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Blues topics...

Why?
This page is a complementation to the search engine and offers a quicker and easier way to select all the lyrics for a specific topic of interest.

How?
Further down this intro you'll find a list of topics that are available. A song may have more then one topic of this list and can therefore be listed under several main and/or sub-topics.

What and what not?
This is by no means an attempt to categorize ALL lyrics and ALL topics. Only topics of a specific social relevance OR theme are available and only those lyrics that have main or sub-topics beyond the "usual" blues topics such as love, heartache, bad luck, "your every day blues", etc. AND that have such a specific topic of social relevance Or theme are listed. Adding the standard blues topics may be an option at a later point in time.



Available topics so far:

alcohol/liquor/booze/drugs	gambling	prison
animals	good times & fun	prostitution
christmas & new year	jealousy	religion
death & violence	love sickness & heartache	ships/planes/trains/cars
depression & hard times	metaphorical sex(uality)	war
discrimination & racism	natural disasters & deseases
folk heroes	occult & superstition
food & cooking	politics

As of July 9, there are 388 entries
* additions of July 2000

Alcohol/liquor/booze/drugs

Main topic
99 Year Blues, by Hot Tuna
Advice Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Alcohol And Jake Blues, by Tommy "Snake" Johnson
Bad Bad Whiskey, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Blues And Booze, by Ma Rainey
Canned Heat Blues, by Tommy "Snake" Johnson
Cherry Red Wine, by Luther Allison
Cocaine Done Killed My Baby, by Mance Lipscomb
Dirty Mother For You, by Memphis Minnie
Doctor, Doctor Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Drinking Blues, by Lucille Bogan
Drunken Hearted Man (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Drunken Hearted Man (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
Drunken Spree, by Skip James
* Give It Up (Smoking), by A.C. reed
Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down, by Big Bill Broonzy
Kick Hit 4 Hit Kix U (Blues For Jimi And Janis), by John Lee Hooker
Moonshine, by Memphis Minnie
Old Jim Canan's, by Robert Wilkins
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, by John Lee Hooker
One Kind Favor, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Revenue Man Blues (Version 1), by Charley Patton
Revenue Man Blues (Version 2), by Charley Patton
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Sloppy Drunk, by Jimmy Rogers
When I Been Drinkin', by Big Bill Broonzy
Whiskey And Good Times Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Whisky Selling Woman, by Lucille Bogan

Sub topic
Conversation With The Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Fine Booze And Heavy Dues, by Lonnie Johnson
Reachin' Pete, by Memphis Minnie
You Can't Get That Stuff No More, by Tampa Red


Animals

Main topic
Best Jockey In Town, by Lonnie Johnson
Catfish, by Skip James
Crawdad Hole, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Crawling Black Spider, by John Lee Hooker
Crawling King Snake, by John Lee Hooker
Dead Cats On The Line, by Tampa Red
Dead Shrimp Blues, by Robert Johnson
Frankie Jean (That Trottin' Fool), by Memphis Minnie
Groundhog Blues, by John Lee Hooker
Groundhog Blues, by Lil' Son Jackson
Hound Dog, by Susan Tedeschi
If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home), by Memphis Minnie
Jimmy Crack Corn (The Blue Tail Fly), by Big Bill Broonzy
Let Me Play With Your Poodle, by Tampa Red
Little Cow And Calf Is Gonna Die Blues, by Skip James
Milkcow's Calf Blues (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Milkcow's Calf Blues (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
* Mosquito Moan, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Police Dog Blues, by Blind Arthur Blake
Plymouth Rock Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Stinging Snake Blues, by Memphis Minnie
The Crawdad Song (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
The Crawdad Song (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy

Sub topic
Bill Crowin' Rooster Blues, by Lonnie Johnson
Black Cat Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Cat Man Blues, by Blind Boy Fuller
Dirt Dauber Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Don't Fish In My Sea, by Ma Rainey
Got The Blues For Murder Only, by Lonnie Johnson
Hole In The Wall, by Memphis Minnie
Hungry Calf Blues, by Blind Boy Fuller
Louise, Louise, by Big Bill Broonzy
Louise, Louise Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Pea Vine Special, by John Lee Hooker
Sylvester And His Mule, by Memphis Minnie
The Duck Yas-Yas-Yas, by Tampa Red
You'll Never Miss Your Jelly Till Your Jelly Roller's Gone, by Lil Johnson


Christmas & new year

Main topic
Happy New Year, Darling, by Lonnie Johnson

Sub topic
Airplane Blues, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Hellhound On My Trail, by Robert Johnson

Death & violence

Main topic
99 Year Blues, by Hot Tuna
.20-20 Blues, by Skip James
32-20 Blues, by Robert johnson
Baby, I Knocked On Your Door, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Coolin' Board, by Blind Willie McTell
Crow Jane, by Big Bill Broonzy
Crow Jane, by Skip James
Cypress Grove Blues, by Skip James
Death Don't Have No Mercy, by Hot Tuna
Death Room Blues, by Blind Willie McTell
Delia, by Blind Willie McTell
Duncan And Brady (Version 1), by Leadbelly
Duncan And Brady (Version 2), by Leadbelly
'Lectric Chair Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Evil In The Air, by Michael Hill's Blues Mob
Fixin' To Die Blues, by Bukka White
Got The Blues For Murder Only, by Lonnie Johnson
* Hangman's Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
I'm Mad Again, by John Lee Hooker
I'll Go With Her Blues, by Robert Wilkins
Lost Lover Blues, by Blind Boy Fuller
Louis Collins, by Mississippi John Hurt
Low Down St. Louis Blues, by Lonnie Johnson
Making Whoopee In Hell Tonight, by Lonnie Johnson
Me And The Devil Blues (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Me And The Devil Blues (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
Racketeer's Blues, by Lonnie Johnson
Sleepy Man Blues, by Bukka White
Stack O'Lee Blues, by Mississippi John Hurt
Strange Place Blues, by Bukka White
The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues, by Blind Willie McTell

Sub topic
Hard Hearted Woman, by Big Walter Horton
Keep On Walkin', by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Sam, You're Just A Rat, by Lonnie Johnson
Tin Pan Alley, by Big Walter Horton
Trouble In Mind (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Trouble In Mind (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy


Depression & hard times

Main topic
Can't Recall A Time, by Michael Hill's Blues Mob
Hard Time Killing Floor, by Skip James
I Been Down In The Circle Before, by Samson Pittman
* Last Time Around, by A.C. Reed
Poor Man's Blues, by Bessie Smith
Poverty, by Bobby "Blue" Bland
Recession Blues, by B.B. King
Sylvester And His Mule, by Memphis Minnie
This Is My Job, by Michael Hill's Blues Mob
Walk On Hot Coals, by Rory Gallagher
Welfare Blues, by Samson Pittman
Why We Play The Blues, by Michael Hill's Blues Mob

Sub topic
Sun Gonna Shine In My Door, by Big Bill Broonzy

Discrimination & racism

Main topic
Black, Brown And White (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Black, Brown And White (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Freedom, by Luther Allison
I Wonder When I'll Get To Be Called A Man, by Big Bill Broonzy

Sub topic


Folk heroes

Main topic
Casey Jones, by Mississippi John Hurt
Joe Turner Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Joe Turner No. 2 (Blues of 1892), by Big Bill Broonzy
John Henry, by Big Bill Broonzy
John Henry, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Winner Joe, by Lil Johnson

Sub topic



Food & cooking

Main topic
Anybody Here Want To Buy My Cabbage?, by Lil Johnson
Diggin' My Potatoes (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Diggin' My Potatoes (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Digging My Potatoes, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Get 'em From The Peanut Man (Hot Nuts) (Version 1), by Lil Johnson
Get 'em From The Peanut Man (Hot Nuts) (Version 2), by Lil Johnson
Get 'em From The Peanut Man (The New Hot Nuts), by Lil Johnson
Good Biscuits, by Memphis Minnie
I'm Crazy About Pie, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
I Crave My Pigmeat, by Blind Boy Fuller
If You Can Dish It (I Can Take It), by Lil Johnson
I'm Gonna Bake My Biscuits, by Memphis Minnie
I Want Some Of Your Pie, by Blind Boy Fuller
* Junk Food, by A.C. reed
Keep On Eating, by Memphis Minnie
Malted Milk, by Robert Johnson
Meat Balls, by Lil Johnson
My Butcher Man, by Memphis Minnie
Sam, The Hot Dog Man, by Lil Johnson
They're Red Hot, by Robert Johnson

Sub topic
Beautiful But Dumb, by Lonnie Johnson
Coffee Grindin' Blues, by Lucille Bogan
Traveling Riverside Blues, by Robert Johnson
Wants Cake When I'm Hungry, by Memphis Minnie
You'll Never Miss Your Jelly Till Your Jelly Roller's Gone, by Lil Johnson


Gambling

Main topic
Gamblin' Blues, by Lil' Son Jackson
Georgia Skin, by Memphis Minnie
Little Queen Of Spades (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Little Queen Of Spades (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
The Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues, by Blind Willie McTell
You're My Best Poker Hand, by T-Bone Walker

Sub topic
Broke Down Engine, by Blind Willie McTell
Good Girl Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Hustlin' Woman Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Race The Breeze, by Rory Gallagher
Walk On Hot Coals, by Rory Gallagher


Good times & fun

Main topic
Everybody Rockin', by John Lee Hooker
Good Time Tonight, by Big Bill Broonzy
Let The Good Times Roll, by B.B. King
Playing With My Friends, by B.B. King
Pretty Little Girl, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Sub topic
Whiskey And Good Times Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy


Jealousy

Main topic
Diggin' My Potatoes (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Diggin' My Potatoes (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Digging My Potatoes, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Don't Answer The Door, by B.B. King
I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town, by Big Bill Broonzy
She's Mine, by John Lee Hooker

Sub topic


Love sickness & heartache

Main topic
After You've Gone, by Bessie Smith
Ain't Nothing You can Do, by Bobby "Blue" Bland
All Over Again, by B.B. King
Almost Lost My Mind, by Albert King
As The Years Go Passing By, by Albert King
Baby Won't You Please Come Home, by Bessie Smith
Big Bill Blues (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Big Bill Blues (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Blind Man, by Bobby "Blue" Bland
Blues At Midnight, by B.B. King
Call It Stormy Monday, by B.B. King
Coolin' Board, by Blind Willie McTell
Crazy Crying Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Dark Is The Night, by B.B. King
Darlin' You Know I Love You, by B.B. King
Dirty Mistreater, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Don't Get Around Much Anymore, by B.B. King
Hollerin' And Cryin' The Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
How Long Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
I Gets The Blues When It Rains, by Big Bill Broonzy
I'm Wanderin', by John Lee Hooker
In The Eveing, by Big Bill Broonzy
Lonesome, by Big Bill Broonzy
Louise, Louise, by Big Bill Broonzy
Louise, Louise Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
My Baby Leavin', by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
My Dream, by John Lee Hooker
My First Wife Left Me, by John Lee Hooker
Niji Baby, by B.B. King
Please Don't Go, by John Lee Hooker
Please Help Me Get Him Off My Mind, by Besse Smith
Rockin' Chair, by John Lee Hooker
Saturday Evening Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Send Me Your Pillow, by John Lee Hooker
Slowly Losing My Mind, by B.B. King
Southbound Train (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Southbound Train (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Southbound Train (Version 3), by Big Bill Broonzy
Three O'Clock Blues, by B.B. King
Three O'Clock In The Morning, by B.B. King
Turn On Your Love Light, by Bobby "Blue" Bland
Woke Up This Morning (My Baby's Gone), by B.B. King
You'll Never Miss Your Jelly Till Your Jelly Roller's Gone, by Lil Johnson

Sub topic

Metaphorical sexuality

Main topic
All Around Man, by Bo Carter
Banana In Your Fruit Basket, by Bo Carter
Best Jockey In Town, by Lonnie Johnson
Bumble Bee (Columbia), by Memphis Minnie
Bumble Bee (Vocalion), by Memphis Minnie
Bumble Bee No. 2, by Memphis Minnie
Candyman, by Hot Tuna
Coffee Grindin' Blues, by Lucille Bogan
Diddie Wa Diddie, by Blind Arthur Blake
Don't Mash My Digger So Deep, by Bo Carter
I'm Crazy About Pie, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
If You Can Dish It (I Can Take It), by Lil Johnson
If You See My Rooster (Please Run Him Home), by Memphis Minnie
I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl, by Bessie Smith
Meat Balls, by Lil Johnson
Merry Go Round Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
My Butcher Man, by Memphis Minnie
My Pencil Won't Write No More, by Bo Carter
New Bumble Bee, by Memphis Minnie
Please Warm My Wiener, by Bo Carter
Press My Button (Ring My Bell), by Lil Johnson
Right Now, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Sam, The Hot Dog Man, by Lil Johnson
Stingaree, by Charlie Musselwhite
Take It Easy, Greasy, by Lil Johnson
Terraplane Blues, by Robert Johnson
That Good Old Jelly, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Wild About That Thing, by Bessie Smith
You've Got To Give Me Some, by Bessie Smith
What's The Matter With The Mill, by Memphis Minnie

Sub topic
Go Back To Your No Good Man, by Lonnie Johnson
Stavin' Chain, by Lil Johnson


Natural disasters

Drought

Main topic
Dry Well Blues, by Charley Patton
Dry Spell Blues (Version 1), by Son House
Dry Spell Blues (Version 2), by Son House

Sub topic

Fire
Call The Fire Wagon, by Memphis Minnie
Garage Fire Blues, by Memphis Minnie

Main topic

Sub topic
Moon Goin' Down, by Charley Patton

Flood

Main topic
Back Water Blues (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Back Water Blues (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Backwater Blues, by Bessie Smith
High Water Everywhere (Part 1), by Charley Patton
High Water Everywhere (Part 2), by Charley Patton
Rising High Water Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Southern Flood Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Tupelo, by John Lee Hooker

Sub topic
Joe Turner Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Joe Turner No. 2 (Blues of 1892), by Big Bill Broonzy

Plague (insects, desease)

Main topic
Boweavil Blues, by Bessie Smith
Cotton Farmer Blues, by Samson Pittman
Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues, by Charley Patton
Memphis Minnie-Jitis Blues, by Memphis Minnie
* Pneumonia Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson

Sub topic


Ocult & superstition

Main topic
Black Cat Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Dirt Dauber Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Hoodoo Lady, by Memphis Minnie
I Got My Mojo Working, by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Sub topic


Politics

Main topic
Democrat Man, by John Lee Hooker

Sub topic

Prison & jail

Main topic
Blues And Booze, by Ma Rainey
Chain Gang Blues, by Ma Rainey
Country Farm Blues, by Son House
Hammer Blues, by Charley Patton
High Sherrif Blues, by Charley Patton
Jailhouse Blues, by Bessie Smith
Jailhouse Blues, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Lover's Crime, by The Fabulous Thunderbierds
Midnight Special, by Leadbelly
Nashville Stonewall Blues, by Robert Wilkins
Parchman Farm Blues, by Bukka White
Pickpocket Blues, by Bessie Smith
Police Sergeant Blues, by Robert Wilkins
* Prison Cell Blues, by Blind Lemon Jefferson
Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair, by Bessie Smith
Tom Rushen Blues, by Charley Patton
When Can I Change My Clothes, by Bukka White

Sub topic
In Your Town, by Rory Gallagher
Moonshine, by Memphis Minnie
Reachin' Pete, by Memphis Minnie
Spoonful Blues, by Charley Patton
Sun Gonna Shine In My Door, by Big Bill Broonzy
You Gonna Quit Me Baby, by Blind Arthur Blake


Prostitution

Main topic
Down In Boogie Alley, by Lucille Bogan
Down In The Alley, by Memphis Minnie
Hustlin' Woman Blues, by Memphis Minnie
They Ain't Walking No More, by Lucille Bogan
Tricks Ain't Walking No More, by Memphis Minnie
You Can't Give It Away, by Memphis Minnie

Sub topic


Religion

Main topic
Death Don't Have No Mercy, by rev. Gary Davis
Genesis, by Hot Tuna
God Don't Never Change, by Blind Willie Johnson
God Moves On The Water, by Blind Willie Johnson
Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River, by rev. Gary Davis
Good Girl Blues, by Memphis Minnie
Heart Of An Angel, by The Jeff Healey Band
I Am The Light Of This World (1), by rev. Gary Davis
I Am The Light Of This World (2), by rev. Gary Davis
I Am The Light Of This World, by Hot Tuna
In My Time Of Dyin', by Blind Willie Johnson
It's Nobody's Fault But Mine, by Blind Willie Johnson
Jesus Is Coming Soon, by Blind Willie Johnson
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning, by rev. Gary Davis
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning, by Hot Tuna
Lord, Stand By Me, by rev. Gary Davis
Moon Is Goin' Down, by rev. Gary Davis
Oh Glory, How Happy I Am, by rev. Gary Davis
Oh Lord, search My Heart, by Hot Tuna
Samson And Delilah, by rev. Gary Davis
Soul Of A Man, by Blind Willie Johnson
There's Destruction In This Land, by rev. Gary Davis
Twelve Gates To The City, by rev. Gary Davis

Sub topic
Call It Stormy Monday, by B.B. King
Dry Spell Blues (Version 1), by Son House


Ships, airplanes, trains & automoblies

Ships

Main topic
Down At The Landing, by John Lee Hooker
God Moves On The Water, by Blind Willie Johnson
Life Saver Blues, by Lonnie Johnson
The Waterfront, by John Lee Hooker

Sub topic

Airplanes

Main topic
Flyin' Airplane Blues, by Blind Boy Fuller

Sub topic
Airplane Blues, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Good Mornin' Li'l School Girl, by John Lee Hooker

Trains

Main topic
Chickasaw Train Blues (Low Down Dirty Thing), by Memphis Minnie
Cuttin' Out, by John Lee Hooker
Freedom Train, by Lil' Son Jackson
Get Away Blues, by Robert Wilkins
Hobo Blues, by John Lee Hooker
Locomotive, by Susan Tedeschi
Long Train Coming, by Robert Wilkins
Mystery Train, by The Paul Butterfield Band
Pea Vine Special, by John Lee Hooker
Race The Breeze, by Rory Gallagher
Shorty George 2, by Leadbelly
Southbound Train (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Southbound Train (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Southbound Train (Version 3), by Big Bill Broonzy
Spike Driver Blues, by Mississippi John Hurt
The Rock Island Line, by Leadbelly
This Train, by Big Bill Broonzy

Sub topic
B & O Blues #2, by Blind Willie McTell
Cherry Ball Blues, by Skip James
Counting The Blues, by Ma Rainey
'Frisco Town, by Memphis Minnie
Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied (Version 1), by Mississippi John Hurt
How Long Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
How Long Blues, by John Lee Hooker
I'm Going Don't You Know, by Memphis Minnie
Louisiana Blues, by Big Bill Broonzy
Love In Vain (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Love In Vain (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
My Baby Leavin', by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Rambling On My Mind (Take 1), by Robert Johnson
Rambling On My Mind (Take 2), by Robert Johnson
Rolling Stone, by Robert Wilkins
Trouble In Mind (Version 1), by Big Bill Broonzy
Trouble In Mind (Version 2), by Big Bill Broonzy
Two Trains Running, by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Where Did My Baby Go?, by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Automobiles

Main topic
Me And My Chauffeur Blues, by Memphis Minnie
* Woman In A Pick Up, by A.C. reed

Sub topic
Garage Fire Blues, by Memphis Minnie


War

Main topic
Ain't Gonna Study War, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
Gonna Lay My Body Down, by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
I Don't Wanna Go To Vietnam, by John Lee Hooker
Ration Blues, by Louis Jordan
Soldier's Blues, by Michael Hill's Blues Mob
(My Feet Are Killing Me, Marching In) The Infantry, by Louis Jordan
Vietcong Blues, by Junior Wells

Sub topic
Happy New Year, Darling, by Lonnie Johnson
I Wonder When I'll Get To Be Called A Man, by Big Bill Broonzy

Site created by:
Bluesman Harry
Page last updated on:
December 21 2000