Kid Bailey

We don't even know if he really existed, we have two of his recordings, though. Two brilliant delta blues compositions written and recorded by mysterious Kid Bailey, "Mississippi Bottom Blues" and "Rowdy Blues", survived. They were recorded in 1929 in Memphis, Tennessee. The songs are very inspiring, Bailey sings in his whiny voice: "I'm going where the water tastes like wine, where I can be drunk and staggering all the time" and "I'm gonna sit right here 'til I tear this barrelhouse down". Both songs lyrics deal with alcoholism, Mississippi delta lifestyle of 20s and 30s and, of course, women: Kid Bailey clearly states: "[he] ain't gonna marry, ain't gonna settle down" ;-)


You can read lyrics over here and download two songs here.