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I'm Alabama Bound; See Also: Alabama Bound
Traditional Song and Fiddle Tune, Widely known; US south.
ARTIST: Louis Jordan CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: 1940 First collected version 1908; First published in 1909 Hoffman; First Recording Papa Charlie Jackson, May 1925
RECORDING INFO: Pete Seeger, "Alabama Bound" (on PeteSeeger18) (on PeteSeeger22) (on PeteSeeger43) Tennessee Ramblers 1928 (The Preacher Got Drunk and Laid His Bible Down) Br 259; Delmore Brothers 1938. Bowlegs. Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / American Ballads and Folk Songs, MacMillan, Bk (1934), p.206 [1920s?]; Brown, Rich (Uncle Rich). Alabama. From Lullabies to the Blues, Rounder 1829-2, CD (2001), 8 [1937/07/25]; Edwards, Cliff (Ukelele Ike). Shakin' the Blues Away, Totem LP 1005, LP (198?), trk# A.04 [1940s]; Horton, Abe. Old Time Music from Fancy Gap, Heritage (Galax) 019, LP (1978), trk# 5; Leadbelly. Folk Go-Go, Verve/Folkways FV 9011, LP (1965), trk# 8 Morrison, Van;, Lonnie Donegan, and Chris Barber. Skiffle Sessions, Virgin 8 48307 2 4, CD (2000), trk# 7; Odetta. Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues, Tradition TLP 1010/TCD 1, CD (1996/1956), trk# 12; Reno, Don;, Bill Harrell and the Tenn. Cutups. Tally Ho, King Bluegrass KB-526, LP (1973), trk# 10; Reser, Harry. Banjos Back to Back, RCA (Victor) LPM-2515, LP (1962), trk# B.06a; Seeger, Pete. Treasures from the Folk Den, Appleseed CD 1046, CD (2001), 8; Snowden, Elmer; Quartet. Harlem Banjo, Riverside RLP 9349, LP (1961), trk# B.03; Ungar, Jay; and Lynn Hardy. Songs, Ballads and Fiddle Tunes, Philo 1023, LP (1975), trk# 6; Watson, Doc and Merle. Ballads from Deep Gap, Vanguard VSD 6576, LP (1971), trk# 12
RELATED TO: "Don't You Leave Me Here" (lyrics)
OTHER NAMES: Alabama Bound; Preacher Got Drunk; Don't Ease Me In; Don't Leave Me Here; I'm Alabamy Bound
SOURCES: Lomax-ABFS, pp. 206-209, "Alabama-Bound" (1 text, 1 tune, probably composite) MWheeler, pp. 54-55, "I'm Alabama Bound" (1 text, 1 tune); PSeeger-AFB, p. 44 "Alabama Bound" (1 text, 1 tune); Silber-FSWB, p. 47, "Alabama Bound" (1 text) Seeger, Pete. Sing Out! Reprints, Sing Out, Sof (196?), 2, p55; Seeger, Pete. Seeger, Pete / American Favorite Ballads, Oak, Fol (1961), p44
NOTES: Typical choruses include: "I'm Alabama bound, I'm Alabama bound/And if the train don't stop and turn around/I'm Alabama bound (I’ve got a mule to ride)"; Typical verses include: "Oh the preacher got drunk/He throwed his Bible down/Told his congregation/that he’s Alabama bound;” or “Don't you leave me here/Don't you leave me here/ If you must go/Leave me a dime for beer"; or "Don't you be like me... You can drink... sherry wine and let the whiskey be."
The sentiment of the song lyrics seem to come from the Minstrel stage. One possible source is the Chorus of "I Hab Leff Alabama" by Marshall S. Pike published in 1849:
Alabama agen, Alabama agen
And if I ever lib ‘till the sunrise tomorrow,
I’s a-goin’ back to Alabama agen.
Not many changes are needed to make it a version of Alabama Bound:
(Alabama bound, Alabama bound,
And if I ever lib ‘till the sunrise tomorrow
I’s Alabama bound)
In an interview with Alan Lomax, Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941) claimed to have written the song Alabama Bound in 1905 which he recorded for Bluebird in 1939 as "Don't You Leave Me Here." Morton was told to change the name from Alabama Bound to avoid possible copyright conflicts. [Morton: "but I am getting Alabama Bound in (in the session with Bluebird) and the title must be changed to- Don't You Leave Me Here."]
The Devil's Music: a history of the blues - Page 61 by Giles Oakley –1997: "In 1939 Jelly Roll Morton claimed to Alan Lomax to have made the song up himself in 1905 when he was in the Alabama barrell house circuit."
According to another source Morton also claimed to write Alabama Bound around 1901. Morton realized his claims could not be backed up and withdrew his claim of authorship.
[From Songsters and Saints by Paul Oliver p.116: In Texas W.H. Thomas of College Station included “Don’t You Leave me Here” in some current folk songs which he presented as a paper in 1912 to the Texas Folk Lore Society. Some years later Gates Thomas published his own, fuller version that included Alabama Boun’ with Elder Green verses, which he dated at 1908. “Several others were collected before or during the First World War in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and in Alabama itself.” Its widespread distribution suggests its early date as a folk song. Though it was described as a dance, a song with the title Alabama bound was published as early as 1910 by Ed Rogers and Saul Aaronson which shows a clear link to the chorus of the folk song.”]
In 1909 a white New Orleans theatre pianist named Robert Hoffman published “I’m Alabama Bound” subtitled “The Alabama Blues.” Though not a blues in the strict 12-bar form it did feature enough characteristics to be considered one of the first published “blues.”
[Blind Boone's Rag Medley #2 by John W. "Blind" Boone was published in 1909: The "Flat Branch" was an area of Columbia, Missouri where many amateur song purveyors tried their wares in the bars and the alleys. Boone seemed to spend as much time in these areas as he did entertaining the elite in concert halls as a savant oddity (a blind colored man with talent). Although this is not a true rag, but rather a collection of songs that influenced ragtime, it still contains some light syncopation reminiscent of the genesis of the genre from the previous decade. It opens and closes with Carrie's Gone to Kansas City, a well-known ditty of the day. I'm Alabama Bound, the Mississippi Valley song that follows, was also released by itself as a song/rag that same year by Robert Hoffman, and is considered to be the first blues-based tune ever in print.]
Besides the blues versions first recorded in 1925 by Charlie Jackson, a hillbilly/country song entitled, “The Preacher Got Drunk and Laid His Bible Down” by the Tennessee Ramblers was recorded in 1928. “I’m Alabama Bound” was popularized by Lead Belly who recorded it June 15, 1940 in NYC on 051299-1. There were several recordings other popular recordings done in 1940 besides Leadbelly’s; the previously mentioned recording by Morton and a jump blues recording by Louis Jordan. Among the early blues recordings were two by Henry Thomas.
[From Devil’s Music: “Two of Thomas’ blues “Don’t Ease Me in” and “Don’t You Leave Me Here” written in 1928 and 1929 respectively are pretty much the same melody with only slightly different words. More interestingly they both relate to a very popular theme “Don’t leave me here, I’m Alabama bound.”]
In 1929 Thomas cut "Don't Ease Me In" with the Alabama bound lyric:
"Don't You Leave Me Here" Henry Thomas 1929
Don't leave, oh don't leave,
Don't you leave me here.
It's all night long sweet Papa,
Don't leave me.
I'm going away and it won't be long,
Just ease your train, lovin' babe,
I'm Alabama Bound.
Lomax collected various versions which were different from the standard “Alabama Bound” songs. These songs typically start: "Oh, the boat's up the river And the tide's gone down; I believe to my soul; She's (Alabama/water) bound." Lovers are reunited by boat and train, Alabama bound. The Arctic explorer Cook is also mentioned as being Alabama bound to escape the cold. These versions including one by Roscoe Holcomb are similar but related versions of “Alabama Bound.” The Traditional Ballad Index on-line attempts to separate them (Alabama Bound I and Alabama Bound II) but fails to do so.
An On-line source Tony Bove talks about Alabama Bound (May 7th, 2006): Well, I have versions by Tom Rush and Roger McGuinn (folk versions) as well as Charlatans. I don’t have Leadbelly’s version but know of it. Most likely the version you know is based on the one Leadbelly did, called “Alabama Bound” Louis Jordan did a jump blues version of “Alabama Bound.” Pete Harris covered it in 1934. Of course, these versions all quote the version by Jelly Roll Morton, which though recorded later (1938) was part of Morton’s repertoire from his early days. “I’m Alabama Bound” published by Robert Hoffman in 1911 (1909) combines three folk themes — the well known first part was claimed by Jelly Roll Morton as early as 1901. “Alabama Bound Blues” was recorded by Ethel Ridley sometime between 1921 and 1925. The song is related to “Don’t You Leave Me Here” (please leave a dime for beer), well done by Jim Kweskin and his Jug Band (featuring Geoff Muldaur singing). Plenty of versions exist of “Don’t You Leave Me Here” or similar titles. One of my favorites is “Don’t You Leave Me Here” by Henry Thomas, which sounds more like “Don’t Ease Me In” (also by Henry Thomas). Henry Thomas even sings “I’m Alabama bound” in the lyrics, along with “dime for beer” and other essentials, but the tune is a bit faster. Well, that’s all I can report. The song is timeless and probably dates back to before there were trains to take these folks to Alabama. Maybe the Civil War. When Jelly Roll did it, a beer still cost a dime.”
There is also a popular song, "Alabamy Bound," with words and music by Bud De Sylva, Bud Green, and Ray Henderson, published in 1925. The Chorus is vaguely related; it begins: “I’m Alabamy bound.” This a different song. It was a popular jazz song in the 20’s and 30’s. It has been repeatedly confused with the song, "Alabama Bound/I’m Alabama Bound."
There are versions by Lonny Donegan and Van Morrison entitled “I’m Alabamy Bound” which are clearly versions of “Alabama Bound.” The song Big Daddy by John Loudermilk, which was recorded by various country artists, uses the “Alabama bound” tag. There’s even a variant by Lynyrd Synyrd entitled “The Mississippi Kid” which uses the lyric tag.
Here are the lyric to “I'm Alabama Bound” by Louis Jordan:
I'M ALABAMA BOUND- Louis Jordan
Recorded for Decca in 1940.
I'm Alabama bound,
I'm Alabama bound,
Sure as the train pulls out of the yards
I'm gonna leave this town.
I'm gonna leave this town,
I'm gonna leave this town,
I'm tired of your fussin' and fightin' and doggin' me 'round,
I'm gonna leave this town.
Oh, don't you leave me here,
Oh, don't you leave me here,
If you do, sweet mama,
Leave me a dime for beer.
Oh, the rooster crowed,
And the hen looked 'round,
Says, "If you want me to love you,
You gotta run me down."
Oh, the rooster crowed,
And he raised his leg,
He run that old hen and caught her,
Then she laid an egg.
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