This post provides information about the term "jim crow" and lyrics & sound files of Josh White's "Jim Crow Blues" and "Jim Crow Train".
The content of this post is provided for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
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WHAT "JIM CROW" MEANS
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws:
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities in Southern states of the former Confederacy, with, starting in 1890, a "separate but equal" status for African Americans. The separation in practice led to conditions that tended to be inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages.-snip-
A person of color who is "jim crowed" meant/means that person was/is treated in a discriminatory manner [treated worse than White people in general because of one's race/ethnicity.]
A "Jim Crow town" is one whose White residents had discriminatory laws & customs.
It seems to me that the phrases "Jim crowed" and "Jim crow town" have been rarely used since at least the 1980s. However, there are still mentions at least in political circles of people wanting to bring "Jim Crow" back.
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/huddie-leadbetter-jim-crow-blues.html for information & my comments about the origin of the term "jim crow".
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sOUND FILE & LYRICS: JIM CROW BLUES [Josh White]
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE by Josh White 1941 JIM CROW SONG
Uploaded by cdbpdx on Jun 5, 2010
Joshua White sings Jim Crow songs on the Keynote record album Southern Exposure, recorded in 1941. The melody in this song sounds a lot like 'Careless Love'. Enjoy!
-snip-
LYRICS: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE
(Josh White)
[guitar playing]
Well I work all the week in the blazing sun.
Lord I work all the week in the blazing sun.
Lord I work all the week in the blazing sun.
Can’t buy my shoes Lawd when my pay day comes
I ain’t treated no better than a mountain goat.
I ain’t treated no better than a mountain goat.
I ain’t treated no better Lawd than a mountain goat.
Boss takes my crop and poll tax takes my vote.*
[guitar playing]
I’m leavin here ‘cause I just can’t stay.
Yes, I’m leavin here just can’t stay.
Lord, I’m lea, leavin here ‘cause I just can’t stay.
I’m goin where I can get more decent pay.
[guitar playing]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from sound file. Corrections & additions are welcome. [Update- Thanks to Clyde Pickens, October 12, 2015 for corrections to this transcription.]
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SOUND FILE & LYRICS: JIM CROW TRAIN (Josh White)
JIM CROW TRAIN by Josh White 1941 JIM CROW SONG
Uploaded by cdbpdx on Jun 5, 2010
Joshua White sings Jim Crow songs on the Keynote record album Southern Exposure, recorded in 1941. Enjoy!
-snip-
LYRICS: JIM CROW TRAIN (Josh White)
[guitar playing ]
Can't you hear that train whistle blow?
Can't you hear that train whistle blow?
Can't you hear that train whistle blow?
Lord, I wish that train wasn't Jim Crow.
[guitar playing ]
Stop the train so I can ride this train.
Stop Jim Crow so I can ride this train.
Stop Jim Crow so I can ride this train.
Black and White folks ridin side by side.
[guitar playing ]
Now hear that train whistle blow.
Can’t you hear that train whistle blow.
Can’t you hear that train whistle blow
Oh-o Lord this train is Jim crow.
[guitar playing ]
Damn that Jim Crow.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions and corrections are welcome.
-snip-
Here's a comment about this song from http://uncensoredhistoryoftheblues.purplebeech.com/2009/09/show-43-jim-crow-blues.html
"Like Leadbelly, Josh White began to address political issues in a straightforward manner in his songs. In 1941, he recorded Jim Crow Train, a classic protest song against the Southern system. It also features one of the great recorded train imitations: [lyric excerpt posted]"
-snip-
That blog includes comments & lyric excerpts from several other Blues songs about Jim Crow beginning with the 1925 song about leaving Jim Crow conditions behind, "Northbound Blues" by Maggie Jones.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & THANKS
Thanks to Josh White for composing and performing these songs about Jim Crow and other great songs. My thanks also to cdbpdx for uploading these two songs files on YouTube, and the editor of the blog "Uncensored History Of The Blues" for showcasing information about & examples of Blues songs that mention or refer to "Jim Crow".
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
I had this album as a kid in the 1950s. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Peter.
DeleteI wish I had known about Josh White when I was a kid in the 1950s.
Oh well, better late than never.
Going through my mother's record collection and found this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, HappyBrownGirl.
DeleteDo you mean your mother has actual Josh White records, or she has a link to this site?
I clicked your name and plan to visit your blogs.
Thanks again!
"Southern Exposure" is one of 8 songs on Josh White's 1950s album STRANGE FRUIT. A guitar-playig high school friend in Greenville, SC, Josh White's hometown, had the album and we tried to learn all the songs. One correction to the above lyrics: The line is, "Can't BUY my shoes, Lawd, when payday comes." As I recall, there was another stanza that ended with the line, "Lost my job, can't even get on the WPA," but I can't verify that.
ReplyDeleteClyde Pickens, thanks for your comment and corrections to my transcription.
DeleteI've added your corrections to this post.
Best wishes!