Kansas City Blues
First recording and first release by Jim Jackson (October 10, 1927 / 1928)
- Written by
- Jim Jackson
- Language
- English
- Comments
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Originally recorded by Jim Jackson as "Jim Jackson's Kansas City Blues" on October 10, 1927. It was his first record and became a million seller. Thereafter, it was shortened to "Kansas City Blues" (or "Gonna Move to Kansas City"). The song's melody line was re-used and developed by Charlie Patton ("Going to Move to Alabama") and Hank Williams ("Move It On Over") before emerging in "Rock Around the Clock", and its lyrical content influenced Leiber and Stoller's "Kansas City". The song contains the line "It takes a rocking chair to rock, a rubber ball to roll", which had previously been used in 1924 by Ma Rainey in "Jealous Hearted Blues", and which Bill Haley would later incorporate into his 1952 recording, "Sundown Boogie."
Janis Joplin later recorded a song also titled "Kansas City Blues". Her lyrics included "Goin' to Kansas City to bring Jim Jackson home".
Lyrics -
I woke up this morning feelin’ bad;
Thought about the good times I once have had.
I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.
My mother told me, Daddy told me too,
Everybody grins in your face son ain’t no friend to you.
You oughta move to Kansas City; you oughta move to Kansas City;
You oughta move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.
I’ve got me a bulldog, shepherd and two greyhounds;
Two high yellas, three blacks and one brown.
We gonna move to Kansas City; we gonna move to Kansas City;
We gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you;
It takes a rockin’ chair to rock, a rubber ball to roll;
Nice lookin’ teasin’ brown to satisfy my soul.
Then I’ll move to Kansas City; then I’ll move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move to Kansas City, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.
T is for Texas, T’s for Tennessee;
Boll weevil’s got the Mississippi, and the women wants me.
I’m gonna move to Kansas City; I’m gonna move to Kansas City;
I’m gonna move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you.
You can always tell when your good girl wanta flirt;
Wanta pair red slippers to match that old matchin’ skirt.
Then she’ll move to Kansas City; Then she’ll move to Kansas City;
Then she’ll move, baby, honey where they don’t ‘low you. - Published by
-
APRS
BMI
PEER INTERNATIONAL CORP GEMA
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