Song Lyric Sunday: Muddy Waters, “Wee Wee Baby”

Song Lyric Sunday, Song of the Day 1 Minute

I’m going to assume that Jim came up with today’s prompt, “educate, learn, school, teach,” and you might have figured I would come up with a blues number.

“Wee, Wee Baby,” is from a 1963 album, Folk Festival Of The Blues, released on Chess Records’ Argo label. It was a live recording of an evening at DJ Big Bill Hill’s Copacabana Club on the South Side of Chicago. As Cub Koda (remember Brownsville Station?) said in his review on Allmusic, the album was mostly Muddy Waters, with a couple of songs contributed by Howlin’ Wolf, and one song each by Sonny Boy Williamson II and Buddy Guy that were actually studio recordings made to sound like live ones. The album was reissued four years later on Chess as Blues From Big Bill’s Copacabana, which is where I heard it.

Big Bill starts off by introducing the musicians for the evening (including Little Walter, who’s a no-show here), then Muddy, Buddy Guy, and Willie Dixon sing the song, backed by Guy’s band (Jarrett Gibson and Donald Hankins on tenor andd baritone saxes, respectively; Jack Myers on bass; and Fred Below on drums) and Otis Spann, Muddy’s piano player.

It was early one mornin’, I was on my way to school, (x2)
That was the Monday mornin’ that I broke my teacher’s rule.

I was in love with you baby, before I learned to call your name (x2)
Now you’re in love with someone else, and you’re goin’ to drive me insane

Oh wee, wee baby, you sure look good to me (x2)
Sometimes I wonder, who can your lover be?

[guitar solo]

I was in love with you baby, before I learned to call your name (x2)
Now you’re in love with someone else, and you’re goin’ to drive me insane

Oh wee, wee baby, you sure look good to me (x2)
Sometimes I wonder, who can your lover be?

Bye, bye bye baby, bye bye (x2)
Bye, bye bye baby, bye bye!

transcribed by the author

And that’s Song Lyric Sunday (and Song of the Day) for August 14, 2022.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

14 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Muddy Waters, “Wee Wee Baby””

  1. Pingback: The Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

    1. There were probably nights on the South or West Side where you’d hear some of the greatest names in blues playing together, and this is just one of them. The others are just floating in the ozone…

      Like

    1. You’re welcome! Glad you liked it. There are a few blues numbers that fit the bill: Sony Boy Williamson II’s “Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl,” Otis Rush’s “Homework,” and while not strictly a blues song, Chuck Berry’s “School Days.”

      Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.