[Dixielandjazz] Yellow Dog Blues

[Jim Beebe]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stan Brager" <sbrager at socal.rr.com>


> Several days ago, I had the privilege to give a 2-hour class to a group of
> college students on the subject of "The Evolution and Rise of Jazz". The
> class covered the factors leading up to the creation of jazz around the
late
> 1890's to just prior to the rise of Be-Bop.
>
> One of the precursors to jazz was, of course, the blues. I played Bessie
> Smith's version of W. C. Handy's "Yellow Dog Blues" and explained some of
> the slang terms in the song.
>
> I knew, for instance, what an "easy rider" was and the significance of
> "where the Southern cross the Yellow Dog". Beyond that, not much more.
I've
> seen an analysis of the song somewhere but couldn't find it.

I'm curious...what is the significance of "where the Sourthern cross the
Yellow Dog"
and what a "easy rider" was?

Jim Beebe