"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" by Robert Johnson, the Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist, on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. The song was originally released on 78 rpm format as Vocalion 03475, ARC 7-04-81 and Conqueror 8871.
But the frase "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" was literally lifted from Carl Rafferty’s "Mr. Carl’s Blues", from 1933, containing the familiar lyrics: I do believe, I believe I’ll dust my broom and I’m going call up in to
China, just to see if my babe’s over there.
Kokomo Arnold's "Sagefield Woman Blues" (recorded in September 1934) also contained these familiar lyrics.
The melody and part of the lyrics were also present in Kokomo Arnold's "Sissy Man Blues" recorded in January 1935, Leroy Carr’s "I Believe I’ll Make A Change" recorded in August 1934 and in Jack Kelly's "Believe I'll Go Back Home", recorded in August 1933.
But the earliest variant of the "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" standard goes back to February 1932, when the Sparks Brothers (Pinetop and Lindberg) recorded it as "I Believe I’ll Make A Change".
All these versions are structured in the AAB blues pattern using 12 bars, a very common structure in blues music. Many Blues songs are structured using the AAB format.
(o) Pinetop and Lindberg (1932) (as "I Believe I’ll Make A Change")
(=The Sparks Brothers)
Recorded February 25, 1932 in Atlanta, GA
Matrix 71621
Released on Victor 23359
Lyrics:
I believe, I believe I'll make a change (2x)
Gon' cut off my gas stove, and I'm goin' back to my range
I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
For this life I'm livin', poor Lind can't be here long
It was a time, she was all right with me (2x)
When she had ninety-four dollars, she would give me ninety-three
SOLO (Spoken: Pick 'em, boy, pick 'em! Don't you b'lieve you'll make a change? I'm 'on make a change, myself. 1933 comes, I'm 'on, I'm gon' quit drinkin' my whiskey and gon' be a bootlegger, so pick 'em, a great long time. Me and you both will make a change, Pine, so pick 'em!)
You see my baby, give my babe my best regards (2x)
So I'm still in this town, but the times is awful hard
Listen here:
(c) Jack Kelly and His South Memphis Jug Band (1933) (as "Believe I'll Go Back Home")
Recorded August 1, 1933 in New York City
Matrix 13715
Released on Oriole 8274 and Perfect 260
Lyrics:
I believe, I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
I'm gon' acknowledge to my baby, that I have done her wrong
St. Louis is on a fire, Chicago is burning down (2x)
I'm sick and tired of my baby foolin' 'round
Babe, please forgive me, I know that I've done you wrong (2x)
I'm gon' get down on my knees, I wants my little old baby back home
ENSEMBLE SOLO
It's the same old fireman, same old engineer (2x)
And they took my baby, and left me standing here
Listen here:
(c) Carl Rafferty (1933) (as "Mr. Carl's Blues")
Recorded December 11, 1933 in Chicago
Released on Bluebird B-5429
The label attributes the composition of the song to C. Fletcher; Victor ledgers initially state Carl Fletcher, but replace the name in handwriting with Carl Rafferty.
The label and the Victor ledgers identify the pianist as Napoleon Fletcher; however, the piano player may actually be Roosevelt Sykes, who was present that day.
As I said above "Mr. Carl's Blues" was the first recording containing the frase I Believe I'll Dust My Broom.
Lyrics:
Weeping willow, frozen and swampy lane ?? (2x)
I return home this morning, my woman had a lover man
I'm going to take my load, throw it into the deep blue sea (2x)
Going to give my love to someone, I know won't give it back to me
I'm goin' to call up in China
just to see if my babe's over there (2x)
I'll always believe
my babe's in this world somewhere
I stayed up all night long, trying to count the stars above (2x)
And I stayed up all day long trying to find the girl I love
I do believe, I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
And after I dust my broom anyone may have my room
Listen here:
(c) Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell (1934) (as "I Believe I’ll Make A Change").
Recorded August 16, 1934 in New York City
Matrix 15645=2
Released on Vocalion 02820
Lyrics:
Now I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
Because this life I'm living, won't let me stay here long
His wife is gone, but she was all right with me (2x)
He would give her ninety‑four dollars, and she would give me ninety‑three
I believe, I believe I'll make a change (2x)
Going to turn off this gas stove, I'm bound for a brand new range
Listen here:
(c) Kokomo Arnold (1934) (as "Sagefield Woman Blues")
Recorded September 10, 1934 in Chicago
Released on Decca 7044
Lyrics:
Hollerin', little girl, what kinda little old girl are you? (2x)
Says, you actin' so funny, mama, what do you want your papa to do?
Now, it ain't no need of that you keep on raisin' sand (2x)
Lord, if you want to quit me, mama, don't you get you another man
Blues come down the alley, made it up to my back door (2x)
I had the blues today, mama, like I never had before
I believe, I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
So some of you low-down rounders, Lord, you can have my room
Now, when I'm gone, mama, the blues will follow you night and day (2x)
Says, you gonna be sorry, mama, Lord, that you done begged me to stay
Listen here:
(c) Kokomo Arnold (1935) (as "Sissy Man Blues")
Recorded January 15, 1935 in Chicago
Released on Decca 7050
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Lyrics:
I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
Lord acknowledge to my good gal mama, Lord that I have done you wrong
Now I'm going to ring up China, yeah man, see can I find my good gal over there (2x)
Says the Good Book tells me, that I got a good gal in this world some where
Oh and the church bells is toning, yeah man, on one Sunday morning (2x)
Hollering some old dirty deacon, I mean rung that bell stole my gal and gone
And I woke up this mornin' with my pork grindin' business in my hand (2x)
Lord if you can't send me no woman, please send me some sissy man
I'm going to sing these blues mama, yeah, man, and I'm going to lay them upon your shelf (2x)
I'm going to sing these blues mama, yeah mama, well you sure got to sing them yourself
Listen here:
(c) George Noble (1935) (as "Sissy Man Blues")
Recorded March 5, 1935 in Chicago
Matrix: C911-B
Released on Vocalion 02923
Listen here:
(c) Pinewood Tom (=Josh White) (1935) (as "Sissy Man")
Recorded March 18, 1935 in New York City
Matrix: 17083-2
Released on Banner 33404, Oriole 8456 and Conqueror 8499
Listen here:
(c) Robert Johnson (1936) (as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom")
Recorded November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas
Released on Conqueror 8871 and Vocalion 03475
Like I said above Robert Johnson's "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" combines lyrics, also identified as "floating verses", from the earlier songs and adds two new verses of his own.
The frases "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" and "I'm gonna call up Chiney, see is my good girl over there" were literally lifted from Carl Rafferty’s "Mr. Carl’s Blues", from 1933, (see above)
The frase "I believe, I believe I'll go back home" was literally lifted from Pinetop and Lindberg's "I Believe I’ll Make A Change", from 1932 (see first version above)
Lyrics:
I'm gonna get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
Girlfriend the black man you've been lovin', girlfriend can get my room
I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know (2x)
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe I know
I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meets (2x)
She's a no good doney, they shouldn't allow her on the street
I believe, I believe I'll go back home (2x)
You can mistreat me here babe, but you can't when I go home
And I'm gettin up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
Girlfriend the black man you been lovin', girlfriend can get my room
I'm gonna call up Chiney, see is my good girl over there (2x)
I can't find her on Phillipine's island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere
Listen here:
(c) Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1949) (as "Dust My Broom")
Arthur Crudup, voc, g; Ransom Knowling, b; Judge Riley, dr
Recorded March 10, 1949 in Chicago, IL
Released on Victor 22-0074
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Lyrics:
It's a sin and a shame, darlin, the way you treat poor me (2x)
You know well that I love you and I really wouldn't mistreat thee
So I a-might a-get up the morning and I swear I'm gonna dust my broom (2x)
I'm quittin' the best gal I'm lovin', so my friends can get my room
I believe, I believe, I believe my time ain't long (2x)
I got to leave my baby, break up my happy home
Yes, I get up in the morning, Lord, I'm gonna dust my broom (2x)
I'm quittin' the best gal I'm lovin', so my friends can get my room
Listen here:
(c) Robert Jr. Lockwood (1951) (as "Dust My Broom")
Robert Jr. Lockwood - guitar; Alfred Wallace - drums; Sunnyland Slim - piano
Recorded March 22, 1951 Modern Recording Studio, Chicago,
Illinois
Finally released in 1980 on the next album
Listen here:
(c) Robert Lockwood Jr. (1951) (as "Dust My Broom")
Robert Jr. Lockwood - vocal; Robert Jr. Lockwood - guitar; Big Crawford - bass; Alfred Wallace - drums; Sunnyland Slim - piano
Recorded in Chicago on November 15, 1951
Released on Mercury 8260
Listen here:
In 1951 Elmore James and a few other blues musicians accompanied Sonny Boy Williamson on a recording session for Trumpet Records in Jackson, Mississippi. Trumpet was a recently established independent label that recorded blues, gospel, country, and rockabilly music.
James’s version of "Dust My Broom" was "celebrated throughout the Delta by this time, and Lillian McMurry [who ran the label] asked him to record it. He wouldn’t, but … he was tricked into rehearsing it in the studio with Sonny Boy … while McMurry surreptiously ran a tape."
James didn’t know he was making a record, and his nervousness in front of a recording microphone prevented him from recording a b-side. Trumpet put a song by another artist on the other side of the record and released it. "Dust My Broom" surprised everyone by becoming a national rhythm and blues hit in 1952. This version of "Dust My Broom" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
(c) Elmo James (1951) (as "Dust My Broom")
Elmore James, voc, g; Sonny Boy Williamson, hca; Leonard Ware, b; Frock O'Dell, dr
Producer: Lillian McMurry
Recorded August 5, 1951 in Jackson, MS
Originally released on: Trumpet 146
To record his song, Elmore James used Robert Johnson's first three verses and concluded with one similar verse from Robert Johnson's "Rambling On My Mind" and Arthur Crudup's "Dust My Broom"
Lyrics:
I'm gonna get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom (2x)
I quit the best gal I'm lovin', now, my friends can get my room
I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know (2x)
If I don't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe I know
I don't want no woman, want ev'ry downtown man she meets (2x)
Man, she's a no good doney, they shouldn't allow her on the street
I believe, I believe my time ain't long (2x)
I ain't gonna leave my baby and break up my happy home
Listen here:
The 1951 Trumpet-version was re-released in 1955 on ACE 508 (as "I Believe My Time Ain't Long")
And in 1965 the Trumpet-version was re-released again on Jewel 764
As a result of his sudden success, James was sought after by other record labels. He went to Chicago in 1952 at the behest of the Bihari brothers, who owned Modern Records, and recorded a thinly disguised version of "Dust My Broom" under the title "I Believe" for their subsidiary label, Meteor. "I Believe" also became a top ten rhythm and blues hit for James.
(c) Elmore James (1952) (as "I Believe")
Elmore James: vocal/guitar; J. T. Brown: tenor sax; Johnny Jones: piano;
Ransom Knowling: bass; Odie Payne Jr.: drums
Recorded November, 1952; Universal Studio, Chicago
Producer: Joe Bihari
Released on Meteor 5000
Lyrics:
I'm gonna get up in the mornin', I believe I go back home (2x)
I gotta find my baby, acknowledge that I done her wrong
I don't want no woman, that stays drunk all the time (2x)
Well, you know she's a mean one woman, tryin' to drive me out of my mind
I believe, I believe I go back home (2x)
I ain't gonna lie to my baby, I know I treated her wrong
I believe, I believe my time ain't long (2x)
Dust my broom this mornin', I know I treat my baby wrong
I gotta find my baby, acknowledge that I done her wrong
I don't want no woman, that stays drunk all the time (2x)
Well, you know she's a mean one woman, tryin' to drive me out of my mind
I believe, I believe I go back home (2x)
I ain't gonna lie to my baby, I know I treated her wrong
I believe, I believe my time ain't long (2x)
Dust my broom this mornin', I know I treat my baby wrong
Listen here:
The 1952 Meteor-version was re-released in 1969 on Kent 508
In 1953 Elmore recorded another version of "Dust My Broom" for the Chess-label.
It was re-titled "She Just Won't Do Right" for this version.
This was an illicit Chess session. The offending Checker release was soon discovered by the Biharis and Chess subsequently backed off, discontinuing pressing and distribution.
(c) Elmore James (1953) (as "She Just Won't Do Right")
Elmore James: vocal/guitar; J. T. Brown: tenor sax; Johnny Jones: piano;
Ransom Knowling: bass; Odie Payne Jr.: drums
Recorded January 17, 1953; Chicago
Released on Checker 777/Chess CH 1537)
Listen here:
And in 1955 Elmore James recorded another version of "Dust My Broom" (as "Dust My Blues")
(c) Elmore James and His "Broom Dusters" (1955) ( as "Dust My Blues")
Elmore James - vocal; Elmore James - guitar; Frank Fields - bass;
Earl Palmer - drums; Edward Frank - piano
Producer: Joe Bihari
Recorded September 1955 New Orleans, Louisiana
Released on: Flair 1074
Listen here:
The 1955 Flair-version was re-released in 1960 on Kent 331
And again in 1964 on Kent 394
And finally here's Elmore's 1963 re-recording
(c) Elmore James (1963) (as "Dust My Broom")
Elmore James: vocal and guitar; Unknown: bass;
Unknown: drums; Big Moose Walker: piano
Recorded February 13, 1963 in New York,
Released on: Enjoy 2027
In the 1960's a whole bunch of British beatbands was heavily influenced by American bluesartists, like John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf and Elmore James.
"Dust My Broom / Dust My Blues" in the version of Elmore James was covered much by the Brits.
(c) Yardbirds (1966) (as "Dust My Broom")
Keith Relf - vocal;
Jimmy Page - guitar; Keith Relf - harmonica;
Chris Dreja - bass; Jim McCarthy -
drums
Recorded February 1966 Saturday Club, BBC, London
Released on The BBC Sessions
Listen here:
2 months later The Yardbirds recorded another version titled "Dust My Blues"
(c) Yardbirds (1966) (as "Dust My Blues")
Jeff Beck - vocal; Jeff Beck - guitar; Jimmy Page - guitar;
Keith Relf - harmonica;
Paul Samwell Smith - bass; Jim McCarthy -
drums
Recorded April 8, 1966 at The Saturday Club, BBC Radio, London
Released on the unofficial album below
(c) Spencer Davis Group (1966) (as "Dust My Blues")
Steve Winwood
- vocal; Steve Winwood - guitar; Spencer Davis - guitar; Muff Winwood - bass;
Pete York - drums
Recorded 1966 in London UK
Released on the album Autumn '66 (Fontana TL 5359)
Here's the Spencer Davis Group live:
(c) John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (1967) (as "Dust My Blues")
(c) Fleetwood Mac (1968) (as "Dust My Broom")
Jeremy Spencer -
vocal; Jeremy Spencer - guitar; John McVie - bass; Mick Fleetwood - drums;
Jeremy Spencer - piano; David Howard - tenor sax; Roland Vaughan - tenor
sax
Recorded April 1968 at the CBS Studios, New Bond Street, London
Released on the album Mr. Wonderful (Blue Horizon LP 7-63205
But before that Fleetwood Mac had recorded a version on September 9, 1967 as their very first single.
(c) Fleetwood Mac (1967) (as "I Believe My Time Ain't Long")
Released on Blue Horizon 3051
Listen here:
Taj Mahal - vocal; Ry
Cooder - guitar; Jesse Lee Kincaid - guitar; Taj Mahal - harmonica;
Gary Marker
- bass; Ed Cassidy - drums
Recorded December 2, 1965 in the Ash Grove, Los Angeles,
California
Finally released in 1992 on the next album
Listen here:
(c) Ike & Tina Turner (1966) (as "Dust My Broom")
Recorded 1966 in Memphis Tennessee
Released on: Tangerine 967
Listen here:
(c) Canned Heat (1967) (as "Dust My Broom")
Bob Hite - vocal;
Alan Wilson - vocal; Alan Wilson - guitar; Henry Vestine - guitar;
Bob Hite -
harmonica; Larry Taylor - bass; Frank Cook - drums
Recorded March 1967 at the Liberty Studios, Los Angeles, California
Released
on the album "Canned Heat" (Liberty LST 7526
Listen here:
(c) Cuby & The Blizzards (1968) (as "Dust My Blues")
Cuby -
vocal; Eelco Gelling - guitar; Jaap van Eik - bass;
Dick Beekman - drums; Herman
Brood - piano
Recording October 26, 1968 at the Rheinhalle, Dusseldorf, Germany
Released on the next album
(c) ZZ Top (1979) (as "Dust My Broom")
Released on the next album
Listen here:
For MUCH more versions: SEE: http://members.home.nl/h.maaskant/dustmybroom/
SEE ALSO: Dust My Broom - Wikipedia
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH:
"I Believe I'll Go Back Home" - William and Versy Smith
Recorded August 1927
Matrix P4684
Label: Paramount 12516
Listen here:
This not related version was covered by:
-Blind Willie Davis in 1930 ("I Believe I'll Go Back Home")
Label: Paramount 12979B
Matrix L0113
Recorded January 1930
-The Ovations in 1966 ("I Believe I'll Go Back Home")
Label: Goldwax 306
-Gregg Allman in 2011 ("I Believe I'll Go Back Home")
Released on the album "Low Country Blues"
