Topic: Virgil Childers Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Virgil Childers recorded six titles in the late '30s, and I believe nothing is known about him in the biographical sense (at least to blues researchers).  All of his titles are included on the JSP set, "Blind Boy Fuller, Vol. 2".  He was an expert and varied guitarist with a Swingy chordal vocabulary that he employed on four of his titles. 
"Dago Blues", for which he accompanied himself out of A position in standard tuning, is a more conventional blues, though Childers played a tremendous number of licks on the song that I've not heard anyone else in the style play.  A great portion of his accompaniment involves the playing of harmonized lines, and he was unique both in the extent to which he developed his ideas along these lines, and also in the way he altered the shapes he employed to keep the harmony in the scale, rather than simply moving a shape intact and winding up with non-scalar tones, a much more common practice, even among guitarists as skillful as Bill Broonzy and Buddy Moss.  Childers' opening verse in "Dago Blues" re-worked a verse William Harris used in "Bullfrog Blues", in which Harris told "what the chinaman told the jew."  Here is "Dago Blues":



   SOLO

   I'm gonna tell you, woman, like the dago told the jew
   I'm gonna tell you, woman, like the dago told the jew
   "If you don't want me, cinch me don't wantee you."

   SOLO

   Lord, I'm motherless, I'm fatherless, sister and brotherless, too
   Lord, I'm motherless, I'm fatherless, sister and brotherless, too
   That's the reason why, try to get along with you

   SOLO

   Lord, I heared a mighty rumbling, deep down in the ground
   Lord, I heared a mighty rumbling, deep down in the ground
   It musta been the Devil, chain my good gal down

All best,
Johnm
     

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Like the rest of Virgil Childers' titles, "Preacher and The Bear" was recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 25, 1938.  Childers accompanied himself out of F in standard tuning on "Preacher And The Bear" and a more complete discussion of the song's Swingy progression can be found at http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=128&topic=7812.msg63428#msg63428.  Virgil Childers does a great job of delivering the lyrics, and the song sounds like it must have come out of Tin Pan Alley originally.  I'm hard put to think of another song that uses the word "vim" in it's lyrics.  Here is "Preacher and the Bear":



Now, the preacher went out a-huntin', it was on one Sunday morn
He broke out the religion and he carried his gun along
He shot hisself some very fine game, but bad luck, I'll declare,
'Cause on his way returnin' home he met a great big grizzly bear

The bear marched out in the middle of the road, started to the coon, you see,
But the coon got so excited, he climbed up a 'simmon tree

The bear he set fast on the ground, that coon climbed out on the limb
And he cast his eyes to the Lord in the sky, and the words he said to him,

"Oh Lord, you delivered Daniel from the lion's den
You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then,
Three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, the Good Book do declare,
Now Lord, if you don't help me, Lord, please don't help that bear."

That coon stayed up that 'simmon tree, I think it was all night
"Lord, if you don't help me you gonna see a awful fight."
Just about day the limb, she broke, that coon came tumblin' down
In luck, he pulled his razor out before he struck the ground

He struck the ground and cut right and left, put up a very game fight
But the bear bit him in the collar, he squeezed him a little too tight

That coon's lip was tremblin', but the bear held on with a vim
And he cast his eyes to the Lord in the sky and again he said to him,

"Oh Lord, you delivered Daniel from the lion's den
You delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale and then,
Three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, the Good Book do declare,
Now Lord, if you don't help me, Lord, put a muzzle on the grizzly bear."

All best,
Johnm




 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Virgil Childers recorded "Who's That Knockin' At My Door", a raggy number played out of C position in standard tuning, sounding at D.  The song employs a 32-bar Pop Song structure and is discussed in some detail in the "Rag Blues and Circle of Fifths" thread at:  http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=128&topic=712.msg57730#msg57730.  The performance opens with a solo on the entire form, Childers sings a verse, follows it with another full solo, re-sings most of the verse and is then cut off before the song could be completed.  His singing is a bit diffident, and I wonder if he was a musician who was more confident of his playing than his singing.  Here is "Who's That Knockin' At My Door":



   SOLO

   Stand aside, holy gee, that's my gal comin' back to me
   Who's that knockin' at my door?
   Stand aside, goodness sakes, give me one more break
   Who's that knockin' at my door?
   Can't be the butcher, can't be the baker, they been here today
   Can't be the iceman, can't be the coalman, they don't knock that way
   Stand aside, holy gee, that's my gal comin' back to me
   Who's that knockin' at my door?

   SOLO

   Stand aside, holy gee, that's my gal comin' back to me
   Who's that knockin' at my door?
   Stand aside, goodness sakes, give me one more break
   Who's that knockin' at my door?
   It can't be the butcher, can't be the baker, they been here today
   Can't be the iceman, can't be the coalman, they don't knock that way
   (Guitar finishes verse)

All best,
Johnm

   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Travelin' Man, Virgil Childers chose to accompany himself out of F position in standard tuning, as he had on "Preacher And The Bear".,  Indeed, his accompaniments to the two songs are almost interchangeable.  Virgil Childers' lyrics for this song are farther from Luke Jordan's "Travelin' Coon" and Pink Anderson's "Travelin' Man" than Jordan's and Anderson's versions are to each other.  In a way, it's surprising how different Childers' lyrics are.  There are a couple of places, indicated by bent brackets, where I'm not at all sure I have the words right, and I'd appreciate corroboration or correction.  Here is "Travelin' Man":



   Now, you heard a lot of talk about the travelin' man, he was born in Tennessee
   He made his livin' stealin', everything that he could see
   He stole ten thousand dollars right in the broad daytime
   He knowed he would be arrested for doin' such a foolish crime
   He was sentenced to the gallows, everybody says, "I'll declare!"
   He shook his head, twist hisself, jumped three miles in the air

   He was a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   Travelin' man, he was known all through the land
   Travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't give up 'til the police shot him down

   Now, his Mama sent him to the spring one day to get a pail of water
   Distance from the house down to the spring was about eleven miles and a quarter
   On the way back, he stubbed his toe and the water started down
   He ran to the house, got a pail and back and caught the water 'fore she struck the ground

   He was a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   He's a travelin' man, he was known all through the land
   He's a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't give up 'til the police shot him down

   That coon was aboard the Titanic, says, "I'll sail this ocean blue."
   Looked out and seen that iceberg, said, "Boys, this sure won't do."
   He looked up to the captain, said, "Boss, didn't you get fooled?"
   When the Titanic hit out on the sea, he was shooting crap in Liverpool

   He was a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   Travelin' man, he was known all through the land
   Travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't give up 'til the police shot him down

   That coon got a job bein' an engineer, he took the record from Railroad Bill
   He's the onliest guy in the Union, could pull that Reno Hill
   He pulled that hill, dead on time, and then will soon get killed
   Last time I heard from the travelin' man he was runnin' that motor still

   He told his gal to meet him in Washington, he gonna get a kiss passing by
   Told her to be at the station, he gonna kiss her on the fly
   He stuck his head out the window, the farmer laughed 'til he had to cry
   'Fore he could snatch his head back, the train had covered some track, and down in Georgia he had kissed a cow

Edited 9/12 to pick up corrections from uncle bud and Johnm
Edited 9/13 to pick up correction from uncle bud

All best,
Johnm

   

   
   

[uncle bud]

Hi all,
For "Travelin' Man, Virgil Childers chose to accompany himself out of F position in standard tuning, as he had on "Preacher And The Bear".,  Indeed, his accompaniments to the two songs are almost interchangeable.  Virgil Childers' lyrics for this song are farther from Luke Jordan's "Travelin' Coon" and Pink Anderson's "Travelin' Man" than Jordan's and Anderson's versions are to each other.  In a way, it's surprising how different Childers' lyrics are.  There are a couple of places, indicated by bent brackets, where I'm not at all sure I have the words right, and I'd appreciate corroboration or correction.

   Now, you heard a lot of talk about the travelin' man, he was born in Tennessee
   He made his livin' stealin', everything that he could see
   He stole ten thousand dollars right in the broad daytime
   He knowed he would be arrested for doin' such a foolish crime
   He was sentenced to the gallows, everybody says, "I'll declare!"
   He shook his head, twist hisself, jumped three miles in the air

   He was a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   Travelin' man, he was known all through the land
   Travelin' man, God, knows, he was a travelin' man
   He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't give up 'til the police shot him down

   Now, his Mama sent him to the spring one day to get a pail of water
   Distance from the house down to the spring was about eleven miles and a quarter
   On the way back, he stubbed his toe and the water started down
   He ran to the house, got a pail and back and caught the water 'fore she struck the ground

   He was a travelin' man, God knows, he was a travelin' man
   He's a travelin' man, he was known all through the land
   He's a travelin' man, God, knows, he was a travelin' man
   He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't give up 'til the police shot him down

   That coon was aboard the Titanic, says, "I'll sail the ocean blue."
   Looked out and seen that iceberg, said, "Boys, this sure won't do."
   He looked up to the captain, said, "Boss, didn't you get fooled?"
   When the Titanic hit [off my sea], he was shooting crap in Liverpool

I hear THIS ocean blue. For the last line, I hear something like

When the Titanic hit, 'AT 'M WAS SEEN shooting crap in Liverpool

As if he was singing THAT MAN WAS SEEN.

   That coon got a job bein' an engineer, he took the record from Railroad Bill
   He's the onliest guy in the Union, could pull that [Grey Note?] Hill
   He pulled that hill, dead on time, and then [he'll soon] get killed
   Last time I heard from the travelin' man he was runnin' that motor still

Is it possibly RENO Hill, given the Union reference? Third line is tough, will have to listen some more.

   He told his gal to meet him in Washington, he gonna get a kiss passing by
   Told her to be at the station, he gonna kiss her on the fly
   He stuck his head out the window, the fireman laughed 'til he had to cry
   'Fore he could snatch his head back, the train had covered some track, and down in Georgia he had kissed a cow

   
I think maybe its FARMER laughed in the third line.

You've also got an extra comma in the third lines of the choruses.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, uncle bud.  "This" ocean blue is certainly correct, as was the comma snafu in the chorus.  It really sounds to me like he was singing, "When the Titanic hit out of my sea"--I don't hear the "n" sound of "seen" at all.  I like "Reno Hill" and the "farmer".  I'll make the changes, and thanks for listening!
All best,
Johnm

[JohnLeePimp]

I have nothing to contribute just to say Childers' version of travelling man sounds quite similar to the rendition by Coley Jones and his group from the late 20s

I also wanted to thank Mr. Miller for his efforts

... I really enjoyed your studies of the Estes/Alexander/Lofton recordings

[Johnm]

Thanks, John Lee, for the good words and also for the tip on Coley Jones' version of "Travelin' Man"--I've never heard it, and now I'll have to check it out.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Relistening to the Titanic line, I wonder if it is

When the Titanic hit OUT ON THE sea, shootin' crap in Liverpool

Coley Jones sings "When the Titanic went down in that deep blue sea, he was shootin' dice out in Liverpool"

[Johnm]

"out on the sea"--I reckon you got it, uncle bud.  I will make the change.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Virgil Childers accompanied himself out of C position in standard tuning on "Somebody Stole My Jane", a song more often done as "Somebody Stole My Gal".  The song has a raggy progression and provided an excellent opportunity for Childers to show off his chordal knowledge.  He opens the song with an intro, keeping a syncopated feel going underneath the first four descending chords:

   |    C    |    C    |   Bflat  |   Bflat   |
   |    A    |    A    |   Aflat  |   Aflat   |
   |    C    |    C    |    C     |     A7    |
   |   D7   |   G7   |    C     |     A7    |
   |   D7   |   G7   |    C     |      C     |

Virgil Childers then goes into his verse accompaniment:

   |    C    |    C    | G9 F#9 |    G9    |
   |   G9   |   G9   |  C6 B6   |   C6     |
   |   A7   |   A7    |   D7     |    D7     |
   |   D7   |   D7    |    G7    |    G7     |
   |   C     |    C    |  G9 F#9 |    G9    |
   |   G9   |   G9    |    E7    |     E7    |
   |    C    |    C    |    C7     |    C7     |
   |    F    |    F     |   Aflat7  |  Aflat7  |
   |    C    |   C     |    A7      |    A7    |
   |   D7    |   G7   |    C       |    A7    |
   |   D7    |   G7   |  C   G7   |   C      |

For his solos, Childers substituted the intro progression for bars 25 through 44 of the verse accompaniment.  The voicings Childers used for the G9:  X-X-5-4-6-5 and the C6:  X-X-5-5-5-5 sound really spiffy in this context. EDITED 12/17/21 TO PICK UP CORRECTION FROM WAXWING.
Virgil Childers' singing of the words combines two different versions of the lyrics, making for some befuddling moments, especially in the first vocal pass, but the whole thing is a lot of fun.  Here is "Somebody Stole My Jane":



   Somebody stole my Jane, somebody stole my Jane
   Somebody came and taken her away
   She didn't even say she was leavin'
   Her kisses I love so, who's eatin' 'em now, God knows,
   Oh gee, I know that she
   Would come to me, if she could see
   These broken-hearted longry{sic} brain
   Somebody stole my Jane, I say,
   Somebody stole my Jane

   SOLO

   Somebody stole my Jane, somebody stole my Jane
   Somebody came and taken her away
   She didn't even say she was leavin'
   Them biscuits I love so, who's eatin' 'em now, God knows,
   Oh gee, I know that she
   Would come to me, if she could see
   This broken-hearted hungry brain
   Somebody stole my Jane, I say,
   Somebody stole my Jane

   SOLO

   Didaliddle ah dah dah dum, didaliddle ah dah dah dum
   Dah dahdle ah dum dah dum
   Dah dahdle ah dah dah, dah dah dah dah
   Dah dahdle ah dah dah, dah dah dah dah dah
   Dah dah dah dah dah dah
   Dah dahdle ah dah dah dah
   Oh gee, I know that she
   Would come to me, if she could see
   Them broken-hearted hungry brains
   Somebody stole my Jane, I say,
   Somebody stole my Jane

All best,
Johnm

   

       

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Virgil Childers recorded "Red River Blues" accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning.  He gives slightly more solo space to the guitar in this performance than he gives to the vocal, and plays his solos with a great deal of variety, definitely not in the "one nifty pass" approach.  He had a terrific imagination on his instrument.
Virgil Childers' vocal on this one is a bit tough to hear in a couple of places, which I've indicated with bent brackets, so if anybody can hear something different than what I've transcribed that makes more sense than what I have, I'd appreciate seeing it.  His mention of coon can in the second verse, the name of which I've found on the internet may derive either from Chinese or from Spanish (con quien), made me take notice at the mention of the jack of diamonds.  Perhaps coon can, which I've seen described as perhaps the earliest variant of rummy, is the mystery game in which the "jack of diamonds is a hard card to play".  I have no idea of the significance of the jack of diamonds "t-rolling" Childers' hand.  If any folks out there are more knowledgeable about coon can, and how it is played, I'd appreciate insights that might clear up some of these questions.  Here is "Red River Blues":



   SOLO

   Which-a way, which-a way, do the blood Red River run?
   Run from my window to the rising sun

   SOLO

   My girl give me money, money to play coon can
   Well, jack of diamonds t-roll my hand

   SOLO

   Red, Little Red, would you walk nowhere you go?
   Baby, you won't have to walk, won't have to walk from my door

   SOLO

   I went to the station and I act just like a child
   Ask the operator, "What train must I ride?"

   SOLO

   Well, I asked the brakeman, "Please let me ride the blinds?"
   He says, "I'm sorry, partner, this ain't no train of mine."

   SOLO X 2

Edited 9/20 to pick up correction from Rivers

All best,
Johnm 

[Rivers]

Re. Red River Blues, I hear "to play coon can", as in she staked him for the game. Similarly I wonder what "t-roll my hand" means.

Re: Red, Little Red, would you [watch-a where] you go

I think I hear "Red, river red, you won't know where you go", or something like that.

Interesting, to me anyway, is the guitar sounds out of tune until he starts singing and it all comes into focus at that point. Maybe add VC to the list of artists with distinctive tuning styles; something seems a little bit sharp, a little bit flat, and it works. Great voice and guitar.

[Johnm]

You're right, Mark, it's certainly "play", a typo on my part.  I'll make the change and re-listen to that later verse, too.
all best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

I think I hear "Red, river red, you won't know where you go", or something like that.

my thoughts exactly.

t-roll brings up two thoughts:
a t-roll is a thousand dollar bill is it not?
and alternatively could it be a trump card?

as so soften happens, my thoughts are pulling in diametrically opposite directions!