Blind Lemon Jefforson - That Black Snake Moan

First performance: 17/03/1996

Coverinfo

Bruce used the song only once as a snippet:
 
1996-03-17 Mean Fiddler (The), Dublin, Ireland 
 
First performances in Europe of "All Just To Get To You" and "Oh, Boy!", as well as "Long Tall Sally". "Fingernails" is played in a medley with snippets of "That Black Snake Moan", "Matchbox", and "Buddy Brown's Blues" .
 
 
  

Songinfo

"That Black Snake Moan" is a song written and recorded by American country blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson. Inspired by singer Victoria Spivey's "Black Snake Blues", the song was released on Paramount Records in 1926, and has since become recognized as a signature composition which exemplifies Jefferson's unconventional melodic style and utilization of double entendres. The song was re-recorded a year later as "Black Snake Moan" for Okeh Records, and both versions have remained accessible through the availability of several compilation albums.
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

I, I ain't got no mama now
I, I ain't got no mama now
She told me late last night, "You don't need no mama no how"
Mmm, mmm, black snake crawlin' in my room
Mmm, mmm, black snake crawlin' in my room
Some pretty mama better come and get this black snake soon
Ohh-oh, that must have been a bed bug, baby a chinch
Can't bite that hard
Ohh-oh, that must have been a bed bug, honey a chinch
can't bite that hard
Ask my sugar for fifty cents, she said "Lemon, ain't a
child in the yard"
Mama, that's all right, mama that's all right for you
Mama, that's all right, mama that's all right for you
Mama, that's all right, most seen all you do
Mmm, mmm, what's the matter now?
Mmm, mmm, honey what's the matter now?
Sugar, what's the matter, don't like no black snake no how
Mmm, mmm, wonder where my black snake gone?
Mmm, mmm, wonder where this black snake gone?
Black snake mama done run my darlin' home