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.

I've Been Treated Wrong
Washboard Sam Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know my real name
I don't know when I was born
I don't know my real name
I don't know when I was born
The trouble I've been havin'
Seem like I was raised in an orphan home

My mother died and left me

When I was only two years old
My mother died and left me
When I was only two years old
And the trouble I've been havin'
The good Lord, only knows

I been treated like an orphan
And been worked, just like a slave
I been treated just like an orphan
And I've been worked, just like a slave
And if I never get my revenge
Evilness will carry to my grave

Play it one time

Now, I've been havin' trouble
Ever since I've been grown
Now, I've been havin' trouble
Ever since I've been grown
I'm too old for the orphan
And too young for an old folks home

Play it boys, play it, play it
Yes, yes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Washboard Sam's song "I've Been Treated Wrong" centers around the singer's identity crisis and the struggles he has faced throughout his life. The opening verses demonstrate that the singer does not know much about himself--he doesn't know his real name or when he was born. He also reveals that he has been having troubles which are similar to those experienced by someone who was raised in an orphanage.

Further into the lyrics, he shares that his mother passed away when he was only two years old, leaving him alone in the world at an early age. He feels that the troubles he has been dealing with since then--which are unknown to the listener--are only known by God. Possibly, he feels like an outcast, alone and vulnerable, and has been treated like a slave by others.

The last set of verses demonstrates that the singer is still struggling even in his old age. He feels as if he has never belonged anywhere or loved the people around him. Perhaps he is feeling displaced and forgotten, as though he is neither young or old enough to fit in anywhere. He warns that unless he gets revenge, the bitterness that he has experienced throughout his life could follow him to the grave, demonstrating his deep frustration.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know my real name
I have no knowledge about my true identity

I don't know when I was born
I am unaware of my date of birth

I don't know my real name
I have no knowledge about my real name

I don't know when I was born
I am unaware of the day I came into this world

The trouble I've been havin' Seem like I was raised in an orphan home
I have been having a tough time which feels like I was raised in an orphanage

My mother died and left me When I was only two years old
My mother passed away when I was just two years of age

My mother died and left me When I was only two years old And the trouble I've been havin' The good Lord, only knows
Ever since my mom passed away, I have been struggling in life, and only the Almighty knows how challenging it has been

I been treated like an orphan And been worked, just like a slave
I have been treated terribly, like an orphan and made to work like a slave

I been treated just like an orphan And I've been worked, just like a slave And if I never get my revenge Evilness will carry to my grave
I have been treated like an orphan, and made to work strenuously, like a slave. If I don't get even with those who wronged me, I will take it with me to my resting place

Now, I've been havin' trouble Ever since I've been grown
I have been facing complications since I reached adulthood

Now, I've been havin' trouble Ever since I've been grown I'm too old for the orphan And too young for an old folks home
Since I am no longer a child, it's too late for an orphanage, yet too early to move to an old folks home

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT BROWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS