I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone - "Yellow Dog Rag"/"Yellow Dog Blues"

"Yellow Dog Rag"/"Yellow Dog Blues"

In 1915, W.C. Handy wrote an answer song to "I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone?" which he called "Yellow Dog Rag." "Yellow Dog Rag" sold poorly. In 1919, he retitled it "Yellow Dog Blues" to take advantage of the popularity of blues, after which it sold moderately well. His song explains what became of Jockey Lee.

First verse:

E'er since Miss Susan Johnson lost her Jockey, Lee,

There has been much excitement, more to be;

You can hear her moaning night and morn.

She's wonderin where her Easy Rider's gone?

Cablegrams goes off inquiry,

Telegrams goes off sympathy,

Letters come from down in "Bam"

And everywhere that Uncle Sam

Has even a rural delivery.

All day the phone rings, but it's not for me,

At las' good tidings fill our heart with glee,

This message came from Tennessee.

Chorus:

This is your Easy Rider struck this burg today

On a southboun' rattler beside a Pullman car.

Seen him here an' he was on the hog.

All you Easy Riders got a stay away,

So he had to vamp it but the hike ain't far.

He's gone where the Southern cross' the Yellow Dog.

Dear Sue your, etc.

The "Yellow Dog" was the local name for the Yazoo Delta Railroad; the "Southern" is the much larger Southern Railway.

"Yellow Dog Blues" has been recorded a number of times, mostly as an instrumental, and has become a traditional jazz standard.