This Is a Mean Old World to Me
1966 · Takoma B 1011 · USA
- Artist
- Robert Pete Williams
- Title
- This Is a Mean Old World to Me
- Release
- Louisiana Blues
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Takoma # B 1011
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- USA
- Songwriter
- Robert Pete Williams
- Genre
- Blues · Country Blues · Louisiana Blues
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation — Blues songs
Country Blues artist Robert Pete Williams, born on 14 March 1914 in Zachary, Louisiana, USA, and died on 31 December 1980 in Rosedale, Louisiana, USA. The song "This Is a Mean Old World to Me" (Takoma Records # B 1011) contains the devastating line "I'm sorry the day I was born" because of the tough time he faced. This included receiving the draft call: "I got my questionnaire, lord, I'm in the army now" - questionnaire is the term often used to refer to the draft in blues songs. The narrator also noted his sons being in the war: "I got a few sons going over yonder to face the machine gun". The song concludes with the narrator pondering "I don't believe I'll see my mother's face again". Note: Robert Pete Williams also released the single "Viet Nam Blues" (Ahura Mazda Records # 45-AMS-101) in 1970, featuring on the 1971 album Robert Pete Williams (Ahura # AMS 2002).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Draft Songs
Country Blues artist Robert Pete Williams, born on 14 March 1914 in Zachary, Louisiana, USA, and died on 31 December 1980 in Rosedale, Louisiana, USA. The song "This Is a Mean Old World to Me" (Takoma Records # B 1011) contains the devastating line "I'm sorry the day I was born" because of the tough times he faced. This included receiving the draft call: "I got my questionnaire, lord, I'm in the army now" - questionnaire is the term often used to refer to the draft in blues songs. The narrator also noted his sons being in the war: "I got a few sons going over yonder to face the machine gun". The song concludes with the narrator pondering "I don't believe I'll see my mother's face again". Note: Robert Pete Williams also released the single "Viet Nam Blues" (Ahura Mazda Records # 45-AMS-101) in 1970, featuring on the 1971 album Robert Pete Williams (Ahura # AMS 2002).
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Notes
Track B3 'This Is A Mean Old World To Me'. Mono LP. Robert Pete Williams: guitar, vocals, Written-By (release level). A&R John Fahey and Big Sunflower; booklet notes by Blind Owl Wilson and Elijah P. Holloway (8-page 8x8 booklet). Recorded at Big Sunflower/White Witch Studios; published by Hodolog Music (BMI). Matrix TAKOMA B1011-A / B1011-B. Wikipedia: recorded 1966.
About the artist
Robert Pete Williams was born on 14 March 1914 in Zachary, Louisiana, settled in Maringouin, Louisiana in 1968, and died on 31 December 1980 in Rosedale, Louisiana. [Source: Wikipedia]