Although John Lee Williamson was a major blues star who had already released dozens of successful and widely influential records under the name Sonny Boy Williamson from 1937 onward, Aleck Miller would later claim to have been the first to use the name, and some blues scholars believe that Miller's assertion he was born in 1899 was a ruse to convince audiences he was old enough to have used the name before John Lee Williamson, who was born in 1914. Whatever the methodology, Miller became known as Sonny Boy Williamson.
Williamson had begun developing a following in Chicago beginning in 1953, when he appeared there as a member of Elmore James's band. In the 1960's he toured Europe during the height of the British blues craze, recording with The Yardbirds and The Animals. Accoring to the Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the Gods", while in England Sonny Boy set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.
Some of his hit songs include "Fattenin' Frogs for Snakes", "Don't Start Me To Talking" ,"Keep It To Yourself", "Your Funeral & My Trial", "Bye Bye Bird", "Nine Below Zero", "Help Me", and the infamous "Little Village", with dialogue deemed 'unsuitable for airplay' by Leonard Chess. His song "Eyesight To the Blind" was performed by The Who as a key song in their rock opera Tommy (the only song in that opus not written by a band member) and it was later covered on the Aerosmith album Honkin' on Bobo. His recording og "One Way Out" was reworked from the Elmore James original and became popularized by The Allman Brothers Band in the early 1970s.
Sonny Boy Williamson II has had a big influence on modern day blues and blues rock artists and other legendary artists, as is shown by the number of his songs that are still covered. In interviews given in the concert documentary film The Last Waltz, members of the rock & roll group The Band recount jamming with Miller prior to their initial fame as Bob Dylan's electric backing band, and making plans to hook up with Williamson as his backing band. Unfortunately, Williamson's death prevented any such plans from ever being fulfilled.
Don't Start Me to Talkin'
Sonny Boy Williamson II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna tell Fannie what I heard her boyfriend say
Don't start me talkin', I'll tell her everything I know
I'm gonna break up this signifyin', 'cause somebody's got to go
Jack give his wife two dollars, go downtown and get some margarine
Gets out on the streets, ol' George stopped her
She gets back home, tell her husband a lie
Don't start me talkin, I'll tell everything I know
I'm gonna break up this signifyin', somebody's got to go
She borrowed some money, go to the beauty shop
Jim honked his horn, she begin to stop
Said, take me, baby, around the block
I'm goin to the beauty shop, where I can get my hair sot
Don't start me talkin', I'll tell everything I know
Well, to break up this signifyin', oh, somebody's got to go
The song "Don't Start Me to Talkin'" by Sonny Boy Williamson is a classic blues tune that explores the themes of gossip, infidelity, and deceit. The song begins with the singer heading to a local bar to tell Fanny Mae what he heard her boyfriend say. He warns her not to start him talking, as he will reveal everything he knows and break up the false rumor spreading. The next verse tells of a woman who lies to her husband after being beaten by another man on the street. Finally, the last verse tells of a woman who borrows money to go to the beauty shop but ends up going for a ride with another man. The singer warns that he will reveal all, and someone will have to go.
The lyrics are filled with innuendos and implications of the seedy underground world of the blues clubs. The imagery is vivid, and the storytelling is masterful. The song portrays a world that is harsh and unforgiving, a place where people are not to be trusted, and betrayal is the norm. The singer's harsh warning serves as a reminder that actions have consequences and that secrets must be kept secret.
Overall, "Don't Start Me to Talkin'" is a poignant and powerful song that captures the spirit of the blues. Its themes of infidelity, deceit, and gossip resonate with audiences of all ages and cultures. The song is a testament to the enduring power of the blues and remains a beloved classic to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm goin' down to Rosie's, stop at Fannie Mae's
I am going to visit Rosie's and then stop at Fannie Mae's place.
Gonna tell Fannie what I heard her boyfriend say
I am going to tell Fannie what her boyfriend said.
Don't start me talkin', I'll tell her everything I know
Don't make me start talking, or else I will tell her everything I know.
I'm gonna break up this signifyin', 'cause somebody's got to go
I am going to end this gossiping, because someone has to leave.
Jack give his wife two dollars, go downtown and get some margarine
Jack gave his wife two dollars to buy margarine from downtown.
Gets out on the streets, ol' George stopped her
When she was on the streets, George stopped her.
He knocked her down and blackened her eye
George hit her and gave her a black eye.
She gets back home, tell her husband a lie
She returned home and lied to her husband.
Don't start me talkin, I'll tell everything I know
Don't urge me to talk, or else I will tell everything I know.
I'm gonna break up this signifyin', somebody's got to go
I'm going to put an end to this gossiping; someone must leave.
She borrowed some money, go to the beauty shop
She borrowed some money and went to the beauty shop.
Jim honked his horn, she begin to stop
Jim honked his car's horn, and she began to stop.
Said, take me, baby, around the block
She said to Jim to take her around the block.
I'm goin to the beauty shop, where I can get my hair sot
She is going to the beauty shop to get her hair done.
Don't start me talkin', I'll tell everything I know
Don't provoke me to talk; otherwise, I will reveal everything I know.
Well, to break up this signifyin', oh, somebody's got to go
To stop this gossiping, someone must leave.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sonny Boy Williamson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andrenaud7437
After Trumpet Records folded, on August 12, 1955, Sonny Boy Williamson II had his first recording session for Checker Records. "Don't Start Me Talkin'" was recorded at these sessions. Backing Williamson ( vocals and harmonica ) were Otis Spann on piano , Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers on guitar , Willie Dixon on bass , and Fred Below on drums . [
@klezmando
Thanks for list of "sidemen". Quite a group.
@user-hw4eh2xb6b
Thanks
@ron.v
Best version of all time. This is the one I learned to play the harp to in '65. Just wish people could get the lyrics right. She said, "I'm goin' to the beauty shop, where I can get my hair SOT" Not where I can get my hair sock!" The word is is colloquial for "set" but he's using the supposed past tense as in 'get' and 'got' therefore 'set' and 'sot.' You'd have to know the people who used this terminology. Words like this are quite common.
@bananaskinskywalker6790
"Socking"was the term for straightening the hair with a hot comb, so it could be either one
@QQH1
You’re the best! Thanks for clarification!
@bennyrobles9194
Sonny boy. The harmonica legend.!! Nobody can beat him.!!
@alfching2499
The Master......Above All
@insaneshane2049
Except the original sonny boy
@rogerludwig7619
Numerous great versions of this...but nothing beats this one!