Joe Turner Blues
arranged by 
Big Bill Broonzy 
recording of July 12-13 1957, Chicago 
from House Rent Stomp (Blues Encore CD 52007), 
(spoken: 
This is a song was sung back in 18 and 92. 
There was a terrible flood that year. 
People lost everything they had. 
Their crops, their live stock. 
That means their horses, their mules, cows, 
goats and everything they had on their farm. 
And they would start cryin' and singin' this song) 
They tell me Joe Turner been here and gone 
Lord, they tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone 
They tell me, Joe turner been here and gone 
(spoken: 
Then they would go out hunting rabbits, 'coons, 
'possoms, anything they could catch. 
Sometimes they would catch something, then again they didn't. 
And when they would come home, they would find flour, 
meat and molasses, in their homes, 
and they would know that Joe Turner had been there and left food for them. 
And they would start cryin' and singin' this song) 
They tell me Joe Turner been here and gone 
Lord, they tell me, that Joe turner been here and gone 
They tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone 
(spoken: 
Then they would start out lookin' for wood and stuff to make a fire. 
And they would look in their yards, and they would find axes, wood, 
that Joe Turner had brought there for them. 
Then they would get happy, and start singin' and cryin' this song. 
And they would get happy and do a little 
boogie-woogie 
too) 
__________ 
Note: This is a story about a legendary character, Joe Turner, who "was two men - the white man who gave - the Negro who rode on a mule to deliver - the sack of cornmeal, the cut of meat, to the have-nots down in the slave quarters"