Juke

(In homage to Muddy Waters and the Chicago Blues)


Kerosene can thumping,
Plunking broom wire diddleybow.
Starlit dirt path in Delta night,
Single tree aglow with
homemade lanterns,
A little coal oil fuel,
Snip of mule plow line
makes a wick.

Sound filled Saturday night
juke joint,
Guitar blues played
from cane bottomed chair.
Drink beer from a cup
or whiskey right out of the bottle,
Women dance, lift the skirt
a little higher, little higher.
There’s gambling,
sometimes food.
Make a few bucks,
Little something on the side.

Kerosene can thumping,
Plunking broom wire diddleybow,
Puts them on the train
to Chicago.
Now he got a guitar
with a fine DeArmond pickup,
Now he got a big sound
for the big town.
Make a few bucks that way,
Little something on the side.

From Mississippi Delta to
Jewtown Maxwell Street
Swing town about to turn,
from sweet to strong and blue
Modern, modern, for it
sings about right now!

Kerosene can thumping,
Plunking broom wire diddleybow.
Muddy and Jimmy
Play Chicago Chess.
The king moves one
big square at a time
Till he takes the town.

Electric America!
Cane bottom chair
in quiet country
To raw Midwest stage
in noisy city.
Rolling and tumbling
big blues men
Sweep the country,
Cross the ocean,
Change the world.

Made a living that way.
Full time.