Blind Lemon Jefferson will probably always be my favorite blues singer. He’s got a great sense of timing, both musically and verbally, as this song bears out. When people think of great riffs in country blues, Lemon probably does spring to mind, but more likely for tunes like Rabbit Foot Blues. I submit this tune - the lick he plays at the 10th fret under the opening verse is an absolute killer, and totally economical. Musically, the song has a lot in common with one of the songs Lemon recorded early in his career, Got The Blues, but is less “showy,” and more rhythmic. The lyrics are also more closely tied to a particular theme, which is consistent with his later recordings.

As a picture of almost total domestic dysfunction, this tune cracks me up.

blind_lemon_jefferson-that_crawlin_baby_blues.mp3

That Crawlin’ Baby Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson

Little baby crying, well, what do his mama mean*
Little baby crying, what do his mama mean
He’s crying about his sweet milk, and she won’t feed his [jersey] cream

Crawled from the fireplace and [he] stopped in the middle of the floor
Well, he crawled from the fireplace, stopped in the middle of the floor
Said, “Mama ain’t that your second daddy, standing back there in the door?”

Well, she grabbed my baby, spanked him, I tried to make her leave him alone
Says [I] grabbed my baby , spanked him, I tried to make her leave him alone
I tried my best to stop her, she said the baby ain’t none of mine

Some woman rocks the cradle and I declare she rules her home
Woman rocks the cradle, I declare she rules her home
Many a man rocks some other man’s baby, the fool thinks he’s rocking his own

Well [at] late last night when I learnt the crawling baby’s news
I say it was late last night when I learnt the crawling baby’s news
My woman threw my clothes outdoors, now I got the crawling baby blues

* I’ve always understood this line to mean “A little baby crying, that treats his mother mean” - as borne out by the next verse. Never could make out the last part of the first verse - Jersey cream? I dunno…