Walker was born in Linden, Texas of African and Cherokee descent. Walker's parents, Movelia Jimerson and Rance Walker, were both musicians. His stepfather, Marco Washington, taught him to play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, violin, mandolin and piano.
Early in the 1920s, the teenage Walker learned his craft among the street-strolling string bands of Dallas. His mother and stepfather (a member of the Dallas String Band) were musicians, and family friend Blind Lemon Jefferson sometimes joined the family for dinner. Walker left school at age 10, and by 15, he was a professional performer on the blues circuit. Initially, he was Jefferson's protégé and would guide him around town for his gigs. In 1929, Walker made his recording debut with a single for Columbia Records, "Wichita Falls Blues"/"Trinity River Blues," billed as Oak Cliff T-Bone. Oak Cliff was the community he lived in at the time and T-Bone a corruption of his middle name. Pianist Douglas Fernell was his musical partner for the record.
Walker married Vida Lee in 1935 and the couple had three children. By the age of 26 Walker was working the clubs in Los Angeles' Central Avenue, sometimes as the featured singer and guitarist with Les Hite's orchestra.
His distinctive sound developed in 1942 when Walker recorded "Mean Old World" for Capitol Records. Much of his output was recorded from 1946–1948 on Black & White Records, including 1947's "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)", with its famous opening line, "They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad". He followed up with his "T-Bone Shuffle" and "Let Your Hair Down, Baby, Let's Have a Natural Ball". Both are considered blues classics.
Throughout his career Walker worked with the top quality musicians, including Teddy Buckner (trumpet), Lloyd Glenn (piano), Billy Hadnott (bass), and Jack McVea (tenor sax).
Following his work with Black & White, he recorded from 1950-54 for Imperial Records (backed by Dave Bartholomew). Walker's only record in the next five years was T-Bone Blues, recorded over three widely separated sessions in 1955, 1956 and 1959, and finally released by Atlantic Records in 1960.
By the early 1960s, Walker's career had slowed down, in spite of a hyped appearance at the American Folk Blues Festival in 1962 with Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon, among others. A few critically acclaimed albums followed, such as I Want a Little Girl. Walker recorded in his last years, 1968 - 1975, for Robin Hemingway's Jitney Jane Songs music publishing company, and he won a Grammy Award in 1971 for Good Feelin' (Polydor), produced by Robin Hemingway. "Fly Walker Airlines", Polydor, also produced by Hemingway, was released in 1973.
T-Bone Walker died in 1975, at the age of 64. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Walker's influence extended beyond his music. Chuck Berry called Walker and Louis Jordan (as well as Jordan's guitarist, Carl Hogan) his main influences. T-Bone Walker was the childhood hero of Jimi Hendrix, and Hendrix imitated some of Walker's ways throughout his life. Years before Hendrix, Walker was playing guitar with his teeth or in strange positions.
Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
Bye Bye Baby
T-Bone Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I love you, can't stand the way you do
Well, you telling me it's true now and that's alright for you
Bye bye, baby baby, bye bye
Bye bye, baby baby, bye bye
Bye bye, baby baby, don't cry
Sometimes I wonder, why don't she write to me?
If I've been a bad fellow, I didn't intend to be
Baby baby, come back home to me
Baby baby, come back home to me
You know I love ya baby, my old time used to be
In T-Bone Walker's song "Bye Bye Baby," the singer expresses his love for someone despite their flaws. He cannot stand the way they behave, and they tell him the truth, which makes things easier for them but not for him. The singer bids farewell to his beloved, telling her not to cry as he leaves. The singer wonders why his paramour does not write to him and apologizes if he has been a bad fellow. He implores his lover to come back home to him, reminding her of the love they shared in the past.
As a love song, "Bye Bye Baby" carries the theme of lovers parting ways on a sour note, with the singer acknowledging that while he loves his paramour, he cannot tolerate their behavior. The singer seems torn between his love for his partner and his desire to be treated better. T-Bone Walker's soulful voice adds to the poignancy of this song, which is part of his legacy as a crucial figure in the development of blues music.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I love you, can't stand the way you do
I love you deeply, but your actions are hurting me.
Well, you telling me it's true now and that's alright for you
You are informing me that it is over and that's okay for you.
Bye bye, baby baby, bye bye
Farewell, my beloved, farewell.
Bye bye, baby baby, don't cry
Goodbye, don't shed your tears for me.
Sometimes I wonder, why don't she write to me?
I often ponder why you haven't reached out to me.
If I've been a bad fellow, I didn't intend to be
If I've wronged you, it was never my intention.
Baby baby, come back home to me
My darling, return to me and let's reignite our love.
You know I love ya baby, my old time used to be
You know I have a deep affection for you, as you were once my partner during the good old days.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Aaron T-Bone Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hullabawho
One of my favourite tenor solos. Love T-Bone's use of riffing horns on his tunes.
@StopyerBitchin
Thanks for posting!
@56guitarnutz
Good music...period
@paulfisher3596
An original. Laid down some classic guitar riffs appropriated by loads of later blues, R&B & rock artists, including Chuck Berry and Hollywood Fats, 2 of my faves.