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.
Got the Bottle Up and Gone
Sonny Boy Williamson II Lyrics
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I don't sell no gas
I done brought my problem
My burners heat too fast
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
Well now look-a-here, baby
What you been waitin' on?
Say ya didn't love me
I'd-a done been gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
You know that papa got you water on
Well, I had a little duck
An' I named him, Jim
I put him on the pond
Just to see him swim
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
You know that papa got your water on
Well, ya want everything
In the latest style
But I've got wise
Unto your line of jive
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
That your papa got your water on
Well, if you don't love me
Why don't you tell me so?
I know you don't love me
Baby, no mo'
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
You know that your papa got your water on
I can't play no piano
But I wish I could
I got a woman
Don't mean me no good
You got the bottle up and gone
You got the bottle up and gone
You know that high-powered mama
You know that papa got your water on
The song "Got the Bottle Up and Gone" by Sonny Boy Williamson II is a blues classic that explores the theme of love gone wrong. The lyrics suggest that the singer has brought his problems with him and is asking his partner what she has been waiting for. He acknowledges that he doesn't run a filling station or sell gas, but his burners heat too fast which could be seen as a reference to his passionate nature. The repeated lines "You got the bottle up and gone" could suggest that his partner has turned to drinking to cope with their relationship problems. The lyrics suggest that the singer is wise to his partner's "line of jive" and that he knows she doesn't love him anymore.
The lyrics also make reference to a duck named Jim which could be seen as a metaphor for the singer's relationship with his partner. Putting the duck on the pond to see him swim could represent their relationship starting out strong and promising, but ultimately ending up nowhere. The final verse adds another layer to the song's emotional depth as the singer wishes he could play the piano, but laments that he has a woman who doesn't mean him any good.
Overall, "Got the Bottle Up and Gone" is a powerful exploration of the pain of a failed relationship and the inevitable emotional fallout that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I don't run no fillin' station
I don't provide any type of service
I don't sell no gas
I don't offer any type of fuel
I done brought my problem
I brought my own issues
My burners heat too fast
My situation is getting more intense quickly
You got the bottle up and gone
You are indulging in alcohol and ignoring our relationship
You know that high-powered mama
You know that you are acting recklessly
That your papa got your water on
That your actions are influenced by others
Well now look-a-here, baby
Listen to me closely, my dear
What you been waitin' on?
Why have you been hesitating?
Say ya didn't love me
If you don't love me
I'd-a done been gone
I would have already left
You know that papa got you water on
You know that your actions are influenced by others
Well, I had a little duck
I used to have a pet duck
An' I named him, Jim
I named him Jim
I put him on the pond
I placed him in the water
Just to see him swim
Just to watch him move through the water
Well, ya want everything
You desire everything
In the latest style
In the most current trend
But I've got wise
But I have become aware
Unto your line of jive
About your way of living
Well, if you don't love me
If you don't have feelings for me
Why don't you tell me so?
Why don't you communicate that with me?
I know you don't love me
I am aware that your feelings for me have faded
Baby, no mo'
Anymore
I can't play no piano
I cannot play the piano
But I wish I could
However, I wish I had that skill
I got a woman
I have a partner
Don't mean me no good
Who is not treating me well
You know that papa got your water on
You are influenced by others in your life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN LEE WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cora Visser
Love it this Blues.Brilliant .
Vesa Walamies
The musicians from left to right are Elmore James, Aleck "Rice" Miller alias Sonny Boy Williamson n:on 2, Tommy McClennan & Little Walter. This picture was taken in Chicago, sometimes in 1950's.
Keith Randall
No, it's Earl Phillips, the superb drummer, not McLennan. And THIS Sonny Boy Williamson in the pic is not the one on the record...
Zack May guitar
awesome, on spotify it says this is by sonny boy williamson 2
ssurfcity
Incorrect.
Mark A Miller
They are incorrect.
Arjun Upadhya
"i cant play no piano but i wish i could i got a woman dont mean me no good"
Yaron Ben-Ami
That's the other Sonny Boy in the picture, Rice Miller. The Sonny Boy who sings this song is John Lee Williamson.
Keith Randall
That's right, Yaron Ben-Ami. Those two men are confused so often on YouTube, it's ridiculous.
Dale McFarland
"Bottle Up and Go" or "Bottle It Up and Go"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_Up_and_Go