Browsing: The Language of the Blues

Tommy Johnson sang about “Fat Mouth”, but the origins of the word run much, much deeper! Discover the story!

Pronounced “pharaoh,” faro is an old rural Mississippi synonym… discover the meaning behind what Mississippi John Hurt and Tommy Johnson famously sang about!

“Stormy Monday Blues” contains the famous verse: “The eagle flies on Friday”

Sweeping the house after dark is still considered impolite in some African American families. This tradition comes from an ancient West African belief…

Find out what Robert Johnson and Skip James were talking about when they described being “dry so long”!

The Southern slang term “doney” is rarely heard anymore, but when it is, it’s usually as part of the phrase “no-good doney”…

Blues songs are loaded with boasts, taunts, and jokes. Discover the fun meaning of “The dozens” as sung by Memphis Minnie, and find out the origin of schoolyard taunts and rap’s most prominent feature!

Find out the promiscuous origins of the word “Dog” as sang about by Johnnie Taylor, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and more!

Hear what the word “Dig” means in the blues language according to Albert Collins!

The devil has many names down South, some derived from the Christianization among African slaves of West African trickster deities… Learn all about “Devil” in blues language!