Merline Johnson

Merline Johnson (born c. 1912 or 1918, date of death unknown) was an American blues singer in the 1930s and 1940s, billed as The Yas Yas Girl. "Yas yas" was a euphemism for buttocks in hokum blues songs such as Blind Boy Fuller's "Get Yer Yas Yas Out" and James "Stump" Johnson's "The Duck's Yas-Yas-Yas".

Little is known of her life. It is generally believed that she was born in Mississippi, though the researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc suggest she may have been born Merline Baker in Callaway County, Missouri. She was the aunt of singer LaVern Baker.

Johnson first recorded in Chicago in 1937. One early song was "Sold It to the Devil". Over the next four years she recorded over 90 songs, including "Don't You Make Me High", "I'd Rather Be Drunk", and "Love with a Feeling". She recorded a few risqué songs.

Her speciality was a variety of juke joint blues, with songs such as "Drinking My Blues Away" and "I Just Keep on Drinking", delivered in a tough, unlovable voice. She was accompanied by Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Blind John Davis, Buster Bennett, and Punch Miller. Her final recordings, not issued at the time, were cut in 1947.

Birth and Death Data: Born Mississippi (state of the United States of America)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1838 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 90 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-07631 10-in. 5/4/1937 New muddy water blues Merline Johnson ; Eddie Miller Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-07632 10-in. 5/4/1937 He roars like a lion Merline Johnson ; Eddie Miller ; Willie Bee Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-07633 10-in. 5/4/1937 I'm leavin' you Merline Johnson ; Eddie Miller Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-07634 10-in. 5/4/1937 My baby left me Merline Johnson ; Eddie Miller Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-07635 10-in. 5/4/1937 Pallet on the floor Merline Johnson Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, composer  
Victor BS-07636 10-in. 5/4/1937 Mean mistreatin' Daddy Merline Johnson Female vocal solo, with guitar, piano, and string bass vocalist, composer  
Columbia C1922 10-in. 6/9/1937 Sold it to the devil Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C1924 10-in. 6/9/1937 I'd rather drink muddy muddy water no. 2 Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C1939 10-in. 6/22/1937 Blues everywhere Memphis Minnie Female vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and drums  
Columbia C1973 10-in. 7/30/1937 Working on the project Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C1974 10-in. 7/30/1937 I drink good whiskey Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C1975 10-in. 7/30/1937 Patrol wagon blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C1976 10-in. 7/30/1937 Got a man in the 'Bamma mine Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2018 10-in. 10/19/1937 Jackass for sale Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2019 10-in. 10/19/1937 You got to pay Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2058 10-in. 12/15/1937 Please come back to me Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2059 10-in. 12/15/1937 My independent man Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2060 10-in. 12/15/1937 He may be your man Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2061 10-in. 12/15/1937 Love shows weakness Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2062 10-in. 12/23/1937 New drinking my blues away Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2063 10-in. 12/23/1937 Crime don't pay Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2169 10-in. 4/7/1938 About my time to check Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2170 10-in. 4/7/1938 Squeeze me tight Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2171 10-in. 4/7/1938 Jelly bean blues Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
Columbia C2172 10-in. 5/19/1838 My man is gone Yas Yas Girl Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble  
(Results 1-25 of 90 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Johnson, Merline," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737.

Johnson, Merline. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737.

"Johnson, Merline." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106737

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