Highway 61 - Fred McDowell

61 Highway Blues 5:18 Trk 4

Fred McDowell

Mississippi Fred McDowell — vocal and guitar

Recorded Feb. 13, 1965, Como Mississippi

(guitar)

Lord, that 61 Highway

It’s the longest road I know-whoa

Lord, that 61 Highway

It the longest road I know-oh

She run from New York City

Down the Gulf of Mexico

Lord, it’s some folks said them

Greyhound buses don’t run

Lord, it’s some folks said them

Greyhound buses don’t run

Just go to West Memphis, baby

Look down Highway 61

I said, please

Please see somebody for me I said ple-eee-ase

Please see somebody for me If you see my baby

Tell her she’s alright with me

(guitar)

I’m gonna buy me a pony

Can pace, fox-trot and run

I’m gonna buy me a pony

Can pace, fox-trot and run

Lord, when you see me, pretty mama

I be on Highway 61

I started school one Monday mo’ning

Lord, I throwed my books away

I started school one Monday mo’ning

Lord, I throwed my books away

I wrote a note to my teacher, Lord

I gonna try 61, today

(guitar)

Lord, if I hap’n a-die, baby

'Fore you think my time have come

Lord, if I hap’n a-die, baby, Lord

'Fore you think my time have come

I want you bury my body-yeah

Out on Highway 61

Lord, if yo' man

Should have you get *boogied', baby

Lord, don’t want you to have no fun

If your man should have you get boogied'

Baby, don’t want you to have no fun

Just come down to my little cabin

Out on Highway 61.

(guitar to end)

Refers to mean and/or cheap boyfriend, man or husband.

As in old blues lyrics 'My Man Is Boogan Me'

Lucille Bogan.

(few lines below)

.'He won’t buy me no shoes, he won’t buy me no clothes

And he’s got so lowdown, he wants to put me outdoors,

You know that’s boogin' me'.