tangelO

It’s Real – Codine and the Delta Momma Blues

Delta Momma Blues, one of Townes Van Zandt’s earlier albums, is not as cut and dry as one might think.  While the title-track drifts by slowly and gives off a somewhat lazy-river feeling, it contains a double-meaning from the songwriter.  “Delta Momma,” as Townes referred to it, was cough syrup with codine (Robitussin DM = Delta Momma), and was easily available over the counter.  As the lyrics suggest, it made the consumer feel removed and relaxed.  On the other hand, it is violently addictive (as a opiate) and it’s ingestion with the other ingredients of cough syrup in large quantities is not a good idea.  Nevertheless, Townes Van Zandt and many other prolific songwriters swore by the Delta Momma, and it’s use continues in the southern United States – popularized again through hip-hop.

1964 – Buffy Sainte-Marie – Cod’ine
1964 demo - Donovan – Codine
1965 – Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs – Codine
1965-66 – Gram Parsons – Codine
1966 – The Litter – Codine
1967 – The Leaves – Codine
1968 – 31st of February – Codine
196X – Matthew Moore Plus Four – Cod’ine
1976 – Man – Codine
1983 – The Charlatans – Codine Blues
1994 – Poison 13 – Codine
2006 – Oakley Hall – Codine

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1970 – Delta Momma Blues – Townes Van Zandt
(Also a mention in “Waitin’ Round to Die”)