Back in the U.S.A., Sue is gaining recognition as one of the world's top female ragtime pianists. Appearances have included featured performances at events such as the Ragtime-Jasstime festival in Alexandria Bay, NY, the Zender's ragtime festival in Frankenmuth, MI; the prestigious Scott Joplin festival in Sedalia, the World Old-Time Piano Championship in Decatur, IL., ragtime festivals in Millbridge Village and New Oxford, PA; and the West Coast Ragtime Festival in Fresno, CA.
Sue's most recent projects have employed a unique and exciting digital recording process. Her first CD released in 1992, KelleRIZED, includes both contemporary and traditional ragtime, old-time novelty, and stride pieces. Ol' Muddy, continues in this regard and received favorable mention in Keyboard magazine. Nola, released in late 1993 has also received high marks in the Rag Times, West Coast Rag, Cadence, and LA Jazz Scene. Also available are Ragtime Sue and I Got What It Takes, both on compact disc and cassette. Sue is currently working on a new pre-1920s blues CD.
In pursuit of her endeavor to promote the ragtime form, Sue has established The Ragtime Press , devoted to the publication of original sheet music. She currently resides in Oak Forest, IL, under her married name of Mrs. Howard Vigorita.
St. Louis Blues
Sue Keller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man till the day I die
In Sue Keller's song "St. Louis Blues", the lyrics reveal a sense of sadness and heartbreak due to the departure of a loved one. The opening lines "I hate to see that evening sun go down, Cause my baby, he's gone left this town" expresses a deep sense of loss and longing for the departing lover. The singer goes on to sing about how she feels just as melancholic about the possibility of feeling the same way the following day with the lyrics, "Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today, If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today, I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way". This mirrors how the singer's pain has deeply affected her and how she struggles to find comfort.
Furthermore, the song mentions a woman with a diamond ring who is capable of controlling a man's movements. The lyrics express the belief that the singer's loved one would have been held captive by this woman's controlling personality, as stated here: "St. Louis woman with her diamond ring, Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her, That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere." This hints that there could have been a love triangle that led to the singer's heartache, which makes this song personal and relatable to anyone who has experienced unrequited love.
Overall, "St. Louis Blues" is a timeless song that speaks deeply to the emotions of those who have ever experienced heartbreak and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see that evening sun go down
The singer is unhappy to see the sunset because it reminds her that her lover has left town.
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
The singer's lover has left town and she is upset about it.
Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
The singer expects to feel just as unhappy tomorrow as she does today.
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
The singer expects to feel just as unhappy tomorrow as she does today.
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
The singer plans to leave town if she continues to feel unhappy tomorrow.
St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
The singer is referring to a woman from St. Louis who has a diamond ring.
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
The St. Louis woman is able to control her man and keep him from leaving because of her wealth and status.
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
Without the St. Louis woman, the singer's lover would not have been successful and able to leave town.
I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
The singer is feeling very sad and unhappy, which is why she has the St. Louis blues.
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
The singer's lover is very stubborn and unfeeling.
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
The singer believes that her lover would not have left her if he had any real feelings for her.
I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
The singer loves her lover with a strong and pure love, like a school boy loves his favorite dessert.
Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
The singer loves her lover with a deep and genuine love, like a Southern gentleman loves his favorite drink.
I love my man till the day I die
The singer will love her lover for the rest of her life, no matter what happens.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Christopher Handy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cameron Smith
Astounding. I have been listening to this recording for 10 years now. The skill, interpretation and musicality I find is mesmerising!
Dansorganmusic
Go, Sue! This is one of the best performances I've heard of this piece, and it's easy to tell why it's one of the most famous blues pieces ever recorded.
Bucken
Wow, just... wow! You are just awesome! You really take command over that piano! I loved it :D
Jon V
I love this!!
unknownkingdom
I saw her a few years ago in Sedalia, Missouri, which is where Scott Joplin lived when he wrote 'Maple Leaf Rag.' Anyway, her performance was quite striking and remembered it well enough to look her up on Youtube today.
Barry Jackson
Just love that piano!
kokede
amazing performance. wow. really blown away by her skills.. who is she? ..
Stephen Mark
Outstanding!
Jc Reinhardt
Cool Sue! You add just the right touch to a great song.
chillinandmemeing
awsome, this girl can really smash and blow. this is one of the best piano preformances i've ever seen ^o^