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
Call It Stormy Monday
T-Bone Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad
Wednesday's worse, and Thursday's also sad
Yes the eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play
Eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray
Lord have mercy, my heart's in misery
Crazy about my baby, yes, send her back to me
In T-Bone Walker's "Call It Stormy Monday," the singer observes that although people tend to refer to Monday as a stormy day, the rest of the week is equally challenging. Tuesday is "just as bad," Wednesday is worse, and Thursday is "also sad." The singer then describes his routine for the weekend: on Friday, he watches the eagle fly, and on Saturday, he goes out to play. On Sunday, he attends church and prays for mercy, as he is "crazy about [his] baby" and hopes she will be returned to him.
While the song contains references to the days of the week, it is likely that the days are symbolic rather than literal. The repeated phrase "Lord have mercy" suggests that the singer is experiencing some kind of hardship, and the mention of his love for his baby indicates that the hardship may be related to a relationship. The weekend activities he describes may be his attempt to distract himself from his troubles.
Overall, the song paints a picture of someone who is struggling and seeking comfort in religion and weekend activities. The use of specific days of the week emphasizes the cyclical nature of the singer's experience and highlights the idea that each day is equally difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad
Mondays aren't the only bad days. Tuesdays are just as bad.
Wednesday's worse, and Thursday's also sad
Wednesdays are even worse, and Thursdays are sad too.
Eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play
I get through the tough week and enjoy my weekend.
Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray
After a weekend of fun, I go to church and pray for guidance.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
I need help and guidance from God.
Lord have mercy, my heart's in misery
I am in pain and suffering, please help me.
Crazy about my baby, yes, send her back to me
I miss my loved one and want them to return to me.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aaron T-Bone Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind