Teachin' the Blues - John Lee Hooker

A whole lot of people asking me, where I originated my beat from

But I had it from way back, a long time ago

And I am just starting out in the music world, professional

But I was with this on

I just discovered, there’s a big thing going

This is the year, 1953, I’m just getting started

Let me show you something on um, about this chord here

Hold you hand right there, and, and work your thumb, kind of beat-like

Is no-, Ain’t not a lot of chords to it, jus-, just a big beat

Now I sound just like a whole band, but you dig it

And dig my feets, you can do it, if you try

Yes, yes, but a big soul, now you cookin' with gas

Yes, the pot’s on now!

Oh, you workin' now!

This old tune my step-father taught me

I was around thirteen years old

He said, «Son, get this beat, and you’ll have something here»

And believe me, boy, I dug it, and I got it

In 49 I got my start, and I clicked, I clicked

Tremendous big hit I had, boy I got it

Now here it is 1953, I’m writing this tune here

I’m teaching the blues to this cat

Yea, now you cookin', make that old fiddle talk, boy

It’s just a beat, your fancy chords don’t mean nothing

If you ain’t got that beat

Throw the fancy chords away, and just get this slow beat…