Bessie Smith :: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

Phonogram Copyright 2003 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. Lyrics and Music by Jimmy Cox Notice: Copyright Disclaimer MiM does not own the copyright for this video. This is a publically released not-for-profit music video permitted under the “Fair Use“ doctrine. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use“ for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. MiM considers that this video is part of an on-going scholarship project which constitutes a critical commentary and which adds transformative content regarding unjust conditions and perceived causes of those injustices now existing on planet Earth. MiM also considers that any copyrighted lyrics quoted in this publically released not-for-profit music video are also part of the scholarship project and appear in context along with transformative commentary that provides analysis of the explicit and implicit content of the lyrics. Fair Use: a doctrine in United States copyright law I’ve been poor and I’ve been rich, and rich is better. -- Bessie Smith Having lost both of her parents at a young age, Bessie Smith was no stranger to deprivation. As a consequence, she went out on her own at the age of eighteen to make her way in the world. When Smith recorded the song, it almost seems like she had a prophetic vision of the twists and turns life was soon to take for her and the nation. At the time, she was flush with a weekly income of $2,000 just from touring. Smith’s version of the song was released on September 13, 1929, and two weeks later the stock market crashed marking the end of the Roaring Twenties and the beginning of the Great Depression. Following the song’s release, the booming recording business went bust with the rest of the economy and the vaudeville circuit rapidly declined with the advent of “talkie“ motion pictures. Smith died at the age of forty-three on September 26, 1937, short of the promised career come-back as a performer on the From Spirituals to Swing concert in December, 1938. Once I lived the life of a millionaire, spending my money, I didn’t care. I carried my friends out for a good time, buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine. Then I began to fall so low, I didn’t have a friend, and no place to go. But if I ever get my hands on a dollar again, I’m gonna hold on to it till them eagles grin. Nobody knows you, when you’re down and out. In my pocket, not one penny, and my friends, I haven’t any. But if I ever get on my feet again, and I meet my long-lost friend. It’s mighty strange, without a doubt, nobody knows you when you down and out. I mean when you down and out. Mmmmmmmmh, when you down and out. Mmmmmmmmh, not one penny, and my friends, I haven’t any. Mmmmmmmmh, when I fell so low, nobody wants me ’round their door. Mmmmmmmmh, without a doubt, no man can use you when you down and out. I mean when you down and out. Bessie Smith -- vocals Clarence Williams -- piano Gavin Bushnell -- alto saxophone Greely Walton -- tenor saxophone Ed Allen -- cornet Cyrus St. Clair -- tuba