James Burke "St. Louis Jimmy" Oden (June 26, 1903 - December 30, 1977), was… Read Full Bio ↴James Burke "St. Louis Jimmy" Oden (June 26, 1903 - December 30, 1977), was an American blues vocalist and songwriter.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Jimmy Oden sang and taught himself to play the piano in childhood. In his teens, he left home to go to St. Louis, Missouri (c. 1917) where piano-based blues was prominent. He was able to develop his vocal talents and began performing with the gifted pianist, Roosevelt Sykes. After more than ten years playing in and around St. Louis, in 1933 he and Sykes decided to move on to Chicago.

In Chicago he was dubbed St. Louis Jimmy and there he would enjoy a solid performing and recording career for the next four decades. While Chicago became his home base, Oden traveled with a group of blues players to various places throughout the United States. He recorded a large number of records, his best known coming in 1941 on the Bluebird Records label called Goin' Down Slow. Oden wrote a number of songs, two of which, Take the Bitter with the Sweet and Soon Forgotten, were recorded by his friend, Muddy Waters.

In 1948 on Aristocrat Records Oden cut Florida Hurricane, accompanied by the pianist Sunnyland Slim and the guitarist Muddy Waters.

In 1949, Oden partnered with Joe Brown to form a small recording company called J.O.B. Records that remained in business for twenty-five years.

After a serious road accident in 1957 he devoted himself to writing and placed material with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf (What a Woman!) and John Lee Hooker. In 1960 he made an album with Bluesville Records, and sang on a Candid Records session with Robert Lockwood, Jr. and Otis Spann.

Oden died, at the age of 74, in 1977 and was interred in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, near Chicago.

Poor Boy Blues
St. Louis Jimmy Lyrics

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A kiss for a smile
Soaring for a while
Seeing pictures in the sky
Painting pictures in my mind
Oh, I love you
Why can't you see it
Hearts beating yours is racing
Can you feel it?

Then I didn't know you
Although I wish I had
And we had the same dream
But how could you know that
I see all your fishes
I see where you go
I swear I had the same dream
Been here before

A kiss for a smile
Soaring for a while
Seeing pictures in the sky
Painting pictures in my mind
Oh, I love you
Why can't you see it
Hearts beating yours is racing
Can you feel it?

Look all your thoughts up as the morning arrives
Wanna see all your wardrobe as the sun begins to shine
Look all your thoughts up as the morning arrives
Wanna see all your wardrobe as the sun begins to shine

Still all rain above you
Still all rain above you

How would you know?
How would you know?
How would you, would you, would you know?
How would you know?
How would you know?
How would you, would you, would you know?

Poor little boy didn't know that you would ever find love
How could you know
Poor little boy didn't know that you would ever fall in love
Oh, please don't go
Poor little boy didn't know that you would ever find love

How could you know
Poor little boy didn't know that you would ever fall in love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Poor Boy Blues" by St. Louis Jimmy Oden depict the longing and yearning of someone deeply in love with another person. The singer expresses their affection by offering a kiss in exchange for a smile, soaring high on this love, and seeing vivid images and paintings in their mind's eye. They declare their love for the other person and question why they cannot see it too. The mention of hearts beating and racing indicates the strong emotional connection between them.

The singer reflects on their past, admitting that they didn't know the person before but wishes they had. They claim to have had the same dream as the other person, although it is unclear if it refers to a shared aspiration or a literal dream. They proclaim to see everything about the other person, their actions, and their destination, suggesting a deep connection or possibly déjà vu.

The chorus repeats the initial sentiment of exchanging a kiss for a smile and highlights the singer's frustration that the object of their affection does not realize their love. The verse shifts to a more straightforward description, stating a desire to observe the other person's thoughts and wardrobe as the morning arrives and the sun shines. This might symbolize a longing to know them on a deeper level, to understand their inner thoughts and witness their true identity.

The refrain of "Still all rain above you" suggests a lingering sadness or burdensome emotions that the person carries.

In the final section, the singer addresses the object of their affection directly, empathizing with their lack of knowledge about finding love and falling in love. They ask them not to go and express the hope that this love will be discovered.

Overall, "Poor Boy Blues" captures the emotional intensity, longing, and frustrations of unrequited love, as the singer yearns for their affection to be seen and reciprocated.

Poor Boy BluesSt. Louis Jimmy Lyrics

Poor Boy Blues
St. Louis Jimmy Lyrics