The composer of St Louis Blues, W.C. Handy reportedly said he had been inspired to write the song by a chance meeting with a woman on the streets of St. Louis distraught over her husband's absence, who lamented, "Ma man's got a heart like a rock cast in de sea".
lyrics
LYRICS:
I hate to see that evening sun go down,
Hate to see that evening sun go down,
'Cause my gal, she done left this town.
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today.
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today,
I'm gonna pack my bags, make my getaway.
St. Louis woman with all her diamond rings.
Has got this man wrapped 'round her apron strings.
T'wan't for powder and for store-bought hair,
That gal of mine would not have gone nowhere, nowhere.
I've got the St. Louis blues, just as blue as I can be.
That gal, she's got a heart like a rock down in the sea,
Or else she would have not gone oh so far from me.
'Cause I loved that gal like a schoolboy loves his pie.
Like an old Kentucky colonel loves hisRussian Rye.
Yeah, I'll love that girl until the day I die.
credits
from Sweet Sue,
released November 18, 2013
Song: W. C. Handy (music and lyrics) (1914)
Band: Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters.
Singer - Greg Poppleton
Saxes (soprano / alto / tenor) and Clarinet - Paul Furniss
Trumpet and Trombone - Al Davey
Guitar - Grahame Conlon
Double Bass - Darcy Wright
Double Bass - Mark Harris
Drums - Lawrie Thompson
Album Cover Design:
Damon Poppleton (Age 10)
Engineers,
Peter Gage, Peter O'Malley and Paul Mirtschin.
With a doff of the hat to Jimmy Vargas who organised the session.
supported by 11 fans who also own “St Louis Blues”
I love this ENTIRE album!!! How to chose a favourite (Well Read Baby?!) Keenan's album is a tour de force of songs that were written now, but he's so totally internalized the style that they sound like they are from another century! The musicianship, arrangements, and the voice of Laura Windley are great. This is my fave vocal showing from Laura, too! (and she has lots of great records) Can't recommend this highly enough Alex P