Hilary Thavis & Gaia Groove | Dust My Broom (Robert Johnson - Elmore James)

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"Dust My Broom" is a blues standard originally recorded as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" by Robert Johnson.

In 1951, Elmore James made his first recording of "Dust My Broom", for the Trumpet Records label.

James followed Johnson's melody quite closely. His lyrics are based on Johnson's first four verses, but with Crudup's changes to the verses about his 'good gal'. He begins:

I'm gonna get up in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom x 2
I'll quit the best gal I'm loving, and my friends can get my room I'm gonna write a letter, telephone every town I know x 2
If I don't find her in Mississippi, she's over in West Memphis, I know And I don't want no woman, wants every down town man she meets x 2
She's a no good dony, they shouldn't 'low her on the streets I believe, I believe my time ain't long x 2
I've got to leave my baby, and break up my happy home

James is on electric slide guitar, Sonny Boy Williamson II on harmonica, Leonard Ware on bass and Frock O'Dell on drums. Ware supplied the boogie beat, allowing James, with superior amplification, to dominate with a riff based on Johnson's triplet figures. The repeated riff and one other phrase form a melody which the band plays as an instrumental in places.

Lyrics:

I'm gonna get up in the morning
I believe I'll dust my broom.
I'm gonna get up in the morning
I believe I'll dust my broom.
Well my best gal I'll be leaving
So my friend, get out my room

I'm gonna write a letter to China
See if my baby's over there.
I'm gonna write a letter to China
See if my baby's over there.
If she ain't up in the Hawaiian Islands,
Must be in Ethiopia somewhere

I believe believe my time alone
I believe believe my time alone
I've had to quit my baby and give up my happy home