Today she is widely regarded as the top female interpreter and authority on traditional country blues worldwide. References1 Adapted from Jonathan Ned Katz, "Singing the 'Bull Dyker's' Blues," THe Advocate, July 18, 1989, pages 48-49. It's true I wear a collar and a tie, Makes the wind blow all the while Don't you say I do it, ain't nobody caught me You sure got to prove it on me. Prove It On Me is the second album from Rory Block's new Power Women of the Blues series. It must’ve been women, ‘cause I don’t like no men. : Madison Books, 1970. Amazon's Choice highlights highly rated, well-priced products available to ship immediately. "[1], Sung in the first person by Rainey in the character of a collar-and-tie-wearing, man-disdaining butch, "Prove It on Me Blues" is a rare and wonderful rebel anthem. Ma Rainey also alluded to her bisexuality in her lyrics, most notably with "Prove it on Me Blues," which referenced a lesbian orgy she hosted that got her arrested, according to PBS. Ma Rainey Share. Where she went, I don't know I mean to follow everywhere she goes; In … : Oxford University Press, date of pub?, page ? "There is strong evidence," writes Lieb, who interviewed a number of Rainey's coworkers, "to indicate that Ma Rainey ... was bisexual.". Went out last night with a crowd of my friends. African American Lives. Block covers it totally by herself (guitar, drums...) The first time I heard it I really enjoyed it. How did the amazing "Prove It on Me Blues" come to be written and recorded? During her career, she has won six W.C. Surprisingly, the illustration and text of the record company's original 1928 ad for "Prove It on Me Blues" (reproduced by Lieb from the black newspaper the Chicago Defender) explicitly links the performer Rainey and the butch singer-narrator of "Prove It on Me Blues.". Prove It on Me, Coming March 27 from Stony Plain Records TORONTO, ON – Six-time Blues Music Award-winner (including the 2019 award for the “Acoustic Artist of The Year”) Rory Block announces the release of the second installment in her “Power Women of the Blues” album series with Prove It on Me, coming March 27 on Stony Plain Records. Southern, Eileen (1997). Prove It On Me Blues : The First of the Great Blues Singers. Pious hymns coexisted peacefully in the same Afro-American universe as this bawdy musical boast of lesbianism. Get a special offer and listen to over 60 million songs, anywhere with Amazon Music Unlimited. Written, performed, and recorded in 1928 by the famous early blues singer Ma Rainey, this extraordinary song of resistance features a woman-loving woman who proclaims her sexual interest in other women and challenges the world to "prove it on me. The Advocate, July 18, 1989, pp. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. W. W. Norton & Company, Privacy Policy • Terms of Use New York Times Rory Block is one of the world’s greatest living acoustic blues artists. Don’t you say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me. In the song “Oh Papa Blues,” Rainey tells of the wrongs a former lover committed against her, but her lamentation soon turns to scheming for revenge. Prove It On Me Blues, song lyrics. New York Times Rory Block is one of the world’s greatest living acoustic blues artists. Say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me Sure got to prove it on me. '', Steven Johnson, grandson of Robert Johnson, ''When I hear Rory Block's music, it's as if my grandfather is here all over again.'' Most telling, perhaps, at the bottom of the ad for "Prove It on Me Blues," is a record-company offer of "favorite spirituals." Where she went, I don't know I mean to follow everywhere she goes; Folks say I'm crooked. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Though there is still debate as to whether Ma Rainey was bisexual or lesbian, the lyrics of “Prove it on me” are a clear declaration of her queerness and preference for the company of women. Gertrude “Ma” Rainey’s Prove it on me blues affirms her independence from orthodox norms by boldly celebrating her lesbianism.. Rainey’s sexual involvement with women was no secret with both colleagues and audiences. (See below for lyrics.). Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1981. Nor were raunchy songs of conventional sex. Several recordings exist of a song about lesbians, "Bull Dyker's Dream.". ''... Rory Block is currently stretching the limits... hugely talented... She is one of our national treasures. "Songs of unconventional sexuality," says Lieb, "were not unusual in the blues and in live black entertainment." It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Wear my clothes just like a fan Talk to the gals just like any old man Cause they say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me Sure got to prove … Unique in pre-Stonewall American history is an assertive song of lesbian self-affirmation and defiance, "Prove It on Me Blues." --Greg Johnson, grandson of Robert Johnson. Where she CREDIT PRICE: $4.99. ''Her playing is perfect, her singing otherworldly as she wrestles with ghosts, shadows and legends. Previous page of related Sponsored Products, Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2021, Celebrating little known female blues artists, Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2020, The cd was not in the package that included spray pain ,pantyliners and hair color. He brought her to the attention of Okeh Records where she made her first record. Sure got to prove it on me; Went out last night with a crowd of my friends, They must've been women, 'cause I don't like no men. (See below for lyrics.) Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, $18.68 Shipping & Import Fees Deposit to Malaysia. Please locate the cd since we have paid for it, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2020, Great playing and singing , bit short playing time though. This recording celebrates the songs of nine ground-breaking female blues artists, includes one of her own originals, and is due to be released March 27, 2020 on Stony Plain Records. "Singing the 'Bull Dyker's' Blues." Rainey's own composition "Sissy Blues" was a matter-of-fact complaint by a woman whose male lover was stolen by a "sissy" man, "Miss Kate. " BibliographyBaxter, Derrick S. Ma Rainey & the Classic Blues Singers. Ma Rainey also alluded to her bisexuality in her lyrics, most notably with "Prove it on Me Blues," which referenced a lesbian orgy she hosted that got her arrested, according to PBS. I first heard Helen via one of my favourites early blues guitarists…Sylvester Weaver. Keepin Outta Trouble: A Tribute To Bukka White, Shake 'Em On Down: A Tribute to Mississippi Fred Mcdowell. CREDIT PRICE: $4.99. Prove It On Me is the second album from Rory Block's new ''Power Women of the Blues'' series. Rory Block has created another masterpiece. June 1, 2017 $1.99 Get a special offer and listen to over 60 million songs, anywhere with Amazon Music Unlimited. Please try again. Members Save 29% off Retail: 6.99 ADD TO WISH LIST EMU PRICE: 10.18 eMU. Advertisement for "Prove It On Me"To what extent was Rainey, the person, identified with the character who sings "Prove It on Me Blues"? Avalon: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Cause they say I do it, ain’t nobody caught me, RecordingYou can listen to Ma's recording of "Prove It On Me Blues" on Facebook at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCso6BMGUo. I was amazed how good the cd is. I didn't know where she took it Since she was a teenager in the early ‘60s in New York… Went out last night, had a great big fight. Sure got to prove it on me.” In these lines, Rainey coyly seems to say, “My sexuality is mine alone, and I am free to live how I please.” And perhaps this is the most important thing to remember when we talk about the lives and romances of these blueswomen. Rainey’s sexual involvement with women was no secret with both colleagues and audiences. ''For over a century, women of the blues have prevailed to record and perform their music. Prove It On Me Blues Lyrics [Verse 1] Went out last night, had a great big fight Everything seemed to go on wrong I looked up, to my surprise The gal I was with was gone [Verse 2] Where she went, I don't know I mean to follow everywhere she goes; Folks say I'm crooked. Enough pontificating, let’s move onto her second in the ‘Power Women Of The Blues’ series, called Prove It On Me. Place of pub? Thirty-six albums down the line now, and Rory Block’s singing and playing the blues better than ever. When I last night, Hade a bad big fight Everything seemed to go on wrong I looked up, to my surprise The gal I was with was gone. She was nominated again in 2020 for: Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award)! Ma Rainey - Prove It on Me Blues Lyrics. Sure got to prove it on me; Went out last night with a crowd of my friends, They must've been women, 'cause I don't like no men. In addition, all drums and percussion heard on the new disc - guitar bongos, hat boxes, plastic storage tubs, oatmeal boxes and wooden spoons - were played by Rory. Sung in the first person by Rainey in the character of a collar-and-tie-wearing, man-disdaining butch, "Prove It on Me Blues" is a rare and wonderful rebel anthem. Ma Rainey wasn't the first blues singer to make records, but by all rights she probably should have been. Publisher? New York, Pantheon Books, 1998. 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