C. T. Suddeth

A few years ago, my later father, Charles G. Suddeth, asked about a song he’d heard as a kid—Tea Pelham Blues. 1923, the song appeared as Black Bottom Blues, about a once-farming community in Detroit, songwriter unknown. Subsequent versions were Deep Ellum Blues about a Dallas neighborhood home to blues greats such as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Leadbelly. In the 1930s, the Shelton Bros. recorded several versions as Deep Elm Blues—the songs my dad heard. Over the years many people have recorded it, including Jerry Lee Lewis, the Grateful Dead, even bluegrass versions. Sorry, Dad, no tea, just elms.

If you go down to deep elm put your money in your shoes
The women in deep elem, they give you the deep elem blues
Oh, sweet mama, your daddy’s got them deep elem blues…