Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightning Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.
Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller, the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians — including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.
The singer was known as one of the masters of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.
Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.
Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating "Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips" was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.
Blues Hangover
Slim Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't nobody here but me
All these empty bottles on the table here
I know I didn't drink all this by myself
I must have a blues hangover
What's this?
My check?
Uh-oh
Here come Bro
Sent him and his donkey
But he ain't got no money
Look like he done lost everything he ever has had
Ain't that the come-off?
Hear me
I done gave my baby twenty dollars for a Christmas present
And all I got was this slice of jelly cake
And Santa ate that up
Now, that's a whoop jelly
Well, I believe I'll go back on the stem now
With James, Rudolph, and Tomcat
Get my head bad again
Don't seem like nothin' goin' right for me today
All right
Here I go
Same old thing again
Look out, now!
The lyrics to Slim Harpo's song "Blues Hangover" suggest a feeling of despair and confusion after a night of partying and drinking. The singer wakes up alone, with empty bottles around him, wondering what he did the previous night. The realization that he must have a "blues hangover" implies that he is feeling physically and emotionally drained, and that his actions have consequences that he cannot fully remember or understand. The song then shifts to a comical narrative involving a friend who owes him money but cannot pay, a disappointing Christmas present, and a plan to go out drinking again with a group of friends.
The overall tone of the song is melancholic and self-pitying, but it is also infused with humor and a sense of camaraderie among the characters. The image of the singer surrounded by empty bottles and struggling to make sense of his situation is a powerful one, evoking the theme of excess and its consequences that was common in blues music of the time. The song also captures the spirit of the blues as a genre that can express both the pain and the joy of life, through its use of wordplay, repetition, and call-and-response patterns.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, I wonder what could happen?
I am wondering what could have taken place last night
Ain't nobody here but me
I am the only one present
All these empty bottles on the table here
There are several empty bottles on the table
I know I didn't drink all this by myself
I am sure that I did not finish all these bottles by myself
I must have a blues hangover
I am having a blues hangover from last night's drinking
What's this?
I am trying to figure out what this is
My check?
I am surprised to see my paycheck
And I don't have change for a grasshopper, and that's two tickets
I don't have the exact change even for a small amount like grasshopper and I need to buy two tickets
Uh-oh
I am in trouble now
Here come Bro
My friend Bro is coming here
Sent him and his donkey
He came here riding his donkey
But he ain't got no money
Unfortunately, Bro does not have any money
Look like he done lost everything he ever has had
He looks devastated as if he has lost everything he had
Ain't that the come-off?
Isn't this a sad state of affairs?
Hear me
Listen to me
I done gave my baby twenty dollars for a Christmas present
I gave $20 to my girlfriend for a Christmas gift
And all I got was this slice of jelly cake
In return, she gave me a small piece of cake with jelly on it
And Santa ate that up
I was desperate and even pretended as if Santa ate it
Now, that's a whoop jelly
I regret giving her the present and getting such a poor gift in return
Well, I believe I'll go back on the stem now
I am planning to go back to my old ways again
With James, Rudolph, and Tomcat
I will be joining my friends James, Rudolph, and Tomcat
Get my head bad again
I will get drunk again
Don't seem like nothin' goin' right for me today
Nothing seems to be going right in my life today
All right
Okay
Here I go
I am ready to go now
Same old thing again
I will do the same thing again
Look out, now!
Here I come!
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: James Moore, Jerry West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
scottcampbell1958
So greasy, so swampy, so perfect. Just a beautiful recording. Much love for putting it up.
T
......ONE OF MY FAVORITES .....YES I CAN LISTEN TO TIME AND OVER AGAIN...
Russ Scalawag
On a few of his recordings, Slim Harpo used his friend from across the river, Lazy Lester on harp (i.e. "My Home is a Prison"). Lazy was also on Excello. Knew him from the Monday night blues jams here in Lafayette.
Bob Aldo
Some posters here must be kidding. They claim to think this is B. B. King. Either you guys are deaf, or kidding. I've had this Slim Harpo 45 on Excello since it first came out.
Robert Lohr
You can't make this stuff up
Cora Visser
Afcourse a blues hangover what a voice you have.I was listening each time and again and again it is real wonderfull.
loverplease
I love the bluesharp and the voice of Slim Harpo
Bradford Eaton
What a great sound he had.
Nisga'a Paparazzi
Luv, luv, LUV this tune! Down Memory Lane I go! Thanks for posting! <3
Sandra Ray
One of the best, deep raw blues. I love it!