About the song
The “Blue Yodel” songs, a series of thirteen compositions by Jimmie Rodgers spanning from 1927 until his death in 1933, represent a significant fusion of blues, jazz, and folk influences that defined early country music. These songs, characterized by their 12-bar blues structure and Rodgers’ trademark yodel refrains, became iconic in American musical history.
Jimmie Rodgers, influenced by his background in minstrel shows and his experiences as a railroad worker, crafted a distinctive style that blended elements from both black and white musical traditions. Partnering with producer Ralph Peer, Rodgers popularized what was then termed “hillbilly” music, later recognized as a precursor to country music. The “blue yodel” itself, inspired by Rodgers’ exposure to Swiss yodeling during a chance encounter, added a unique vocal flourish that distinguished his recordings.
The debut of “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” in 1928 marked a watershed moment, capturing the imagination of listeners nationwide and setting off a record-buying frenzy. Rodgers’ subsequent blue yodels, including “My Lovin’ Gal, Lucille”, “California Blues”, and “Mule Skinner Blues”, each contributed to his meteoric rise as a country music star during the Great Depression era.
Beyond their commercial success, Rodgers’ blue yodels left a lasting legacy on American music. They not only influenced contemporaries like Bob Wills and the Everly Brothers but also extended their reach into diverse genres such as bluegrass and rock. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Townes Van Zandt are among the many artists who paid homage to Rodgers by covering his iconic yodels, underscoring their enduring appeal and influence.
Rodgers’ ability to blend the storytelling traditions of folk music with the expressive techniques of blues and jazz laid a foundation for subsequent generations of country musicians. His songs, with their evocative lyrics and infectious melodies, continue to resonate with audiences today, ensuring that the legacy of the “Blue Yodel” songs endures as a cornerstone of American musical heritage.
Video
Lyrics
T for Texas, T for Tennessee
T for Texas, T for Tennessee
T for Thelma
That gal that made a wreck out of meO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee
If you don’t want me mama
You sure don’t have to stall, Lawd Lawd
If you don’t want me mama
You sure don’t have to stall
‘Cause I can get more women
Than a passenger train can haulO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee
I’m gonna buy me a pistol
Just as long as I’m tall, Lawd, Lawd
I’m gonna buy me a pistol
Just as long as I’m tall
I’m gonna shoot poor Thelma
Just to see her jump and fallO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee
I’m goin’ where the water
Drinks like cherry wine, ding on boys, ding ’em
Lord I’m goin’ where the water
Drinks like cherry wine
‘Cause the Georgia water
Tastes like turpentineO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee
I’m gonna buy me a shotgun
With a great long shiny barrel
I’m gonna buy me a shotgun
With a great long shiny barrel
I’m gonna shoot that rounder
That stole away my galO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee
Rather drink muddy water
Sleep in a hollow log
Rather drink muddy water
And sleep in a hollow log
Than to be in Atlanta
Treated like a dirty dogO-de-lay-ee-a-lay-ee-o-ly-ee