on the Delmark Records label. His later records are generally considered less interesting than his pre-war output. Nevertheless, Estes, Nixon and Rachell also made a successful appearance at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival.
Bob Dylan mentions Estes in the sleevenotes to Bringing It All Back Home (1965).
Many of Estes' original songs were based on events in his own life or on people he knew from his home town of Brownsville, Tennessee, such as the local lawyer ("Lawyer Clark Blues"), local auto mechanic ("Vassie Williams' Blues"), or an amorously inclined teenage girl ("Little Laura Blues"). "Lawyer Clark Blues" referenced the lawyer, and later judge and senator, Hugh L. Clarke. Clarke and his family lived in Brownsville, and according to the song let Estes 'off the hook' for an offense.
He also dispensed advice on agricultural matters ("Working Man Blues") and chronicled his own attempt to reach a recording studio for a session by hopping a freight train ("Special Agent (Railroad Police Blues)"). His lyrics combined keen observation with an ability to turn an effective phrase.
Some accounts attribute his nickname "Sleepy" to a blood pressure disorder and/or narcolepsy. Others, such as blues historian Bob Koester, claim he simply had a "tendency to withdraw from his surroundings into drowsiness whenever life was too cruel or too boring to warrant full attention".
Estes suffered a stroke while preparing for a European tour, and died on June 5, 1977, at his home of 17 years in Brownsville, Haywood County, Tennessee. Estes is buried at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville, Lauderdale County, Tennessee.
His gravemarker reads:
Sleepy John Estes
".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore"
In Memory
John Adam Estes
Jan. 25, 1899
June 5, 1977
Blues Pioneer
Guitarist – Songwriter – Poet
Sleepy John Estes' epitaph ".. ain't goin' to worry Poor John's mind anymore" was derived from his song, "Someday Baby Blues." "I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More" was recorded in 1935, and in his song "Drop Down Mama", also recorded in 1935, Sleepy John refers to himself as "Poor John". Estes' grave at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Durhamville is located off a country road and at the far end of the cemetery. His grave is adjacent to a small grove of trees, secluded but not hidden.
In 1991, Estes was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Down South Blues
Sleepy John Estes Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Down South Blues' by these artists:
Alberta Hunter My man mistreated me, and he drove me from his…
Boggs Dock I'm going to the station Going to catch the fastest train…
Dock Boggs I'm going to the station, Going to catch the fastest…
Dr. Ross Shout out to the runners Aw Lets go [Chorus] Lets take it d…
Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra Saints and sinners, come one, come all Have a little revival…
J.W. Walker Homesick tired All alone in a big city Why should…
Muddy Waters Well I'm goin' down south child This weather here's too col…
Tarbox Ramblers I go down to Louisiana Way behind the sun I just found…
Z.Z. Hill You said your party's jumping And everybody's having a good …
We have lyrics for these tracks by Sleepy John Estes:
Black Gal Swing Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
Black mattie blues Ooh, black Mattie Where did you sleep last night? Wit'ch yo …
Clean Up At Home I wash my clothes, I hang 'em by the fire Get…
Divin' Duck Blues Divin' Duck Blues Trk 3 3: 16 Sleepy John Estes (John Adams…
Everybody Oughta Make a Change Now, change in the ocean, change in the deep blue…
Floating Bridge (MUSIC) "Floating Bridge" was written And originally perform…
Lawyer Clark Blues Now got an office in town, residence out on Seventy…
Little Sarah Little Sarah Trk 4 Dsc 1 3:06 Sleepy John Estes (James 'Yank…
Mail Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
Milk Cow Blues Now asks sweet mama Lemme be her kid She says, 'I might…
My Black Gal Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
My Black Gal Blues Black gal, she took a knife Scared my brown to death If…
new someday baby I don't care how long you gone I don't care how…
Policy Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
Poor John Blues Now rather be dead Sleepin' in a hollow log Now ruther be…
Registration Day Blues Rainy day, rainy day Ya oughta hear my baby sing the…
Someday Baby I don't care how long you gone I don't care how…
Stack O' Dollars Stack O' Dollars Trk 14 2:53 Sleepy John Estes (James Estes)…
Street car blues Street Car Blues Trk 10 3:04 Sleepy John Estes (John Adam…
Sweet Mama I said you were a dear sweet mama But I ain't…
T-Bone Steak Blues Say you talkin' 'bout your red ripe tomatoes I'm crazy bout…
The Girl I Love Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road N…
The girl i love she got log curly hair Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road …
The Girl I Love She Got Long Curly Hair Now, I'm goin' to Brownsville an Take that right hand road N…
Watcha doin' I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I's…
Watcha Doin'? I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I's…
we all gotta go sometime VIctor Nimekam na moto–oh Moto moto–oh (Dj Venji) Dance to …
Whatcha Doin' I married my baby Married her for myself Then if I′s gon'…
Working Man Blues Ev'ry Monday mo'nin People, the insurance man knockin' on my…
You should'nt do that I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
You Shouldn't Do It I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
You Shouldn't Do That I went back to Ohio But my city was gone…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Jean-Michel Dehalu
Now I'm goin' down South and I'm stayin' 'til winter is gone
And when wintertime is gone, I might come back home
Now I get up every mornin' and I walk up to 3rd and Beale
Now I get up every mornin' and I walk up to 3rd and Beale
And I'm just studyin' and I'm wonderin', Lord, just how to make a meal
Now the peoples in Memphis, they all walkin' the streets up and down
Now the peoples in Memphis, they all walkin' the streets up and down
And you know the time is hard, peoples is starvin' all over the town
Now I once have been a lover, baby, back in my young days
Now I once have been a lover, baby, back in my young days
But my baby was so mean, she done drove all my love away
Now I got a girl in Brownsville, she lives down on Burlison Lane
Now I got a girl in Brownsville, she lives down on Burlison Lane
But my gal was so mean, I'm scared to call her name
Tony Nicoultre
I remember playing this old Brunswick 78 on my parent's HMV gramophone when I was 6 in 1947. This type blues is still my favourite music after all these years.
Jean-Michel Dehalu
Now I'm goin' down South and I'm stayin' 'til winter is gone
And when wintertime is gone, I might come back home
Now I get up every mornin' and I walk up to 3rd and Beale
Now I get up every mornin' and I walk up to 3rd and Beale
And I'm just studyin' and I'm wonderin', Lord, just how to make a meal
Now the peoples in Memphis, they all walkin' the streets up and down
Now the peoples in Memphis, they all walkin' the streets up and down
And you know the time is hard, peoples is starvin' all over the town
Now I once have been a lover, baby, back in my young days
Now I once have been a lover, baby, back in my young days
But my baby was so mean, she done drove all my love away
Now I got a girl in Brownsville, she lives down on Burlison Lane
Now I got a girl in Brownsville, she lives down on Burlison Lane
But my gal was so mean, I'm scared to call her name
Dan Gibson
Love this!!!!
SmallDays1 Natalie Davis and Dave Merrick
Thanks for upload this great blues artist. Best wishes, Dave ('Small Days')
Andrew Joyce
Great pictures to go with a great song.
Cora Visser
this is a awesome song great one.Thank you
3006khz
You're welcome :-)
3006khz
Thank you Dave. I appreciate the kind comments.
DOUGLAS GILLARD
My family roots are in Mississippi, not far from the Mississippi Delta. I love this music.
Steven Foust
Remembering the greats