Bessie Smith-"Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"

Selected English language viewer comments from

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments=1&v=6MzU8xM99Uo

Posted in 2009:

misskeitii- i absolutely love this song so much!

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pjcgatsby-only 403 hits on probably one of the premier songs sung by one of the great singers of the 20th century.

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ladyloca67-absolutely fabulous

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OghamFuthark - Wow.

Really Epic. ...

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22483511- I've had this record since it was re issued  In UK after the war about 1948. I have never been able to identify what she sings in the verse after "I;m gonna hold on to it..............." (0.54 in the above video). Some versions say "till the eagle grins" and others "till the eagles green" I have no idea what either means.Can anyone solve my 60 year old mystery?

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seedstyler-"i´m gonna hold on to it till them eagle´s green", she is talking about a dollar note ;-)

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22483511- It does sound like "eagles green" thanks seedstyler and there is a silent video as you have pointed out elsewhere that shows text "...eagles green" but if you Google "Words to Nobody knows you when your'e Down and Out" it says there-Words and music by Jimmy Cox 1923 ...." till the eagle grins"

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Zadro220- Hi, Just read "Bessie - Empress of the Blues" by Chris Albertson, who lists the lyrics as "til them eagles grin"

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tadoby- There's an eagle on the seal of the United States. That seal is on lots of the money, especially from that period. So holding on to it till the eagle grins, means she's going to hold on to her money rather than spending it on anyone else because no one is helping her.

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22483511-"Eagle Grins" it is.Thanks ! Zadro220. Hope you are enjoying the book. Contributor seedstyler has directed me to 2 websites which confirm your findings. There is a book available in the US called "Squeeze it till the Eagle Grins" Thanks everyone now I'm happy.

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22483511- Thanks tadoby that really helps. Yes it is "eagle grins"

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mitrabumble-Tks for your comments .What a voice.

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Lagusaya2- Pure and original! Listen to Alberta Hunter's version too!

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sputnik1881 - Her voice is the heart of Soul...how can you match such emotion.

Posted in 2010:

swertman1 -Janice Joplin and another person bought a headstone for Bessie because her grave was unmarked for years.  What a talent Bessie was!

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JCJasion- Somewhere in my collection, I have a reel-to-reel tape dub of a bootleg record of Janis Joplin doing this song in some dive in San Antonio in 1962.

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missasegei-Amazing.. Did not know that..

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Andrzej23PL- Janis was right - Bessie was wunderfull.

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AnamariaInfinity-Why does it touch me?

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lobizoon1- because it's blues

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curiouschile-Bessie is SO beautiful- she touches my spirit !  Thanks for this post 1 xo -c-c-

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6stringdaveyM-Simply put - Bessie is the best

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00635850063-that is whynthey call her empress of the blues

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Faith2502-this is the best version of that classic among all the other.....at least its my opinion...

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matrags- I agree with you. That voice tells a story all on it's own.

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Jennyx2411- Heard this song on bioshock 2 when waitin for the chapter to load.. Really caugh my attention, great song!! xX

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anthonyvvs - lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course) .

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drakebellfan3257- wait why is everyone typing in charles t.?

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peterprlt-@drakebellfan3257 cuz his fiancee Alli was listening to this song, apparently Ms. Smith's music is featured in Bioshock 2....she's sort of obsessed with the game....

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thanksforthemr- bioshock 2 from paupers drop :D

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AirbagDeployed- played while loading pauper's drop in bioshock 2... epic song, epic level.

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Agnew569-Paupers Drop :)

2nd fav song in the game followed by How much is that doggie in the window XD

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Kyder- Wow, tons of CTFxC fans here yo. Didn't expect it. Haha. Guess I gotta do my part being a fan of them and all. ......

CTFxC!! Whoo! :P

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JanetEyre9 - i'm speechless. no comments could explain how great and gorgeous her voice is.

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dano3564 -1929. wonder if Bessie knew her song would be on again in 2010

Nice....

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barrysbook -This song was written in 1923 by Jimmy Cox.

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luvdah8ers- this song is amazing.... Thank you bioshock...

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Phazonin- Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.

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brandnew8816 - @Phazonin

yes, that is exactly why I came here. Bioshock 2

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wonsak-@Phazonin yeah , its incredeble that sometimes thx to the games You can find such a great pieces

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thecatman00-@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames

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r0b3rt330-BS2 yay!! glad im not the only one to look this up....

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ChidoDeLaSierra-I'm Glad Bioshock 2 Showed Me How Great This Era And Itz Music Iz

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gotstrongdotcom- WOW ! I didn't know she did this. I first heard it from Bobby Womack ! This is a true song

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onecanmadman-I know the song from some old film of Davy Graham. And I also play Bioshock 2 ;)

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berlynn2- i love music so much, i also love bobby womack's version also.

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openedmindable - Its great to hear the classics are still alive. Music like this is the foundation of the modern songs of today. Its cool to see this passed on from generation to generation. Thanks for posting!

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willywonka1379- i love how everyone, including myself, came here because of bioshock 2. such an amazing game.

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huntsville1000- I've heard nothing other than the version of Eric Clapton... I listened to it today in my history class, which was covering about the Depression. I was totally overwhelmed by this song... This song was A PART OF HISTORY!!

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luisdramon-Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D

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butfulmuzik- Miss Bessie defined the blues. She did it in a time when Afro-Americans were treated like shit. She made no apologies and kissed no one's ass to give this world some of the best blues ever recorded. How sad that an unfortunate car accident left people too afraid to take her to a closer "white" hospital where she might have been saved. God rest you, Miss Bessie, and thank you for the gift of song because it was incredibly fine!