• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from Blues Scene about music & art.

The Burney Sisters: Americana Trio from Columbia, Missouri Ready to Set Sail on Cayamo Cruise

January 27, 2023

Dani Wilde Premieres Video for Nostalgic New Single ‘I Miss The World’

January 27, 2023

10 Things You Didn’t Know About J.J. Cale

January 26, 2023

Listen: Colemine Records to Posthumously Release Fred Davis LP, ‘Cleveland Blues’

January 26, 2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»The Language of the Blues: "CABBAGE"
News

The Language of the Blues: "CABBAGE"

Debra DeviBy Debra DeviMay 9, 20132 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Cabbage
Cabbage
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

This is the grand return of our weekly series, The Language of the Blues, where author and rocker Debra Devi focuses on the meaning and significance of a unique word used in blues song. Come back every week for the latest! Devi’s The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to ZuZu is now available at Bluescentric.com!

Cabbage
Cabbage

The blues are rife with food metaphors for genitalia. There’s cabbage, cake, jellyroll, and pie for women, and bacon, hambone, hot dog, jellybean, and lemon for men. Cabbage was also slang for money during the 1940s and 1950s. In “Empty Bed Blues,” Bessie Smith teased:

He boiled my first cabbage and he made it awful hot
When he put in the bacon it overflowed the pot

The use of these innocent-sounding metaphors, however, depended on what the artist judged the audience could handle. On the recording of “Low Down Blues,” Jelly Roll Morton sang:

I got a sweet woman she lives right back of the jail
She’s got a sign on her window “Good cabbage for sale”

During one of his Library of Congress sessions with Alan Lomax, though, Morton changed the last line to the blunter “good pussy for sale.”

Songs:
“Empty Bed Blues”- James C. Johnson, recorded by Bessie Smith
“Low Down Blues”- Jelly Roll Morton (Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe)

“Empty Bed Blues” – Bessie Smith

Alan Lomax Bessie Smith Cabbage Jelly Roll Morton The Language of the Blues
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleThe Best of "Don't Call Her Larry Blues Mix" Delivers Fine, Sultry Blues
Next Article Fats Domino's Katrina-Damaged Piano Restored
Debra Devi
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Debra Devi is a rock musician and the author of the award-winning blues glossary The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu (foreword by Dr. John). www.debradevi.com

Related Posts

Listen: Colemine Records to Posthumously Release Fred Davis LP, ‘Cleveland Blues’

January 26, 2023

Savoy Brown to Release ‘Blues All Around’ After the Passing of Legendary Founder

January 24, 2023

The Nighthawks Share First Single ‘Don’t Know Where She Went’ From New EP

January 20, 2023

Nick Schnebelen Releases Single ‘Hard Driving Woman’ From Upcoming Album

January 20, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Advertisment
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.