I Got My Questionnairy

DESCRIPTION: "'Well I got my questionnairy, and it leads me to the war (x2), Well, I'm leavin', pretty baby, Child, can't do anything at all." "Uncle Sam ain't no woman, but he sure can take your man (x2), Boys, they got them in the service...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1963
KEYWORDS: war soldier separation infidelity love separation floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Courlander-NegroFolkMusic, p. 137, "(I Got My Questionnairy)" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, DRAFTBLU*

RECORDINGS:
Robert Dennis, "Questionnaire Blues" (on USFlorida01)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Draftee's Blues
Uncle Sam Blues
NOTES [139 words]: A revival version of this song, performed by the band Hot Tuna under the title of "Uncle Sam Blues," became popular during the Viet Nam war. -PJS
The blues form of the [Robert Dennis] USFlorida01 track is aab. The text may be summarized as follows:
I got my questionnairy ready and they need me in the war." "What you gonna do when they send your man to war? Drink muddy water sleep in a hollow log." "She's a mean mistreating mama and she don't mean me no good I'd be the same way if I could."
First verse is modified from Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup "Give Me a 32-20" (Bluebird B9019, 1942)
Second verse is shared with Blind Lemon Jefferson "Wartime Blues" (Paramount 12425, 1926)
Third verse is shared with Tampa Red "Mean Mistreater Blues" (Bluebird B5546, 1934) and Leroy Carr "Mean Mistreater Mama" (Columbia C30496, 1934) - BS, (RBW)
Last updated in version 4.2
File: CNFM137

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.