Ernest Tubb plays "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues" on Bluebird B-8899. <br /><br />Recorded on October 27, 1936. <br /><br />This is from Tubb's first record session! <br /><br />Recorded in San Antonio,Texas. <br /><br />Tubb had only two recording dates for Victor (or RCA--this company issued Bluebird discs). <br /><br />Tubb had greater success with Decca (listen for Jimmie Short playing lead guitar) four years later. <br /><br />The Victor (or RCA) discs made by Tubbs in her early years of reocrding did not sell well. <br /><br />The second sesson was in March, 1937, and guitarist Mervyn Bufflington joined Tubb at this second session. <br /><br />The influence of Jimmie Rodgers is obvious here. <br /><br /><br />_______________________ <br /><br />This version that we are hearing is NOT the song done by Bessie Smith. <br /><br />Here are the lyrics of the Bessie Smith version: <br /><br />Yes, bedbugs sure is evil; they don't mean me no good. <br />Yeah, a bedbug sure is evil; they don't mean me no good. <br />Think he's a woodpecker, and I'm a chunk of wood. <br /><br />When I lay down at night, I wonder how can a poor gal sleep, <br />When I lay down at night, I wonder how can a poor gal sleep, <br />When some is holdin' my hand, others is eatin' my feet. <br /><br />Bedbugs as big as a jackass, will bite you and stand and grin, <br />Bedbugs as big as a jackass, will bite you and stand and grin, <br />They'll bring all the bedbugs for to turn around and bite you again, <br /><br />Something moaned in a corner, I tried my best to see, <br />Something moaned in a corner, and I went over and see, <br />It was a bedbug mother prayin', "Lord, give me some more to eat." <br /><br />Got myself a wishbone, bedbugs done got my goat, <br />Got myself a wishbone, wish they'd cut their own doggone throats. <br /><br />Smith recorded it on September 27, 1927.
