(dramatic classical music) (blues music) ♪ Oh, that's my gal ♪ Oh, shakin' it now ♪ Oh, that's my gal ♪ Oh, stirrin' it now ♪ I ain't gonna take nobody's ♪ Well, I'll stir it with myself ♪ ♪ Oh, see that gal with the red dress on ♪ ♪ Oh, she's got good ♪ Sure as you're born ♪ Oh, see that gal with the red dress on ♪ ♪ Oh, she's got good ♪ Sure as you're born, now ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna take nobody's ♪ Well, I'll try it for myself ♪ Oh, that's my gal ♪ Oh, that's my pal ♪ Oh, stirrin' it now ♪ Oh, stirrin' it now ♪ I ain't gonna take nobody's ♪ Well, I'll stir it with myself ♪ ♪ Oh, mama, mama, look at sis ♪ In that backyard doin' that twist ♪ ♪ My mama's just lookin' good ♪ In the backyard doin' the twist ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna take nobody's ♪ Well, I'll twist it with myself ♪ ♪ Yeah Oh, get down, sonny boy.

♪ Oh, that's my gal ♪ Oh, shakin' it now ♪ Oh, that's my gal ♪ Oh, stirrin' it now ♪ I ain't gonna take nobody's ♪ Well, I'll stir it with myself ♪ (footsteps clomping) - [Narrator] The Blues were born in Mississippi, and Sam Chatmon was there in the beginning, and played a big part.

At age 84, he was one of the last of the old-time bluesmen.

Called "The living summation "of the Delta Blues style," "The Elder Statesman of the Blues," when he died in February of 1983.

His father was a popular fiddler, born a slave, and Sam started playing music when he was six, in his family's string band.

Back in the '20s and '30s, Sam and his brothers formed the Mississippi Sheiks.

The Sheiks were famous from Atlanta to San Antonio, playing the dances and picnics and parties, and recording the blues, like "Sitting on Top of the World."

(blues music) ♪ I worked all summer ♪ And all that fall ♪ Tryin' to find my ♪ Little all in all ♪ But now she's gone ♪ And I ain't worried ♪ I'm sitting on top of the world ♪ ♪ You needn't come runnin' ♪ Holdin' up your hand ♪ I can get me a woman ♪ Quick as you can a man ♪ But now she's gone ♪ And I ain't worried ♪ I'm sitting on top of the world ♪ ♪ It have been days ♪ Didn't know your name ♪ Oh, why should I worry ♪ And cry in vain ♪ But now she's gone ♪ And I ain't worried ♪ I'm sitting on top of the world ♪ - [Narrator] Sam Chatmon loved to entertain audiences everywhere, whether at a juke joint, at a fish fry, or a celebration in the nation's capital.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Sam was part of the Blues revival.

Audiences loved his finger-picking guitar style, his conversational, sometimes risque lyrics about women and men, love lost and found.

(audience applauding) He played all the major festivals, including the Festival of American Folklife on the Mall in Washington, D.C. - I'm gonna play my theme song, then I'll play anything y'all want me to play.

♪ I hate to see ♪ That evening sun going down ♪ Well, I hate to see, woman ♪ That evening sun going down ♪ But a woman I'm loving ♪ She's 'bout to leave my town ♪ I'll be feelin' tomorrow ♪ Baby like I feel today Oh, you hear that, baby.

♪ I'll be feelin' tomorrow ♪ Woman, like I feel today ♪ I'm gonna pack my suitcase ♪ And make my getaway, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I know the St. Louis woman ♪ She buys a diamond ring ♪ Say, she leads a man around ♪ By her apron string ♪ Get away my window ♪ Or knockin' on my door ♪ I got a brand new sweetie ♪ Can't use you no more, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I got your St. Louis Blues ♪ I'm just as blue as I can be ♪ A-hum, doodle-um dum ♪ Oh, my baby's got a heart ♪ Like a rock cast in the sea ♪ The reason why that devil ♪ Stays so far from me ♪ I'll be lovin' that woman ♪ Schoolboy love a pie ♪ Don't you, let me tell you I love her ♪ ♪ Oh, love my baby ♪ Like a schoolboy love a pie ♪ And I'll be lovin' that woman ♪ ♪ Till the low-down day she die ♪ - Yeah!

(audience applauding) ♪ Well now, little young woman ♪ You ain't treating me right ♪ Give away my love ♪ All day and night ♪ Now just tell me, baby ♪ Who that while ago ♪ And when I come home ♪ Who went out my back door ♪ Well, he come by me running ♪ Fast as he can ♪ One night he's passed ♪ His shoes is in his hand ♪ Now just tell me, baby ♪ Who that while ago ♪ And when I come home ♪ Who went out my back door ♪ Well, I got my hat ♪ He thought I was gone ♪ Soon as I got in the chimney ♪ Gone, I heard my baby gettin' a moan ♪ ♪ Now just tell me, woman ♪ Who that while ago ♪ And when I come home ♪ Who went out my back door ♪ Well, I got my hat ♪ I hid it in the loft ♪ I been gettin' yeah my baby's ♪ ♪ Wantin' kingdom come ♪ Now just tell me, woman ♪ Who that while ago ♪ And when I come home ♪ Who slid out my back door ♪ Well, he got eyes like a toad frog ♪ ♪ Learn how to jump ♪ Nose on his face ♪ As long as a police club ♪ Now just tell me, baby ♪ Who that while ago ♪ And when I come home ♪ Who went out that back door ♪ And when I come home, now ♪ Who went out my back door (audience applauding) - [Man] Play "All-around Man!"

(Blues music) ♪ Well my mama says you're reckless ♪ ♪ Daddy says you're wild ♪ Don't make no difference ♪ She my angel child ♪ She's my baby ♪ She's so nice and brown ♪ Any time that woman touch me ♪ Makes my love come easin' on down ♪ ♪ Oh, she touch me in the morning ♪ ♪ Touch me at night ♪ Time she touch me ♪ Know I feel all right ♪ She's my baby ♪ She's so nice and brown ♪ Every time that woman touch me ♪ ♪ Makes my love come easin' on down ♪ ♪ Oh, look out, woman ♪ You ain't doin' me right ♪ Give away my love ♪ All day and night ♪ She's my baby ♪ You're so nice and brown ♪ Every time that woman touch me ♪ ♪ Makes my love come easin' on down ♪ ♪ Well, she got up this mornin' ♪ ♪ She touched my head ♪ Don't give me no fright ♪ But just sit down ♪ Let's go back to bed ♪ You my baby ♪ You're so nice and brown ♪ Every time that woman touch me ♪ ♪ Makes my love come easin' on down ♪ ♪ Oh, she got up this mornin' ♪ She patted on my jaw ♪ Don't give me no dollar, please ♪ ♪ Give me my salad claw ♪ 'Cause you my baby ♪ You're so nice and brown ♪ Every time that woman touch me ♪ ♪ Makes my love come easin' on down ♪ (audience applauding) - [Narrator] No matter how far he traveled, however, Sam Chatmon always came back home to Hollandale, Mississippi, where he had lived most of his life.

Here, as everywhere else, he'd play his music of hard times and love and women.

(blues music) ♪ I said she's a whisky-drinking woman ♪ ♪ She don't mean me no good ♪ I said, you're the whisky-drinking woman ♪ ♪ Don't mean me no good ♪ Well, you're gonna keep a-drinkin', woman ♪ ♪ I got to leave your neighborhood ♪ ♪ Well, she get up in the mornin' ♪ ♪ She look all the way 'round ♪ Drinkin' whisky, woman ♪ Is gonna sure get you down ♪ 'Cause you's a whisky-drinkin' woman ♪ ♪ And I got to leave your neighborhood ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're just a whisky-drinkin' woman ♪ ♪ Oh, you don't mean me no good ♪ ♪ Well, I'm gonna get me another woman ♪ ♪ Call my sugar-pie ♪ I may not love her like I do ♪ But bet your bottom dollar I'm gonna try ♪ ♪ 'Cause she's a whisky-drinkin' woman ♪ ♪ And stays drunk all the time ♪ She's gonna keep on drinkin' ♪ Oh, I'm afraid she's gonna lose her mind ♪ ♪ Well, she drink it all day ♪ She drink it late at night ♪ Every time she gets drunk ♪ She gets mad and wanna fight ♪ 'Cause she's a whisky-drinkin' woman ♪ ♪ And don't mean me no good ♪ The only way I can get rid of you, woman ♪ ♪ Oh, I got to leave your neighborhood ♪ Oh yes I am, baby.

(audience applauding) - [Narrator] Sam was a regular at a festival close to home, the annual Delta Blues Festival near Greenville, Mississippi, where one year he played with another old-time bluesman, Eugene Powell.

The Blues were born in the Delta, and Sam Chatmon created his own unique brand.

The music he left behind guarantees that he, like the Blues, will live on and on.

(blues music) ♪ How long ♪ How long ♪ Oh, that evening train been gone ♪ ♪ Tell me how long ♪ Oh, how long ♪ Baby, how long ♪ I stood at the station ♪ Watchin' my woman leave town ♪ Oh, I felt so disgusted ♪ Didn't know where she was bound ♪ ♪ But how long ♪ Yeah, how long ♪ Baby, how long ♪ I wished I could holler ♪ Loud as the morning jack ♪ I'd go up on the railroad ♪ Call my woman back ♪ But how long ♪ Yeah, how long ♪ Baby, how long ♪ Someday gonna be sorry ♪ You done me wrong ♪ It'll be too late, woman ♪ I will be gone ♪ But so long ♪ Yeah, so long ♪ Baby, so long Oh, pick that thing, Mr. James.

That's what I'm talking about!

♪ I wish I could holler ♪ Loud as the morning jack ♪ I'd go up on the mountains ♪ Call my woman back ♪ But how long ♪ Oh, how long ♪ Baby, how long ♪ How long ♪ How long ♪ Yes, I gotta keep my watch and prong ♪ ♪ Baby, how long ♪ Oh, how long Going out.

♪ Baby, how long (audience applauding) 'Gotta say all you mothers who smoke cigarettes, you can throw your butts over in here, 'cause I'm The Ashtray Taxi.

(audience cheering) (laughing) (blues music) Whole pick's just loud, just sayin'.

♪ Well, I was sittin' on the corner ♪ ♪ In my taxi car ♪ Brown-skin lady said, mister ♪ Is your car for hire ♪ I said, hey, you cigarette-smokin' woman ♪ ♪ Hey, throw your butts in here ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm an old ashtray taxi, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, just drop your shorts on over here ♪ ♪ Well, I'm gonna drive out in the country ♪ ♪ Park on the side road ♪ I wanna dump all my ashes, woman ♪ ♪ I got a great big load ♪ If you's a cigarette-smokin' woman ♪ ♪ Hey, throw your butts in here ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm an old ashtray taxi, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, just throw your shorts on over in here ♪ ♪ Well, you can smoke your cigarette, woman ♪ ♪ Whilst I'm drivin' along ♪ I'll dump all your ashes ♪ 'Fore I get you back home ♪ If you's a cigarette-smokin' woman ♪ ♪ Hey, throw your butts in here ♪ Goin' out.

♪ 'Cause I'm an old ashtray taxi, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, just throw your shorts on over here ♪ (audience applauding) Thank you, thank you!

(audience cheering) All righty.

- [Man] Yeah, woo!

(blues music) ♪ Says, I prowl, I prowl ♪ Till my feet got sore ♪ Yeah, I prowl, I prowl ♪ Till my feet got sore ♪ And if I could find the woman I'm lovin' ♪ ♪ Oh, I wouldn't have to prowl no more ♪ ♪ Well, I'm going back to Hollandale ♪ - Yeah!

♪ Get my ham bone boiled ♪ You women of Chatfield City ♪ 'Bout to let Sam's ham bone spoil ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm a-prowlin', prowlin' ♪ ♪ And I prowled all night and day ♪ ♪ I really want some good-lookin' woman ♪ ♪ Oh, come on and drive my blues away ♪ Goin' out.

(audience applauding and whistling) (blues music) Well I'm fixin' to drop you down now, boy.

♪ Well you told me, woman ♪ Once upon a time ♪ If I'd be your'n ♪ You would sure be mine ♪ But that's all right ♪ I know you got another man, woman ♪ ♪ That's all right ♪ Every now and then I begin to wonder ♪ ♪ Who gon' love you tonight ♪ Well, I come to your house, woman ♪ ♪ I knocked upon your door ♪ I heard a strange voice sayin' ♪ ♪ Get away from there, you can't get in here no more ♪ ♪ But that's all right (audience cheering) ♪ I know you love another man, woman ♪ ♪ That's all right ♪ Every now and then I begin to wonder ♪ ♪ Who gon' love you tonight ♪ Well, I knocked on the front ♪ Run round to the back ♪ He passed by me runnin' ♪ Fast as any darn Cadillac ♪ But that's all right Goin' out.

♪ I know you got another man, woman ♪ ♪ That's all right ♪ Every now and then I begin to wonder ♪ ♪ Who gon' love you tonight (audience applauding) - All right!

(audience cheering) ♪ We goin' round the mountain when she comes ♪ ♪ We goin' round the mountain when she comes ♪ ♪ We goin' round the mountain ♪ We goin' round the mountain ♪ We goin' round the mountain when she comes ♪ ♪ Oh, that's my wife's mother ♪ Yeah, she come ♪ Oh, that's my wife's mother ♪ Yeah, she come ♪ She always brings the devil ♪ Won't knock him down with a shovel ♪ ♪ We goin' round the mountain when she come ♪ ♪ You might be glad you're dead ♪ ♪ You rascal, you ♪ Be glad when you die, you dirty dog ♪ ♪ Be glad when you die ♪ Won't laugh until I cry ♪ Be glad when you die, you dirty dog ♪ ♪ Gonna walk down to your grave ♪ ♪ You low-down dog ♪ Gonna walk down to your grave ♪ ♪ You dirty dog ♪ Gonna walk down to your grave ♪ ♪ Shove dirt all in your face ♪ Be glad when you dead, dirty dog ♪ ♪ Gonna look like a monkey when you get old ♪ ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you grow old ♪ ♪ I'm tellin' by your knees ♪ You been climbin' coconut tree ♪ ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you get old ♪ Oh yes you old girl!

You gonna make a nice monkey too.

♪ You do look like a monkey when you get old ♪ ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you grow old ♪ ♪ I can tell by your howl ♪ Your daddy was a bowel ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you get old ♪ ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you grow old ♪ ♪ Look just like a monkey when you get old ♪ ♪ I'm tellin' by your shape ♪ Your mammy was a ape (audience shrieking) ♪ Gonna look just like a monkey when you get old ♪ That's it!

(audience cheering) - [Announcer] Sam Chatmon!

And Eugene Powell, give 'em a hand!

(audience applauding and whistling) (blues music) ♪ It have been days ♪ Didn't know your name ♪ Oh, why should I worry ♪ And cry in vain ♪ But now she gone ♪ And I ain't worried ♪ I'm sitting on top of the world ♪ ♪ I went to the station ♪ Down in the yard ♪ Gonna catch me a freight train ♪ ♪ Work done got hard ♪ But now she's gone ♪ And I ain't worried ♪ I'm sitting on top of the world ♪ ♪ And when I'm dead ♪ Down in my grave ♪ There lay poor Sam ♪ No women will he crave ♪ I'll be gone ♪ You need not worry ♪ I'll be sitting on top of the world ♪