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
Stormy Monday Blues
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 home to me
The lyrics of T-Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday Blues" describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair. The singer is experiencing a difficult time in their life, and each day seems to bring more trouble than the last. The song is about the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of pain and frustration.
The repeated line "They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad" emphasizes the idea that even though the singer may have some brief moments of reprieve, their suffering is ongoing. The line "Yes the eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play" suggests that the singer may turn to alcohol or other vices to temporarily escape their problems, but they find no lasting comfort in these pursuits. The song concludes with a plea for mercy and a desire to be reunited with their loved one, the one bright spot in an otherwise bleak existence.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stormy Monday Blues" paint a picture of a life weighed down by sadness and pain, with occasional moments of temporary relief. The song is a powerful expression of emotional struggle and the desire for comfort and escape.
Line by Line Meaning
They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad
The issues I face on Monday continue to trouble me on Tuesday
Wednesday's worse, and Thursday's also sad
The problems keep increasing as the week progresses
Eagle flies on Friday, and Saturday I go out to play
Despite the difficulties, I look forward to the weekend for relaxation
Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray
I seek spiritual guidance and support to overcome my troubles
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
Asking God for help and forgiveness
Lord have mercy, my heart's in misery
I feel emotional pain and distress due to my hardships
Crazy about my baby, yes, send her home to me
Longing to be reunited with my loved one for comfort and solace
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aaron T-Bone Walker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shaun Lester
You've gotta love a piece of music that blows you away just as much on the fiftieth listen as it did on the first. Some things really are timeless
T K
some of the finest blues ever played; it doesn't get much better than this.
ptong226
thank you T-bone for writing a great classic that ALL great bluesmen must play
SALİH ÇELİKKOL
Tbone Walker is one of the greatest blues musicians. his songs live forever.
mathmss
This solo can rival Duane's and Dickey's solos on Fillmore, such gracious arpeggios!
Ed Burton
Very fitting, since T-Bone wrote, recorded and played this song when Dickey and Duane were still in their diapers. And since almost all modern Blues guitarists are (knowingly or unknowingly) working from the model laid by T-Bone's "gracious arpeggios". (And those before him, too).
Allampedup Guitar
Like EVH said..."Yeah, anyone can play like I do....but I composed it!"
T-Bone, your legacy lives on, maybe someday we'll meet but until then, it is my honor to have this song be the first one I ever perform live...when I am worthy.
Pat Hesselgrave
T Bone was so talented....love this song!!!
Bjørn Åsmund Vaa
Me too 💙
Michael Curran
I have heard Stormy Monday played by so many groups back in the fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond but T-Bone's original recording or stylising tells it all.