Dust My Broom

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"I Believe I'll Dust My Broom " Vocalion 03475

Dust My Broom is a blues standard originally recorded by Robert Johnson, the legendary Mississippi Delta blues singer and guiarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. It was released on the ARC Records label under the title of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom.^[1] The song was later recorded and released on the Trumpet Records label by blues singer and guitarist Elmore James and became a surprise rhythm and blues hit in 1952.

1 History of song
2 Song
3 Notes
4 External links

[edit] History of song

Robert Johnson's version of "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom", had been originally derived from Kokomo Arnold's adaption of "Sagefield Woman Blues". Elmore James took the song from Johnson.^[2]

James closely followed Johnson's lyrics and included a bottleneck guitar blues riff used frequently by Johnson but not on his recording of this song.^[3] James' first recording was in 1951 for Trumpet Records with Sonny Boy Williamson playing the harmonica and Odie Johnson on bass. James also recorded it under the title "Dust My Blues". He became closely associated with Johnson's song, using the melody for some of his own songs as well and playing it in bottleneck or slide guitar, while Johnson's original was finger picked.^[1]

[edit] Song

Johnson's recording was in the key of E. The song's lyrics reflect the loneliness of a man feeling betrayed and in search of a woman.^[1]

He describes his experience,

I don't want no woman wants every downtown man she meets.

and what he is going to do:

And I'm gettin' up in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom,

I'm gettin' up in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom,

Girl friend, the black man you been loving', girl friend, can get my room.

I'm gonna call up China, see is my good girl over there.

I can't find her on Philippines Islands, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere.

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Charters, Samuel (1973). Robert Johnson. New York: Oak Publications, p. 15. ISBN 0-8256-0059-6.
^ Oliver, Paul (1984). Blues Off the Record. New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press, p. 109. ISBN 0-306-80321-6.
^ Geralnick, Peter (1971). Feel Like Going Home: Portraits in Blues & Rock'n'Roll. Harper Collins Publishers, p. 56. ISBN 0-06-097175-4.