Robert Brown (b 15 July 1910, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas – d 6 November 1966, C… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Brown (b 15 July 1910, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas – d 6 November 1966, Chicago), known professionally as Washboard Sam, was an American blues singer and musician.

Reputedly the half-brother of Big Bill Broonzy, Brown moved to Memphis in the 1920s, performing as a street musician with Sleepy John Estes and Hammie Nixon. He then moved to Chicago in 1932, performing regularly with Broonzy, and appearing with him and other musicians including Memphis Slim and Tampa Red on innumerable recording sessions for Lester Melrose of Bluebird Records.

In 1935 he began recording in his own right for both Bluebird and Vocalion Records, becoming one of the most popular Chicago blues performers of the late 1930s and 1940s, selling numerous records and playing to packed audiences. His deep strong voice and talent for creating new songs overcame his stylistic limitations.

By the 1950s, his audience began to shrink, largely because he had difficulty adapting to the new electric blues. His final recording session was held in 1949, he retired from music for several years, and became a Chicago police officer. He recorded a session in 1953 with Big Bill and Memphis Slim, and made a modest but short-lived comeback as a live performer in the early 1960s.

Washboard Sam is buried at Washington Memorial Cemetery in Homewood, Illinois.

References
^ Pearlin, Victor, Washboard Sam Complete Recorded Works Vol.7 31 July 1942 to 27 October 1949, Document Records, 1993.

Ain't That a Shame
Washboard Sam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was sittin' here thinkin'
My mind way, away
I had a good home
But my woman run me away

Ain't that a shame?
Yes, ain't that a shame?
Woman, you gon'

Need my help someday

I used to give my woman money
Deposit fives and tens
Now, them good times are gone, babe
They'll never happen. again

Now, ain't that a shame?
Lord, ain't that a shame?
Woman, you gon'
Need my help someday

'Play it once, play it once'

(instrumental & guitar)

Yas, yas

Now, I don't mistreat nobody
'Cause you got a few dimes
You are up today, rider
But you won't be up all the time

Ain't that a shame?
Lord, ain't that a shame?
Woman, you gon'
Need my help someday

Lordy, Lordy
Now, Lordy, Lord
I used to be yo' reg'lar
But now I gotten to be yo' dog

Now, ain't that a shame?
Lord, ain't that a shame?
Woman, you gon
Need my help someday

Now when I was in jail
You was far away
But when you got the news
You said, 'Let old Washboard, stay'

Now, ain't that a shame?
Lord, ain't that a shame?
Woman, you gon
Need my help someday.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Washboard Sam's "Ain't That A Shame" tell the story of a man who was once happy with his home and his woman, but now finds himself alone and bitter due to his woman running him away. The lyrics express the man's sense of injustice and betrayal, as he reflects on the good times that he had with his woman and the money he used to give her, which she now seems to have forgotten. The man warns his woman that she will eventually need his help again, and that she should have treated him better when she had the chance.

The song captures the feeling of heartbreak and resentment, as the man mourns the loss of his relationship and struggles to come to terms with his newfound loneliness. The repeated refrain of "Ain't that a shame?" emphasizes the man's disbelief and disappointment at the way things have turned out, while the instrumental sections and guitar solos add to the song's emotional depth and intensity.

Overall, "Ain't That A Shame" is a powerful blues song that speaks to the universal themes of love, loss, and regret, and it remains a classic example of the blues genre to this day.

Line by Line Meaning

I was sittin' here thinkin'
I was lost in thought.

My mind way, away
My mind was far away.

I had a good home
I used to have a good home.

But my woman run me away
But my woman made me leave the home.

Ain't that a shame?
Isn't that a pity?

Yes, ain't that a shame?
Yes, it is a pity.

Woman, you gon'
Woman, you are going to

Need my help someday
Require my help in the future.

I used to give my woman money
I used to give my woman money.

Deposit fives and tens
I would deposit five or ten dollar bills.

Now, them good times are gone, babe
Those good times are now in the past.

They'll never happen. again
They will never happen again.

Lord, ain't that a shame?
Lord, isn't that a pity?

Yas, yas
Yes, yes

Now, I don't mistreat nobody
I do not mistreat anyone.

'Cause you got a few dimes
Just because you have a little bit of money.

You are up today, rider
You are doing well today, my friend.

But you won't be up all the time
But you will not always be doing well.

Lordy, Lordy
Lord, oh Lord

Now, Lordy, Lord
Now, Lord, oh Lord

I used to be yo' reg'lar
I used to be your regular.

But now I gotten to be yo' dog
But now I have become your dog.

Now when I was in jail
When I was in jail.

You was far away
You were far away.

But when you got the news
But when you got the news.

You said, 'Let old Washboard, stay'
You said, 'Let old Washboard stay'.

Woman, you gon
Woman, you are going to

Need my help someday.
Require my help in the future.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Antoine Domino, Dave Bartholomew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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