A chump is someone who can be easily victimized–a loser, an easy dupe, or a mark. Of course, even the wiliest man can become a chump when a woman is involved. As Blind (Arthur) Blake sings in “Chump Man Blues”:
I used to be a wise man but a woman made me a chump.
Chump may be derived from the Old Norse word kumba, which meant “block of wood,” and is connected to the slang term “blockhead.” An alternate theory is that chump is derived from “chum,” which was the term for a roommate in prison as early as the 1650s.
“What a great resource, as fascinating as it is informative. Debra’s passion for the blues shines through.” – Bonnie Raitt
“Debra’s book will teach you what you really need to know about blues history and where the blues are coming from.” – Joe Bonamassa
“Finally one can understand the mechanics behind the overwhelming viscera of the Blues. Debra Devi’s work is a true guide book to the soul.” – Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
“This book is fascinating! Take it to the bathroom and don’t come out until you’re done reading it.” – Jimmy Vivino
“This is a beautiful book. Upon receiving The Language of the Blues I discovered my knowledge only scratched the surface. Debra Devi has written an invaluable reference book. And it’s also great fun to read.” – Hal Willner
“Don’t think that The Language of the Blues might read like a dictionary or reference book. There’s no plot, but you can open it up at random and fall into the world of your favorite Blues songs, and find out more about the lyrics than you would be guessing from context. I learned a lot more about the blues music I already loved.” – Bob Margolin
