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Chauffeur Blues

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Jefferson Airplane

About Chauffeur Blues

"Chauffeur Blues" is a song originally recorded by Memphis Minnie as "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" in 1941 and subsequently covered by many other artists. The 1941 recording credited Memphis Minnie's husband and performing partner, Ernest "Little Son Joe" Lawlars as the songwriter, though it is thought she wrote it herself. The song was also sometimes credited to the recording's producer, Lester Melrose, which allowed him to collect royalties on it without actually having written it. The melody is identical to that of "Good Morning, School Girl", recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson I in 1937. The Jefferson Airplane version of this song is on the album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, with Signe Anderson as the lead vocalist. It is performed at a faster tempo and uses only three of the four verses. Anderson performed the song with strong contralto vocals. According to Jeff Tamarkin, author of Got a Revolution! The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukonen brought in "Chauffeur Blues" for Signe to sing. Jorma probably found the song on Judy Roderick's folk/blues album "Woman Blue" released in 1965. It was not included in the repertoire of Jefferson Airplane's early gigs and was performed only occasionally. It was last performed by the Airplane on October 15, 1966, at the concert recorded as Signe's Last. An extended version of the song is included in the remastered version of Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. 


Year:
1966
2:28
44 

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Won't you see my chauffeur
Won't you see my chauffeur
I want him to drive me
I want him to drive me downtown
For he drives so easy, that I can't turn him down

But I don't want him
But I don't want him
To be ridin' these girls
To be ridin' these girls all around
I'm gonna steal me a pistol, shoot my chauffeur down

Going to let my chauffeur
Going to let my chauffeur
Drive me around the
Drive me around the world
Then he will be my lover boy, I will be his girl

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Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success. more »

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Sheet Music      PDF     

Written by: LESTER MELROSE, ROBERT BROWN

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

10 facts about this song

Band Line-Up
"Chauffeur Blues" was recorded by Jefferson Airplane when Grace Slick was the lead vocalist. The rest of the band line-up during this time included Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, and Spencer Dryden.
Release Year
The song "Chauffeur Blues" is from the album "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off" that was released in 1966. This was the band's debut studio album.
Song Originality
"Chauffeur Blues" is actually a cover song. The original version of the song was recorded in 1927 by blues singer Memphis Minnie, also known as Lizzie Douglas.
Different Version
Unlike the bluesy, slow tempo of the original, Jefferson Airplane's rendition of "Chauffeur Blues" is much faster and rockier, incorporating elements of psychedelic rock, a genre the band was instrumental in developing.
Album Success
The album "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off" on which "Chauffeur Blues" features, did not chart when it was initially released. However, after the success of the band's second album "Surrealistic Pillow," it was reissued and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard album chart in 1966.
Record Label
The song "Chauffeur Blues" was released under the RCA Victor record label, which signed Jefferson Airplane in 1965. The band's signing to the label marked one of the first times a major record company had signed a San Francisco band.
Album Contribution
On the album "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off", "Chauffeur Blues" is the only cover song out of the album's eleven tracks.
Song Theme
"Chauffeur Blues", much like its original version, depicts a woman speaking to her chauffeur, expressing her dissatisfaction with his driving and flirting with the idea of replacing him. This aspect speaks to the themes of modernity and independence of women in the 20th century.
Vocals Distinction
"Chauffeur Blues" is unique as Grace Slick's vocal performance is particularly noteworthy, displaying her ability to carry bluesy tunes with aplomb.
Genre Transition Indicator
"Chauffeur Blues" is considered as a signal of the band's transition from their early psychedelic rock sound to a more folk and blues-influenced style.

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