Mother Fuyer

The words "mother for you" or "mother fuyer", as minced oaths for "motherfucker", were used in blues and R&B records from the 1930s. Examples include Memphis Minnie's "Dirty Mother For You" (Decca Records, 1935) and Washboard Sam (1935),{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IerXAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Dirty+RED%22.+%22Dirty+Mother+Fuyer%22&pg=PA199 |title=Woman with Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues |author1=Paul Garon |author2=Beth Garon |page=199 |date= 10 June 2014|isbn=9780872866218 |accessdate=2016-11-02}} plus Roosevelt Sykes in 1936,{{cite web|url=http://www.wirz.de/music/american.htm |title=Internet-Verbindungen (frames) |website=Wirz.de |date= |accessdate=2016-11-02}} with the slightly amended title of "Dirty Mother For You (Don't You Know)".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YgyZfOmg9EkC&q=%22washboard+sam%22.+%22dirty+mother+for+you%22&pg=PA135 |title=The Compleat Motherfucker: A History of the Mother of All Dirty Words (Feral ... |author=Jim Dawson |page=135 |date= May 2011|isbn=9781459619562 |accessdate=2016-11-02}} The singer Stick McGhee, whose recording of "Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" was a hit in 1949, claimed that he had originally heard the song as "Drinking Wine, Motherfucker".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSErq0ssG74C&q=%22Dirty+Mother+Fuyer%22&pg=PT146|author=Peter Silverton|title=Filthy English: The How, Why, When And What Of Everyday Swearing|publisher=Portobello Books|date=2011|isbn=9781846274527}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YgyZfOmg9EkC&q=The+Compleat+Motherfucker|author=Jim Dawson|title=The Compleat Motherfucker: A History of the Mother of All Dirty Words|publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com|date=2011|page=135|isbn=9781459619562}}

Red Nelson found no reason to be particularly oblique over the title of this jump blues track, which he recorded in 1947.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSErq0ssG74C&q=%22Dirty+RED%22.+%22Dirty+Mother+Fuyer%22&pg=PT146 |title=Filthy English: The How, Why, When And What Of Everyday Swearing |author=Peter Silverton |page=146 |date= 3 November 2011|isbn=9781846274527 |accessdate=2016-11-02}} It was released using the nom de disque, Dirty Red, by Aladdin Records (catalog reference 194A).{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utiXfTXfDds |title=Dirty Red"Mother Fuyer" 1947 Aladdin 194 |publisher=YouTube |date=2011-01-21 |accessdate=2016-11-02}} The effective minced oath seemed to have confused the censors.{{cite web|url=http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/2809/dirty-red-mother-fuyer-1947/ |title=Dirty Red: Mother Fuyer (1947) | Elsewhere by Graham Reid |website=Elsewhere.co.nz |date=2012-11-29 |accessdate=2016-11-02}} The dirty blues lyrics included the lines "I got to put this mule to jumpin' in yo' stall, I'm a lovin' muther for ya". The track, which Nelson claimed to be his own on the record label, was clearly a variant of the earlier songs of a similar nature and song title.

Dirty Red's "Mother Fuyer" has been included on numerous compilation albums, including The Aladdin Records Story (1994).{{cite web|author=Lindsay Planer |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-aladdin-records-story-mw0000626364 |title=The Aladdin Records Story - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-11-02}} Dirty Red's recording was played on episode two of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour, when the themed title was 'Mother'.{{cite web|url=http://investor.siriusxm.com/investor-overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2007/Bob-Dylans-Theme-Time-Radio-Hour-to-Launch-Season-Two-on-XM-September-19/default.aspx |title=Sirius XM Holdings Inc. - Bob Dylan's 'Theme Time Radio Hour' to Launch Season Two on XM September 19 |website=Investor.siriusxm.com |date=2007-09-06 |accessdate=2016-11-03}}

The song was covered by Chick Willis on his 1972 album Stoop Down Baby... Let Your Daddy See,{{cite web|author=Bill Dahl |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/stoop-down-babylet-your-daddy-see-mw0000674284 |title=Stoop Down Baby...Let Your Daddy See - Chick Willis | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-11-03}} and released as a B-side on a single on La Val Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Chick-Willis-Mother-Fuyer/release/1600289 |title=Chick Willis - Mother Fuyer (Vinyl) |website=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2016-11-03}} Willis claimed songwriting credits.

The song was also covered by B.B. King in 1977 and appeared on his album, King Size, with King this time claiming ownership of the songwriting.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/mother-fuyer-mt0011761705 |title=Mother Fuyer - B.B. King | Song Info |publisher=AllMusic |date=2012-09-24 |accessdate=2016-11-03}} It was also on his subsequent compilation albums, King of the Blues (1992) and Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. B.B. King (2012).

Magic Slim recorded a live cover version of "Mother Fuyer" for his 1987 album, Live At B.L.U.E.S.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Magic-Slim-Live-At-BLUES/release/4527703 |title=Magic Slim - Live At B.L.U.E.S. (Vinyl, LP) |website=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2016-11-03}}

Mama's Pride recorded the song for their 2006 live album, A "Live" and Well.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mamas-Pride-A-Live-And-Well-At-The-Pageant/release/6918698 |title=Mama's Pride (2) - A "Live" And Well At The Pageant (CD, Album) |website=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=2016-11-03}}

Johnny "Guitar" Watson had a hit in 1977 with "A Real Mother For Ya".{{cite book | first=Paul | last=Du Noyer | year=2003 | title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music | edition=1st | publisher=Flame Tree Publishing | location=Fulham, London | isbn=1-904041-96-5 | page=164}}

Billy Boy Arnold included a song with the title "Dirty Mother Fuyer", as the opening track on his 1979 album, Checkin' It Out.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/checkin-it-out-mw0000884196 |title=Checkin' It Out - Billy Boy Arnold | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-11-03}}

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgE3FvQanK0 "Mother Fuyer" on YouTube]

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Category:1947 songs

Category:1947 singles