TWO NINETEEN
by Mamie Desdumes

Two Nineteen
Took my man away,
Two Nineteen, Lord,
Took my man away;
You know that Two Seventeen’s bound
To bring him back to me someday.

Lord, I’m standin’ out on the corner,
My feet got soakin’ wet;
Well I’m standin’ out on the corner,
My feet got soakin ‘ wet;
I’m askin’ each and every man,
Lord, I’m askin’ every man I met.

Honey please, if you can’t give me a dollar,
Give me one lousy dime;
Honey if you can’t give me a dollar,
Please give me one lousy dime;
You know that I’ve still got to feed that
Hungry man of mine.

Two Nineteen, Two Nineteen
Took my man away,
Lord, that Two Nineteen, now,
It done took my man away;
And I know that Two Seventeen’s bound
Bound to bring him back to me someday now.

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This song was a New Orleans standard, recorded by Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton among many others. Morton called it "Mamie's Blues," and explained that it was the theme song of a singer named Mamie Desdumes in the 1890s.
Janis Joplin’s singing of this song is simply heart-rending, with the image of a distraught woman standing on a corner, trying to sell herself to feed her man.
Something about her feet being soaking wet while she does this is indescribably poignant. This image and the phrase “If you can’t give me a dollar, give me one lousy dime...” are echoed by Steve’s guitar accompaniment in a way that cuts right down to the bone of the human condition, the way only the blues can do.

What a musical pair these two made!

—JS