Born Willie James Mabon, and brought up in Memphis, he had become known as a singer and pianist by the time he moved to Chicago in 1942. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording for the Aristocrat label, and then Chess. His style contrasted with many Chess artistes – it was cool and jazzy, emphasising piano and saxophone rather than guitar and harmonica.
His biggest success came in 1952 when his debut solo release, "I Don't Know", topped the Billboard R&B chart for eight weeks. He picked it up from the older boogie-woogie pianist, Cripple Clarence Lofton. It was one of the most popular releases of its era, becoming Chess' biggest hit in the period before Chuck Berry's and Bo Diddley's success. It also became one of the first R&B hit records to be covered by a leading white artist, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Mabon's original was played on Alan Freed's early radio shows and also sold well to white audiences, crossing over markets at the start of the rock and roll era.
Mabon returned to the top R&B slot in 1953 with "I'm Mad", and had another hit with Mel London penned "Poison Ivy" in 1954. However, his career failed to maintain its momentum, and record releases in the late 1950s on a variety of labels were largely unsuccessful. After a lull he repeated the process more modestly in the early 1960s with "Got To Have Some" and "I'm The Fixer".
After moving to Paris in 1972, he recorded and toured in Europe, as well as playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, until his death in April 1985.
Legacy:
Mabon's song "I Don't Know" was covered by The Blues Brothers.
His song "Just Got Some" was covered by Rod Stewart.
"Seventh Son", first recorded by Mabon in 1955, has since been covered by a number of artists including Johnny Rivers, John Mellencamp, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Mose Allison, Sting, Climax Blues Band,and Long John Baldry.
His coolly humorous, slightly effeminate style greatly impressed the English R&B singer and keyboard player, Georgie Fame.
I'm Mad
Willie Mabon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the wonderful water, around the curve
And everything that's, in the world
I hops up and marries her, Glamour girl
I'm mad, you've done me wrong this time, baby
I'm mad, and you have the nerve to try to be glad
Axe my baby, but she stands to see me cry
She said yes, I could stand to see you buried alive
I'm mad, you've done me wrong this time, baby
I'm mad, And you have the nerve to try to be glad
Now I can go down to the bottom of the sea
Count the grains of sand, beat through muddy water and spy dry land
I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad
And you have the nerve to try to be glad
Now everybody wants to know about the clothes
But them fine dresses I've been buying you, you don't wear them no more
Won't be any more washing, and hanging outside the wall
I'm gonna mighty wonder, running on catch them before they fall
I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad
And you have the nerve to try to be glad
I'm mad
at you for doing me wrong this time, baby. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a relationship with a woman who has betrayed him in some way, causing him to become angry and resentful. He accuses her of having the nerve to try to be glad despite her actions. The singer's anger is further emphasized when he mentions that even though his girlfriend left him, she said she could stand to see him buried alive, revealing a deep level of resentment and bitterness towards her. The final verses suggest that he will leave her and search for someone else, taking all the fine clothes he bought for her back as she doesn't wear them anymore.
The song is characterized by Willie Mabon's distinctive piano playing style, a rolling boogie-woogie with call-and-response vocal parts that are shouted over the music. The overall mood of the song is one of anger and frustration, which is emphasized by the use of repetition and rhythmic emphasis. The lyrics speak to a universal theme of betrayal and bitterness in relationships, making it relatable to many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Great round wonderful, beautiful world
The world is an amazing and beautiful place.
And the wonderful water, around the curve
The water all around the world is also beautiful.
And everything that's, in the world
Everything in this world is important and valuable.
I hops up and marries her, Glamour girl
If he finds a girl who he likes, he wants to marry her.
I'm mad, you've done me wrong this time, baby
He is angry because someone has hurt him.
I'm mad, and you have the nerve to try to be glad
He is angry because the person who hurt him is acting like nothing happened.
Axe my baby, but she stands to see me cry
He imagines asking his significant other to leave, but she tells him she wouldn't like him to cry.
She said yes, I could stand to see you buried alive
She confirms that she could handle seeing him suffer greatly, since he made her upset.
Now I can go down to the bottom of the sea
He is saying that he is so angry that he can do anything.
Count the grains of sand, beat through muddy water and spy dry land
He believes that he can accomplish any difficult task.
Now everybody wants to know about the clothes
People are asking about the clothes he has been buying for his significant other.
But them fine dresses I've been buying you, you don't wear them no more
She no longer wears the dresses he has bought for her, which makes him frustrated.
Won't be any more washing, and hanging outside the wall
He plans to stop cleaning and hanging clothes for her to show his frustration.
I'm gonna mighty wonder, running on catch them before they fall
He will try to catch her clothes before they fall to the ground.
I'm mad, I'm mad, I'm mad
He is very upset.
And you have the nerve to try to be glad
He is upset that the person who hurt him is acting like nothing happened.
Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.