CONELRAD | ATOMIC PLATTERS: I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole by Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup [1951]

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I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole: Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup [1951]

This is one of a number of blues tunes written from a black perspective about the Cold War era and the Korean War (such as Eisenhower Blues and Korea Blues both by J.B. Lenoir). The song's protagonist seeks to crawl in a hole in the hopes that when he finally surfaces "there won't be no wars around." The brevity and directness of the message of this song (and others like it) were no doubt lost on the Truman and Eisenhower Administrations.

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup was born in Forest, Mississippi in 1905 and spent his early life farming. He reportedly learned his music craft under Papa Harvey, a local blues musician. Crudup did not learn to play guitar until he was in this thirties, but he did sing in his church choir. In approximately 1939 Crudup moved to Chicago and played the blues on street corners where he was discovered in 1941 by Lester Melrose and brought to RCA. Crudup recorded some 80 songs for RCA Victor including Mean Old Frisco and If I Get Lucky. By 1947 Crudup's business relationship with Melrose soured when Crudup learned that he had been cheated out of songwriting royalties.

In 1952 Crudup recorded for Trumpet under the name Elmer James and for Checker as Percy Lee Crudup. In 1954 Elvis Presley recorded Crudup's That's Alright Mama and two more Crudup compositions, My Baby Left Me and So Glad You're Mine.

In the 1950s Crudup returned to farm work and it would not be until 1961 that he recorded again for the Fire label. Taking advantage of the blues revival in the late 1960s, Crudup toured Europe. Crudup died in 1974 in Virginia.

LYRICS/TRANSCRIPTION:
I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole: Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup [1951]

I might dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
I might dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
You know when I come out
There won't be no wars around

Well, I got my white canary, my class card, too
My baby's wondering Lord now what am I to do
Might dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
You know when I come out
There won't be no wars around
Yeah!

Well, they take me to the river front, cross the deep blue sea
My baby begin to wonder what in the world become of me
Dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
You know when I come out
There won't be no wars around

I'm might-a leave my baby all pulled up and crying
You know that's the reason why I 'm really gonna change my mind
Dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
You know when I come out
There won't be no wars around

Well, I ain't got no one to love me, all I got is gone
My baby leavin' me and I'm leavin' up my home
I might dig myself a hole
Move my baby down in the ground
You know when I come up
There won't be no wars around

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup [1951]
I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole
(Arthur Crudup)
RCA Victor 22/50-0141

CATEGORY: SONGS: KOREAN WAR

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