Harmonica Buzz: Buzz Songs

The Cornbread Jinx

(Harmonica Buzz)

2005-09-24

JT Sunden & Phil Wiggins (ASCAP)

This song was born around and about Galax, Virginia and ever since then it's had a life of its own.
I was fortunate enough to be able to travel for 9 days with The Masters of the Steel String Guitar tour in 2000. Phil Wiggins and I were working on a project and on the afternoon of March 7 he showed me a song he'd been working on. He said "I wanted to write a blues song about lust. There aren't any good blues songs about lust." and then showed me the lyrics to his song ... and man, there was a lot going on in it. Besides from playing a harmonica in ways I can't even imagine, Phil Wiggins can turn a phrase like a moment turns time.

So he shows me this song and later that day Wayne Henderson has folks from the tour over to his house for dinner. Not being a Master of the Steel String Guitar myself, I was laying low at the back of the buffet line when, while passing the cornbread, Phil says "I used to make good cornbread all the time, I haven't made good cornbread in a real long time ... I think I've got a cornbread jinx."

So I'm scrambling around the kitchen looking for something to write on and David Lay, who was on that tour and already thought I was crazy, is looking at me like I am nuts. I finally find a pencil, write those words on a napkin and later that night hand them to Phil saying "Here's your lust song."

So maybe this is the easiest song Phil ever wrote, but the recording of the song wasn't. Let's see ... my car broke down on the way to the first session, but that's ok because I got a song out of it (see The Blues are Better on my store track). Then poor Sara sat through three different sessions playing the "Cornbread Woman" (not an enviable task) while Michigan Mark sat through those same three sessions, and more, trying to recreate the perfect "all over town."

PS: Many thanks to who ever made the cornbread at Wayne's house

The Cornbread Jinx (JT Sunden/P Wiggins) ASCAP
(Key of E) Marine Band A harp into vocal mic

Well I used to make the cornbread all the time
I said I used to make cornbread that was oh so fine
But I haven't made cornbread (haven't made cornbread)
You know I haven't made good cornbread (haven't made cornbread)
You know I haven't made good cornbread ? in a real long time

Well I used to walk around I was the cornbread man
Saying talk to me baby I'm your cornbread man
But I haven't made cornbread (haven't made cornbread)
You know I haven't made good cornbread (haven't made cornbread)
You know I haven't made good cornbread ? in a real long time

Well it's the cornbread jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
I got that cornbread jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
You know that cornbread jinx (the cornbread jinx)
I got that cornbread jinx (the cornbread jinx)
You know I used to make good cornbread ? it was good cornbread

Well I used to have my baby
She loved my cornbread
She said "Your's the best cornbread I ever did have."
And so I started makin' cornbread ? all over town (all over town)
And now I haven't made good cornbread in a real long time

Well it's the cornbread jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
I got that Cornbread Jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)You know that Cornbread Jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
It's bad I tell you (The Cornbread Jinx)
You know I used to make good cornbread ? it was good cornbread

So I got to thinking "You know I'm the cornbread man
I've got to make some cornbread how ever I can"
So I went searching for a bake sale (searching for a bake sale)
You know that Saturday morning bake sale (Saturday morning bake sale)
I found me the best cornbread woman ? and she told what to do

It was the cornbread jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
I had the cornbread Jinx (the Cornbread Jinx)
You know that Cornbread Jinx (The Cornbread Jinx)
It was bad I tell you (the Cornbread Jinx)
I found me the best cornbread woman ? and she told me what to do.

(He's the Cornbread Man) ~ I'm the Cornbread Man
(He's the Cornbread Man) ~ I'm the Cornbread Man
(He's my Cornbread Man) ~ I'm her cornbread Man
(He's my Cornbread Man) ~ I'm her cornbread Man
And now I'm making real good cornbread and get good lovin' all the time