Mance Lipscomb Lyrics

[bluesmikedk]

And as long as we're talking Mance lyrics, here's another one I've been working on. The second line in the second verse is a real stumper! Any additions, corrections appreciated.


NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME

Listen here baby, what I’m gonna say to you
I want you to know baby, I got the bye bye blues
Night time is the right time, be with the one you love

When you’re out late at night, baby [I can’t rest]
[Baby I   ? like honey, ??           ]
Night time is the right time, be with the one you love

BREAK

Grab my hat this morning, she followed me to the door
She says come back daddy, you don’t have to go
Night time is the right time, be with the one you love, with the one you love

Cried last night, cried the whole night long
Cried last night, I cried the whole night long
I didn’t miss my loved one until she had gone

BREAK

Ya ain’t gonna miss your water, ‘til your well go dry
Ain’t gonna miss your loved one until she say goodbye
Night time is the right time, be with the one you love, with the one you love

BREAK

Don’t the moon look pretty shining on through the tree
I can see my [loved one] when she don’t see me
Night time is the right time, be with the one you love, with the one you love

[Pan]

Hi Bluesmiked

This is what I get for the 2nd chorus ( from the reprise Trouble in Mind CD):

"When you're out late at night, Baby, you know I can't rest.
You know, food I eat, Honey, Baby it won't digest..."

But since I'm not a native English speaker, let's hope someone who is, will confirm or correct

Cheers

Pan

[banjochris]

Pan -- close enough. On the "Trouble in Mind" CD it's "Even the food I eat honey, baby won't digest."

Also, one other verse he sings occasionally on "Night Time" is

When a man take the blues, catch some train and ride,
But when a woman take the blues, she hangs her head and cry,
Night time...

Along with the verses already transcribed, I think that's pretty much all of 'em.

And Mike, "loved one" is right in that last verse.

In "Silver City Bound," I always thought that "You can tell all your high browns that you see but one" line (which you did transcribe correctly, Mike), coupled with the line about going to Houston, meant that he was telling his friends that they could tell all the women around that he'd gone back to Houston, except his girlfriend, who he didn't want to know where he was going.
Chris

[bluesmikedk]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Here is another Mance great, Ella Speed. Nothing too difficult on this one, I don't think, but I thought I'd post it for anyone interested anyway:

ELLA SPEED

Well the first time I shot Ella
I shot her through the side
Second time I could not tell where

But the third time I shot her
I shot her through the head
You know that shot musta killed poor Ella dead

When they all got the news
That Ella speed was dead
They goes home and dresses up in red

There was two white horses
Side in side
Gonna take Ella for a last flowery ride

Ella ‘fore she died
Last words she said
Tell my sisters please don’t do like me

That’s fall in love
With everyone
With every one that you see

One of these mornings
While you’re having fun
Somebody gonna do like Ella done

Now Ella she went out
Just to have some fun
She got shot down with with Colt 41

Well they shot Ella once
Didn’t shoot her no more
She staggered cross the ballroom floor

Ain’t it hard
Man, but it’s true
You can love someone don’t love you

BREAK

Well the last words
I heard Ella say
Tell my sisters don’t do like me

That is fall in love
With everyone
With everyone that you see

[Bunker Hill]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Here is another Mance great, Ella Speed. Nothing too difficult on this one, I don't think, but I thought I'd post it for anyone interested anyway:

John Cowley and John Garst wrote an interesting article about the true story "Behind The Song Ella Speed" which was published in Sing Out during 2001. If I can find where I've stored that particular issue I'll scan and post to the main forum.

[bluesmikedk]

I'd love to hear the story behind "Ella Speed." Thanks.

Mike

[Slack]

Hey Mike,

Bunker already posted

http://weeniecampbell.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=114&topic=3584.msg27172#msg27172

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Mance Lipscomb's recording of "Tell Me Where You Stay Last Night" first appeared on "Mance Lipscomb, Texas Sharecropper and Songster, Vol. 3", on Arhoolie, an album that was recorded live at a no-longer-extant Berkeley club, The Cabale.  Without looking at the list of keys and positions for Mance Lipscomb that banjochris compiled, it is the only song of Mance's that I can think of that he used dropped-D tuning to play in D rather than A.  It is a wonderful piece with an epic quality, one of the greatest ever in dropped-D.

   SOLO

   Mama, tell me baby, where you stay last night?
   Mama, tell me, baby, where you stayed last night?
   With your hairs down, clothes ain't fittin' you right

   I lay down laughin', people, and I woke up cryin'
   Lay down laughin', people, and I woke up cryin'
   Well, the woman I love, can't get her off my mind

   SOLO

   Ever wake up in the mornin', found your baby gone?
   Ever wake up in the mornin' and find your baby gone?
   Found no woman at your side, had to sing this lonesome song

   "Come back, baby, won't do wrong no more
   Come back, baby, I won't do wrong no more
   I'll take you with me, baby, the very next time I go"

   SOLO

All best,
Johnm
   

[banjochris]

There might be one or two others, John -- "Louise" is the only one that comes to mind off hand. His playing is so great in drop-D key of D it's a shame he didn't do more in that position. Also, "Tell Me Where" is one of a few tunes he recorded in more than one key -- it's in E on the Mance Vol. 5 CD (Vol. 6 on LP, IIRC).
Chris

[Blue in VT]

I'm slipping back into the depths of my Mance Addiction and was just grooving to this tune in my car today...one of my favorites.  I'm a big fan of almost all his tunes in Drop-D...I've been working through Cherry Ball and Goin' Down slow for the last week or so after negeleting them for quite awhile and they have inspired me to to figure out a few of the licks and breaks from Angel Child...which to my ear appears to be very similiar to Goin down slow.....Great fun!

Blue

[Blue in VT]

Sorry to dredge up such an old thread but I've been discussing Mance Lyrics with another member offline and thought I would post these versions that I wrote up....didn't see any reason to start a whole new thread.  I hope to get more up soon.  Any feed back or corrections greatly appreciated.

Goin’ Down Slow
1.    I done had my fun if I don’t get well no more x2
         My health is failin’ me, and lord I’m goin’ down slow
2.   I want you to write my mother tell her the shape I’m in x2
        Tell her to pray for me, forgiveness for my sin
3.   Mama don’t send no doctor, (cause) he can’t do no good x2
        Its all my fault now mama, I didn’t do the things I should
4.   Next train south mama look for my clothes on x2
        You don’t see my body all you can do is moan
5.   Mama Don’t you worry, cause this is all in my prayer x2
        They say your son is dead out in this world somewhere


Captain Captain,
 
1.       I asked my captain, what time of day x2
         He just looked at his watch and then he walked away
2.        I wouldn’t mind workin’, captain from sun to sun x2
          If  you pay me my money when pay day come
3.       I told my Captain that old Maude was dead
         Well I told my captain that old Maude the mule was dead
         Never mind Maude, put the harness on Ned
4.       I went around that whole corral x2
         Yes I went around man that whole corral
         And I couldn’t find a mule with his shoulder well
5.       Six months ain’t long two years ain’t no great long time x2
          I’ve got a friend in penitention (penitentiary) doing ninety nine.
6.       You oughta been down on the river in the year 19 and 10 x2
          Women wore the ball and chain just like the men.
 
Btw…Verse 4 took me forever to figure out what he was saying so I have come up with my own version…which has stuck in my head… it goes like this:
 
Alt 4.    I’ve been all around during my whole long career x2
           That’s why I ask myself “how did I end up here”
 
Not original but I think it works…I’ve had to do this with a couple of the Mance Songs I play because some of his language in impenetrable to me.

Cheers,

Blue

[Johnm]

Hi Blue,
Don't feel bad about reviving the thread--that warning is just part of the site software.  Feel free to disregard it if you want to post in a thread that no one has posted in for the past 120 days.  It's much better to have all lyric transcriptions of a particular performer in the same thread, so you done good.
Just from memory, the change in the lyrics you've posted that I've heard is in the opening line of verse four of "Goin' Down Slow".  I believe it is:
   Next train south, look for my clothes home
I've also heard it sung as:
   Next train south, look for my clothes to come home
The singer is sending his clothes home because he will no longer need them.
All best,
Johnm

[Blue in VT]

 

Thanks John...

I had meant to write "Clothes" for verse 4...not "close"...haha...I've changed it above as well...thanks for your feedback.

Blue

[Blue in VT]

Mance's "Blues in G" and "Texas Blues" share the same music and many of the same lyrics.  Here they are as I hear then from His recorded albums and a live performance.

Blues in G from Texas Songster
1.   Walked all night long with my pistol in my hand.  x2
        When I found my woman she was with some other man.
2.    Shot that woman, man I thought she’d die.  x2
         Yeah I hit her across the head, know’d I blacked her eye.
3.    It’s a low down, low down dirty shame.  x2
         Have a half bad woman and you scared to call her name.
4.   My babe done quite me put all my clothes outdoors.
        My Woman done quite throw’d all my clothes out the do’ (door).
        That’s all right mama you gonna reap just what you sow.
5.   Late Last winter when it was chillin’ cold. x2
        My woman put me out didn’t have nowhere to go.
6.   I didn’t have no money, my shoes had done worn thin. x2
        I didn’t have a decent pair of pants to go to Sunday school in.
7.   That’s alright things about to come my way. x2
        Got change in my pocket, change of clothes every day.

Texas Blues from Texas Songster 4
1.    I was raised in Texas, schooled in Tennessee. x2
         I won’t let you woman make a fool out of me.
2.    Late Last winter when it was chillin’ cold. x2
        My woman put me out didn’t have nowhere to go.
3.   I didn’t have no money, my shoes had done worn thin. x2
        I didn’t have a decent pair of pants to go to Sunday school in.
4.   That’s alright things about to come my way. x2
        Got change in my pocket, change of clothes every day.
5.   Take me back baby I’ll tell you what I’ll do.  x2
        I’ll steal and beg, baby bring it home to you.
6.   She looks and me, she give me one sweet smile.  x2
        I’ll take you back for your low down dirty lie.
7.   Oooh-eee I feel alright today.  x2
        My woman come back says she’s going to stay.
8.   One of these days baby and it won’t be long. x2
        You gonna call me baby, yes and I’ll be gone.
9.    Mama told me when I was a child. x2
        Son Whiskey and women gonna kill you after awhile.
10.   Good bye (baby) if I don’t see you no more. x2
        Remember my footprints tramping around your door.

Ash Grove 6-26-1967
1.   When I had plenty of Money my friends would gang around. x2
        No I ain’t got no money and I friends done turned me down.
2.   If I ever get lucky, Lord in this World again. x2
        I ain’t gonna fool with no more women and, Lord, mighty few men.
3.   Eased to the window (this mornin’) thought I heard my baby snore. x2
        Made me feel like creeping through the key hole of the door.
4.   If you don’t want me baby, don’t you dog me around. x2
        Just like you found me why don’t you put me down.
5.   I believe (baby) that someone been talkin’ to you.  x2
        I don’t need no tellin why you do what you do (? Unclear).
6.   One of these days I’m gonna show how nice a man can be x2
        I’ll buy you a brand new Cadallic if you say one word to me.
7.   Got up this mornin’ Lord I was feelin’ blue. x2
        Didn’t have no woman to tell my troubles too.

Cheers,

Blue

[doctorpep]

Here's what I hear!

Blues in G from Texas Songster
1.   Walked all night long with my pistol in my hand.  x2
        When I found my woman she was with some other man.
2.    Shot that woman, man I thought she’d die.  x2
         Yeah, I hit her across the head, know'd I blacked her eye.
3.    It’s a low down, low down dirty shame.  x2
         Have a half bad woman and you scared to call her name.
4.   My babe done quite me, put all my clothes outdoors.
        My Woman done quite throw’d all my clothes out the do’ (door).
        That’s all right, mama, you gonna reap just what you sow.
5.   Late Last winter when it was chilly and cold. x2
        My woman put me out didn’t have nowhere to go.
6.   I didn’t have no money, my shoes had done worn thin. x2
        I didn’t have a decent pair of pants to go to Sunday school in.
7.   That’s all right, things about to come my way. x2
        Got change in my pocket, change of clothes every day

I changed "chillin' cold" to "chilly and cold" and "scarred" to "scared".

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