Stop Breakin’ Down

How to setup your guitar

To get your guitar setup,

tune to Standard — EADGBE

capo to fret number 1st Fret

History of the song & recording

This song was recorded in 20 June 1937, released under Vocalion 04002, while in Dallas, Texas.

Lyrics to the song

Everytime I’m walkin’, down the streets
Some pretty mama start breakin’ down with me
Stop breakin’ down, yes stop breakin’ down
The stuff I got’ll bust your brains out, baby, hoo hoo, it’ll make you lose your mind

I can’t walk the streets now con, consolate my mind
Some no-good woman she starts breakin’ down
Stop breakin’ down, please stop breakin’ down
The stuff I got it gonna bust your brains out, baby, hoo hoo, it’ll make you lose your mind

Now, you Saturday night women’s, you love to ape and clown
You won’t do nothin’ but tear a good man reputation down
Stop breakin’ down, please stop breakin’ down
The stuff I got’ll bust your brains out, baby, hoo hoo, it’ll make you lose your mind

Now, I give my baby, now, the ninety-nine degree
She jumped up and throwed a pistol down on me
Stop breakin’ down, please stop breakin’ down
Stuff I got’ll bust your brains out, baby, hoo hoo, it’ll make you lose your mind

I can’t start walkin’ down the streets
But some pretty mama don’t start breakin’ down with me
Stop breakin’ down, yeah stop breakin’ down
The stuff I got’ll bust your brains out, baby, hoo hoo, it’ll make you lose your mind

Description

For this Standard family segment, Stop Breakin’ Down is a great instalment.

So far in this section, Sweet Home Chicago, When You’ve Got A Good Friend, and Dust My Broom have been in the Key of E, while Steady Rollin’ Man and now Stop Breakin’ Down are two examples of Johnson playing in standard tuning in the Key of A. Learning both of these last 2 songs is a nice way to get another go at how Johnson played in this key, so that it sticks in the memory that much more.

The lyrics of the song, being so nonchalant again makes it a perfect predecessor for Rock N’ Roll, which it did become when the Stones covered it with their great rendition. This song is a special one to get under the fingertips.

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