Today we take a gander at the long tradition of food as a metaphor for sex in blues music, as I found a wonderful history of The Blues here. This music is rife with euphemisms and secret code. I am reminded of the songs that gave instructions for the underground railroad which guided the escape to freedom, like this one from Mark Erelli “The Drinking Gourd.”
The melding of Black folk music with White was a wholly American construct. Back then, there were things that couldn’t be said in polite company. Boy does that ever seem quaint now that there is no governor on how overt music can be. Once upon a time, you had to read between the lines.
To wit, cruising through Alabama a couple of weeks ago, I heard an amazing song that I just had to share with you, “Sorry, I Didn’t Know It Was Your Mama,” from Lenny Williams. That is just way too much information!
That said, today’s song here on the Fog, “Chicken and Dumplings,” is relatively innocent. We filmed The Trishas, with the powerful blues belting of Liz Foster, at Threadgill’s WHQ this past March during the Music Fog Marathon. Not too long ago, when a chill was in the air, I fondly remember a dinner with this ultimate comfort food, as Chicken and Dumplings is a weekly special there. The Trishas will be playing Threadgill’s WHQ this Friday night, and then continue a run of Texas dates before heading to The Rockies. All I can say is, “Is it time for lunch yet?”
- Jessie Scott
