Doctor Mooney's 115th Dream: Boogie with Freddie King’s “Going Down”

Our rock ‘n roll stethoscopes are happy to report that Freddie King’s “Going Down” is an electrifying, magnificent romp – the crown jewel of his Shelter records debut, Getting Ready.

The lonestar bluesman recorded the swagger filled, “Going Down” at the famed Chess Records on Chicago’s South Side – home to many of his idols and confidantes. “I used to be 16 years old, livin’ next door to the Zanzibar Club [Chicago]. I was underage and Muddy [Waters] would slip me through the side door. That’s when him and Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter and Otis Spann was the band. Muddy would sneak me in and sit me down by the bandstand and I would listen. That was a heavy band, man.”

Produced by Leon Russell and written by Don Nix, “Going Down” is anchored by a vicious eruption of pounding piano, a pair of drummers delivering rattling, earthshaking bombs, monster bass lines from Donald 'Duck' Dunn and searing, razor sharp vocal blitzes with pile driving guitar lines by the Texas Cannonball [King].

“Going Down”
Written by: Don Nix

I'm going down
I'm going, down, down, down
Down, down
Yes, I'm going down, yes
I'm going down, down, down
Down, down
Yes, I've got my feet in the window
Got my head on the ground

Let me down
And close that box car door
Yes, let me down
And close that box car door
Well, I'm goin' back to Chattanooga
And sleep on sister Irene's door

(guitar & instrumental) Hey!

Yes, I'm going down
I'm going down
I'm going, down, down, down
Down, down

Yes, I got my feet in the window
I got my head on the ground

(instrumental to end) 'close'

Take Up Thy Rock 'N Roll Stethoscope and Walk,