Sonny Boy

Lyrics

[Intro] It's me comin' at you from the land beyond I'm up here in Heaven where I belong Gonna tell you my story about a man who's down in Hell He ain't up here anyway, far as I can tell This man stole my name, stole my soul They're so holy up here, they don't understand But he even tried to steal my jelly roll! So, here it is, my story Here it is, from the top [Verse 1] My name is Sonny Boy Williamson I come from Jackson, Tennessee Being a man named Sonny Boy might bother you It never bothered me, no My mother loved me, my wife did, too I had a dream and the dream come true I wrote some songs that the people knew Like, "Good Morning, School Girl" and "Jackson Blue" Around the time of the Great Migration The blues run up the river, spread across the nation I run up with 'em, caused a great sensation! [Verse 2] Sellin' biscuits on the radio in Chicago Out on the West Side to see the sights Turned the corner, see my name in lights Said I'd been playing there for fourteen nights This I had to see This big old ugly cat was on the stage Twice my size, about my age Played six songs, five were mine If I said he was good, I'd be lyin' Then he says, "What's my name?" The crowd says, "Sonny Boy!" He says, "What's my name?" They go, "Sonny Boy!" He says, "What's my name?" And I said, "Hold it" [Verse 3] "My name is Sonny Boy Williamson The one from Jackson, Tennessee Don't know who you are or where you come from But one thing I do know: you ain't me, son" Looked in his eyes, and they was red As was the 'rangtang hair dye all over his head Scared me so bad, I ran outside And I looked for a place to hide Ran 'round a corner, smack into a robbery Shootin' at each other, but they hit me Next thing I know, I came up here In the middle of my thirty-fourth year [Verse 4] Now I'm the only bluesman in Heaven It makes me kind of sad I'm the only one died so young Didn't have the time do nothing bad As for Sonny Boy Two, the man who stole my name Went on to glory, fortune and fame He's the one who went to England Try to teach those English boys the blues He said, "What do I have to lose?" Well, it killed him, yeah, it killed him Yeah, I'm the only bluesman in Heaven And I'm lonely as can be Lord, if you're listening, hear my plea Send down a bluesman to play the blues with me [Outro] This is Sonny Boy Williamson, Number One That's my story, I'm done