Tom Rushen Blues
by 
Charley Patton 
recording of 1929-1934 
from 
Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020) 
Laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee 
I laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee 
But when I woke up, Tom Rushen 
was shakin' me 
When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm 
When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm 
Tom Rushen will take you, back to the prison house flyin' 
It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm 
It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm 
Mister Day 
brought whiskey taken from under Halloway's head 
An' it's boozy booze, now, Lord, to cure these blues 
It takes boozy boo', Lord, to cure these blues 
But each day seems like years in the jailhouse where there is no boo' 
I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around 
I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around 
If he lose his office now, he's runnin' from town to town 
Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me 
Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me 
Aw, he caught me yellin', I was drunk as I could be 
__________ 
Note 1: Tom Rushen was the town sheriff of 
Merigold 
, Mississippi, around the time Patton recorded this song 
Note 2: Tom Day had been the predecessor in office. This couplet undoubtedly remarks on the procedure of taking seized liquor to the county courthouse in order to establish proof of an illegal still. Mississippi was a "dry" state well beyond WO II, I believe until the late sixties.