"Matchbox"

[Mike West]

I sent in a query to alt.usage.english, and look what comes up. Seems like
Ringo must have covered the Sam Cook song!

=====================
[From Donna Richoux]
There's nothing in RHHDAS [Random House Dictionary of American Slang] or in
"The Pocket Dictionary of American
Slang." What leads you to believe that it *is* American slang?

All I can think of is Ringo Starr singing something like, "Standing on
the corner, matchbox holding my clothes." True, the early Beatles sang
mostly US songs. I figured it was sort of a nonce phrase or maybe an
obscure regional expression, meaning "I have so few clothes (i.e. none),
they could fit in a matchbox."
========================

Regards,
Mike

[Tom Walls]

In article <t4oI3.10291$q8.3...@newscene.newscene.com>, n...@home.com says...

The Beatles were covering Carl Perkins recording of this tune. "Matchbox",
that is.

[Simon Weil]

Mike West wrote:
>
>I sent in a query to alt.usage.english, and look what comes up. Seems like
>Ringo must have covered the Sam Cook song!
>
>=====================
>[From Donna Richoux]
>There's nothing in RHHDAS [Random House Dictionary of American Slang] or in
>"The Pocket Dictionary of American
>Slang." What leads you to believe that it *is* American slang?
>
>All I can think of is Ringo Starr singing something like, "Standing on
>the corner, matchbox holding my clothes." True, the early Beatles sang
>mostly US songs. I figured it was sort of a nonce phrase or maybe an
>obscure regional expression, meaning "I have so few clothes (i.e. none),
>they could fit in a matchbox."
>========================

The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary has this:
Matchbox.....Something very small, esp. a very small house or flat (Early 20th
C.)
Example given/JOYCE: Got notice to quit this match-box and am...looking for a
flat.

i.e. Not specifically US/Jazz-related slang?

Simon Weil

[Jack Woker]

> The Beatles were covering Carl Perkins recording of this tune. "Matchbox",
> that is.

Which in turn bears a very close resemblance to Blind Lemon Jefferson's
"Match Box Blues", recorded in 1927.
jack

[Mike West]

Jack Woker <ste...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:37F252...@ix.netcom.com...

Sorry if you've already stated it, but how is "matchbox" used in Perkins'
and Jefferson's lyric?

Mike

[Jack Woker]

> Sorry if you've already stated it, but how is "matchbox" used in Perkins'
> and Jefferson's lyric?

"I'm sittin' here wonderin', will a matchbox hold my clothes?
I'm sittin' here wonderin', will a matchbox hold my clothes?
I ain't got no matches, but I sure got a long way to go."

jack

[hea...@in-tch.com]

Jack,
It sounds like "hole in my clothes" on the Blind Lemon Jefferson CD. Hard to
tell.
Heath

[Gordon Golding]

I hate to jump in after getting my comeuppance for trying to remember lyrics
while stealing time on the company computer, but I think Jack has the right
version -- although like most blues lines, there are as many variations as there
are singers.

Know of any other versions? Doc Watson did a very pretty one in the white
country blues style a while back.

Gordon

[pjs...@mwnet.or.jp]

Interesting...
On the Columbia version of *Billies Blues* I have (7/10/36), Billie
sings that her Man:

"Had the nerve to lay a matchbox on my floor/clothes(?)
I didn't have so many
But I had a long long way to go."

I read somewhere the meaning was *hooker*.
pjs

In article <37F2B5...@ix.netcom.com>,

ste...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> > Sorry if you've already stated it, but how is "matchbox" used in
Perkins'
> > and Jefferson's lyric?
>
> "I'm sittin' here wonderin', will a matchbox hold my clothes?
> I'm sittin' here wonderin', will a matchbox hold my clothes?
> I ain't got no matches, but I sure got a long way to go."
>
> jack
>
>

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[Mike West]

<pjs...@mwnet.or.jp> wrote in message
news:7t7v7j$g93$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

> Interesting...
> On the Columbia version of *Billies Blues* I have (7/10/36), Billie
> sings that her Man:
>
> "Had the nerve to lay a matchbox on my floor/clothes(?)
> I didn't have so many
> But I had a long long way to go."
>
> I read somewhere the meaning was *hooker*.
> pjs

It's "clothes," not "floor."

If you can tell me where you read that, I'd be grateful. I'm trying to
dig up some information about that "matchbox" reference.

Thanks,
Mike
(Melbourne, Australia)