Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry (October 24, 1911-March 11, 1… Read Full Bio ↴Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry (October 24, 1911-March 11, 1986), was a blues musician. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on October 24, 1911, and died on March 11, 1986 in Mineola, New York. He was most widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.

His father, a farmer, taught him to play basic blues harp as a youth. He sustained injuries to his eyes at a young age which eventually prevented him from doing farm work himself. In order to earn a living Sonny was now forced to play music. He began playing in Shelby, North Carolina. After his father died he began playing with Piedmont-style guitarist Blind Boy Fuller. When Fuller died, he established a long-standing musical relationship with Brownie McGhee, and the pair recorded numerous tracks together. The duo became well-known, even among white audiences, as they joined the growing folk movement of the 1950s and '60s. This included collaborations with Woody Guthrie and Moses Asch, producing Folkways Records (now Smithsonian/Folkways) classic recordings.

In 1938 Sonny Terry was invited to play at Carnegie Hall for the first From Spirituals To Swing concert and later that year he recorded for the Library of Congress. In 1940 Sonny Terry recorded his first commercial sides.

Despite their fame as "pure" folk artists, in the 1940s, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee fronted a jump band combo with honking saxophone that was variously called Brownie McGhee and his Jook House Rockers or Sonny Terry and his Buckshot Five.

Terry was also in the 1947 original cast of the Broadway musical comedy Finian's Rainbow.

Blowin' The Blues
Sonny Terry Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Sonny Terry:

All Alone Blues I love you baby, tell the world I do Way you…
Betty & Dupree Betty told Dupree, "I want a diamond ring." (2x) …
Big House Blues Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no…
Big-Legged Woman Big legged woman now, where have you been? I ain't had…
Change The Lock On My Door My baby done changed Yes, she done changed the lock on…
Cornbread And Peas I don't want, no cornbread, peas, black molasses I don't wan…
Crow Jane Blues Crow Jane, Crow Jane, babe, hold your head so high You…
Diggin' My Potatoes Oh, you been diggin' my potatoes, crampin' on my farm Oh,…
Dirty Mistreater Don't You Know Came home last night, feelin′ sad and blue My baby done…

Dirty Mistreater, Don't You Know Came home last night, feelin' sad and blue My baby done…
Don't Mistreat Me [Chorus] Don't mistreat me, mama When you know you doin' wro…
Don't You Lie To Me Let's talk it over baby 'fore we start I heard about…
Down By The Riverside I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside, Down…
Down By the Riverside I'm gonna lay down my burden, down by the riverside, Down…
Freight Train Hey, to hear that old train blow Makes me feel like…
Glory I'm gonna tell God how you treat me, yes sir I'm…
Glory Glory I'm gonna tell God how you treat me, yes sir I'm…
Goin' Down Slow I have had my fun if I never get well…
Hold Me In Your Arms I'm down now babe Sunday I'll be free I'm gonna treat everyb…
House Lady Early every morning the house lady comes to me She's the…
I Got A Woman Well, I got a woman way over town That's good to…
I Got Fooled Walkin' down the street this mornin' Full of my good gin A…
I Got My Eyes on You My baby says she's leavin' me, and I ain't done…
I Know Better I'm surrounded by my enemies, mean me no good Every time…
I Love You Baby I love you, baby, baby, please don't go Well, I love…
I Need A Woman Well, I got a woman way over town That's good to…
I'm a Stranger Here I'm a stranger, just blowed in your town So I want…
Jail House Blues Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no…
Jailhouse Blues Now, the prison gate have opened, for me at last Be…
John Henry John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Key to the Highway I've got the key to the highway Billed out and…
Life Is A Gamble Get out the cards and they wouldn't notch it Get on…
Lost John Gonna tell you the story About old lost John Lost John was…
Midnight Special One day, one day, Sir I was walking along I heard that…
My Baby Done Changed the Lock on the Door My baby done changed Yes, she done changed the lock on…
New Careless Love Love, oh love, oh careless love You've fly through my head…
One Monkey Don't Stop The Show My baby jumped up this morning 'n' sat on the side…
po boy Po' boy, long way from home Woo,ooh, long way from home I…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Stranger Here I'm a stranger, just blowed in your town So I want…
Telephone Blues Well, my home in Texas, here I am in Tennessee Well,…
That's Why I'm Walking [Incomprehensible] I wake just like a flame Sixteen long ho…
The Devil's Gonna Get You I had a talk with the Devil, said he needs…
The New John Henry When John Henry was a little baby Sitting on his daddy's…
Thinkin' And Worrying Well, just thinkin', thinkin' and I'm worrying Sitting here …
Wrong Track I've been all around the world Baby now I've just got…

Ya Ya Oh, well, I'm sittin' here, la, la Waiting for my ya…

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TRACKS