Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair

Bessie Smith

About Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair

"Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" is a late-1920s blues song written by composer George Brooks and made famous by Bessie Smith. In the song, a female narrator confesses the murder of a deceitful lover and expresses her willingness to accept her punishment. The song is notable for being among the selections officially banned from being played on radio by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The song, both in its original rendition and in cover versions, has been included in numerous albums as well as live performances. Profiling a new volume of Smith's recordings, a reviewer comments, "Some of her most deservedly famous records are here ... as well as some that ought to be, like 'Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair"; another reviewer also singled out that as one of two particularly "terrific numbers" that made Bessie Smith: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 an improvement over the previous volumes. 


Year:
1994
3:25
140 
#1

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Judge you want to hear my plea
Before you open up your court
But I don't want no sympathy
'Cause I done cut my good man's throat
I caught him with a trifling Jane
I warned him 'bout before
I had my knife and went insane
And the rest you ought to know
Judge, judge, please mister judge,
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, judge, good mister judge,
Let me go away from here
I want to take a journey
To the devil down below
I done killed my man
I want to reap just what I sow
Oh judge, judge, lordy lordy judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, judge, hear me judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
I love him so dear
I cut him with my barlow (?)
I kicked him in the side
I stood here laughing o'er him
While he wallowed around and died
Oh judge, judge, lordy judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, judge, sweet mister judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair
Judge, judge, good kind judge
Burn me 'cause I don't care
I don't want no one good mayor
To go my bail
I don't want to spend no
Ninety-nine years in jail
So judge, judge, good kind judge
Send me to the 'lectric chair

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Bessie Smith

Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer. more »

1 fan

Written by: GEORGE BROOKS

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Information
"Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" is performed by Bessie Smith, who is known as the "Empress of the Blues." She was a leading singer of the 1920s and 1930s, and is considered one of the greatest blues vocalists ever.
Track Release
The song was first recorded and released in 1927 and has gone on to become a classic in the blues genre.
Songwriter
The song was written by George Brooks, but it is Bessie Smith's vocal delivery that has made the song so memorable.
Musical Style
"Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" lyrically is representing a condemned woman's last plea in front of a judge. This song is an embodiment of the classic blues theme of defiance and rebelling against the system.
Cultural Context
The song brings attention to the use of the electric chair as a form of capital punishment in the United States, which was a prevalent social issue during the 1920s.
Legacy
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including David Bromberg, Sue Foley, and Sinéad O'Connor, demonstrating its enduring appeal and influence in the blues genre.
Awards and Recognition
In 2015, Bessie Smith and "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" were introduced into the Grammy Hall of Fame for their historical and cultural significance.
Personal Struggle
The raw emotion in the song is often associated with Bessie Smith's personal struggles, including her tumultuous relationships and the hardships she experienced as a black woman in a segregate society.
Cinematic Appearance
The song was featured in the 2015 HBO biopic "Bessie," with Queen Latifah in the lead role. The rendition earned massive appreciation and brought the song back into the public eye.
Musical Instruction
Despite its age and somber subject matter, "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair" continues to be a popular choice in singing lessons and blues guitar tutorials, emphasizing its enduring musical significance.

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