Blues Song In The Spotlight: Robert Johnson-I Believe I'll Dust My Broom

According to Wikipedia;

"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded by Robert Johnson, the legendary Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. It was released on the ARC Records label under the title of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom. The song was later recorded and released on the Trumpet Records label by blues singer and guitarist Elmore James and became a surprise rhythm and blues hit in 1952. James version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

Robert Johnson's version of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom", had been originally derived from Kokomo Arnold's adaption of "Sagefield Woman Blues". Elmore James took the song from Johnson.

James closely followed Johnson's lyrics and included a bottleneck guitar blues riff used frequently by Johnson but not on his recording of this song. James' first recording was in 1951 for Trumpet Records with Sonny Boy Williamson playing the harmonica and Odie Johnson on bass. James also recorded it under the title "Dust My Blues". He became closely associated with Johnson's song, using the melody for some of his own songs as well and playing it in bottleneck or slide guitar, while Johnson's original was finger picked.

Lyrics:

I'm gointa get up in the mornin
I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gointa get up in the mornin
I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend the black man you've been lovin
girlfriend can get my room

I'm gonna write a letter
telephone everytown I know
I'm gonna write a letter
telephone every town I know
If I can't find her in West Helena
she must be in East Monroe I know

I don't want no woman
wants every downtown man she meets
I don't want no woman
wants every downtown man she meets
She's a no good dooney
they shouldn't allow her on the street

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
You can mistreat me here babe,
but you can't when I'm back home

And I'm gettin up in the mornin
I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin up in the mornin
I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend the black man you been lovin
girlfriend can get my room

I'm gonna call up Chiney
see is my good girl over there
I'm gonna call up China
see is my good girl over there
I can't find her on Phillipine's island
she must be in Ethiopia somewhere



Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings

Robert Johnson @Amazon.com