Brownie McGhee was born in Kingsport, Tennessee and suffered from polio as a child, which incapacitated his leg. He spent much of his youth immersed in music, singing with local harmony group (the Golden Voices Gospel Quartet) and teaching himself the guitar. His real success did not come until his 1942 relocation to New York City, where he was teamed up with Sonny Terry. The pairing was an overnight success, recording and touring extensively until the early 1970s.
Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry, 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.
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.
Despite their fame as "pure" folk artists, in the 1940s, Sonny and Brownie fronted a jump blues combo with honking saxophone that was variously called Brownie McGhee and his Jook House Rockers or Sonny Terry and his Buckshot Five.
Keep On Walking
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Lyrics
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Sixteen long hours drive you in your grave
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
You can't plant cotton and expect to gather corn
Can't take right peoples, and sure make it wrong
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
I once had a car, it was painted white and black
Couldn't keep up the payments, the man, he come and took it back
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
I wouldn't tell a mule to get up, if he set down in my lap
Yes, that's what killed my old grandpap
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
I got them old coffee grounds in my coffee, big bo weavils1 in my fields
Tacks in my shoes keep on stickin' me, in my heels
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
You used to be my sweet milk, now, you sour on me
Since we're not together, you're not sweet like you used to be
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
Paper boy hollerin' extree, have you read the news
Just shot the woman I love, got that walkin' blues
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
The song "Keep on Walking" by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee reflects the struggles of a person who is facing hardship and difficulties in life. The singer in the song is dealing with a harsh boss, financial troubles, and even personal loss. The lyrics suggest that walking is a way to escape those burdens and blues. As the singer repeats the line "That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away," it is clear that walking provides a sense of release and freedom from the difficulties of life.
The first verse describes a cruel boss who is overworking the singer, making them feel like a slave. The use of the phrase "drive you in your grave" suggests that the singer is being pushed to their limit. The second verse speaks to the idea that you can't make something right out of something wrong, suggesting that the singer may have been dealt a bad hand in life, but they are doing their best to make the most of it.
The third and fourth verses touch on financial struggles, with the singer losing a car and the memory of a grandfather who may have been taken advantage of in some way. The fifth verse speaks to physical discomfort, with "coffee grounds" in the singer's coffee, "big bo weevils" in the fields, and "tacks in my shoes" causing pain.
The final verse is a bit of a twist, with the news of a loved one's death due to violence. It reinforces the idea that walking can be a way to deal with pain and trauma.
Overall, "Keep on Walking" is a song about perseverance in the face of adversity, and the idea that even when things seem tough, there is always the possibility of a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
The bossman was so mean, you know, I worked just like a slave
I was treated horribly by my boss and had to work like a slave.
Sixteen long hours drive you in your grave
Working for 16 hours straight can be incredibly exhausting and can harm a person's health.
That's why I'm walkin', walkin' my blues away
I'm trying to forget about my troubles by walking.
Well, the sun gonna shine, in my backdoor some day
I believe that good things will happen to me in the future.
You can't plant cotton and expect to gather corn
You can't expect a good outcome if you don't put in the right kind of effort.
Can't take right peoples, and sure make it wrong
It's wrong to take advantage of people's goodness and make it seem like they're doing something bad.
I once had a car, it was painted white and black
I used to have a car that was painted in a two-tone color scheme.
Couldn't keep up the payments, the man, he come and took it back
I lost my car when I couldn't afford to make the payments, and the lender repossessed it.
I wouldn't tell a mule to get up, if he set down in my lap
I wouldn't want to bother anyone who seems comfortable and content.
Yes, that's what killed my old grandpap
My grandfather's failure to respect the comfort of others may have caused his death.
I got them old coffee grounds in my coffee, big bo weavils1 in my fields
I'm dealing with problems such as coffee grounds in my cup and destructive insects in my fields.
Tacks in my shoes keep on stickin' me, in my heels
I keep getting injured by the tacks that seem to be stuck in my shoes.
You used to be my sweet milk, now, you sour on me
You were once kind and caring, but things have changed and now you're unpleasant.
Since we're not together, you're not sweet like you used to be
Our separation has caused you to change and become less pleasant.
Paper boy hollerin' extree, have you read the news
News is being announced loudly by a newspaper boy.
Just shot the woman I love, got that walkin' blues
I'm feeling down and upset after losing the woman I love to a tragic event.
Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.