Dead Shrimp Blues

Robert Johnson

About Dead Shrimp Blues

"Dead Shrimp Blues" is a song written by Robert Johnson. It is from the recording sessions of November 26 and 27, 1936, in San Antonio, Texas along with "32-20 Blues", "They're Red Hot", "Cross Road Blues", "Walkin' Blues", "Last Fair Deal Gone Down", "Preaching Blues" and "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day".


Year:
2007
2:34
42 

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I woke up this mornin' and all my shrimps was dead and gone
I woke up this mornin', ooh, and all my shrimp was dead and gone
I was thinkin' about you, baby, why you hear me weep and moan?

I got dead shrimps here, someone is fishin' in my pond
I got dead shrimps here, ooh, someone fishin' in my pond
I've served my best bait, baby, and I can't do that no harm

Everything I do, babe, you got your mouth stuck out
Hole where I used to fish, you got me posted out
Everything I do, you got your mouth stuck out,
At the hole where I used to fish, baby, you've got me posted out

I got dead shrimps here, someone fishin' in my pond
I got dead shrimps here, someone fishin' in my pond
Catchin' my goggle-eye perches, and they barbequin' the bone

Now you taken my shrimps, baby, you know you turned me down
I couldn't do nothin', until I got myself unwound
You taken my shrimps, ooh, know you turned me down
Babe, I couldn't do nothin', until I got myself unwound

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Robert Johnson

Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–37 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given rise to much legend, including the Faustian myth that he sold his soul at a crossroads to achieve success. As an itinerant performer who played mostly on street corners, in juke joints, and at Saturday night dances, Johnson had little commercial success or public recognition in his lifetime. more »

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Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Dead Shrimp Blues" is categorized as a Delta Blues song. Delta Blues is a subgenre of blues music that originated in the Mississippi Delta region of the U.S in the early 20th century.
Lyrics analysis
The song, like many of Robert Johnson's work, features powerful metaphoric lyrics. Johnson uses the idea of catching shrimps and turning them into food, likely as a metaphor for money and survival.
Album Information
"Dead Shrimp Blues" is part of Robert Johnson's album titled "The Complete Recordings", released posthumously in 1990. The album compiles virtually all extant recordings by Johnson.
Recording Year
"Dead Shrimp Blues" was recorded in 1936, during Robert Johnson's first recording session in San Antonio, Texas.
Acoustic Style
Renowned for his mastery of the guitar, "Dead Shrimp Blues" showcases Robert Johnson's typical style of alternating thumb bass with melody lines on the treble strings.
Musical Influence
Like many of Johnson's songs, "Dead Shrimp Blues" has had a significant influence on future generations of blues and rock musicians, including Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton.
Artist Tragedy
Tragically, Robert Johnson passed away in 1938, only two years after recording "Dead Shrimp Blues", leaving behind a powerful, though very limited, body of work that deeply influenced the development of blues and rock music.
Song Availability
As of 2021, "Dead Shrimp Blues" can be found on multiple music streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Covered Artists
Today, "Dead Shrimp Blues" has been covered by various artists, showcasing the wide appreciation and admiration for Robert Johnson's work, even many years after his passing.
Lyric Symbolism
The song's lyrics, like many of Johnson's, are deeply layered and filled with raw emotion, likely reflecting the hardships, anxieties, and struggles Johnson faced in his life.

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