<P> `` Mean Old World '' is a blues song recorded by American blues electric guitar musician T - Bone Walker in 1942 . It has been described ( along with the single 's B - side ) as `` the first important blues recordings on the electric guitar '' . Over the years it has been interpreted and recorded by numerous blues , jazz and rock and roll artists . </P>
who sang it 's a mean old world
T - Bone Walker