Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Blind Lemon Jefferson lyrics
dingwall:
Proposed Final Version
Long Lastin' Lovin'(20407-2) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. March 1928, Pm 12666
A position and pitch
I wonder why my partner is sittin' around lookin' sad.
Wonder why's my partner sittin' around lookin' sad.
I mean, that woman, if she quit me, it's gonna be too black bad.
She's a spare made woman and she's cunnin' as a squirrel.
She's a spare made woman, cunnin' as a squirrel.
When she starts to lovin', man, it's out the world.
Ah, she's a dark brownskin, we always call her 'Chocolate Drop'.
She has dark brown skin and we call her 'Chocolate Drop'.
Got this old-fashioned lovin', man, it just won't stop.
When I first met the woman I figured I hadn't made no hit.
When I first met the woman, figured I hadn't made no hit.
She got this old-fashioned lovin', man, it just won't quit.
I met her at a sociable, she acts just like a crook.
I met her at a sociable, acts just like a crook.
Lord, when she starts to lovin', man it 'tain't in the book.
(Too bad mama. I mean too black bad.)
--------------------------------------
Long Lastin' Lovin'(20407-2) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. March 1928, Pm 12666
A position and pitch
I wonder why my partner is sittin' around looking sad?
I wonder why my partner's sittin' around looking sad?
I mean, a woman, if she quit me? It's gonna be too black bad!
She's a fair-made/maid? woman & she's cunning as a squirrel
She's a fair-made woman, cunning as a squirrel
When she starts to lovin', man it's out the world
Ah she's a dark brownskin, we always call her 'Chocolate Drop'
She's a dark brownskin & we call her 'Chocolate Drop'
Got this old-fashioned lovin', man it just won't stop . . .
When I first met the woman I think I had made no hit
When I first met the woman, think I had made no hit
She got this old-fashioned lovin', man it just won't quit
I met her at a sociable, she act(ed) just like a crook
I met her at a sociable, act(ed) just like a crook
Lord, when she starts to lovin', man it 'tain't in the books
'Too bad mama . . . I mean too black-bad'
Long Lastin' Lovin'(20407-2)
1.1 I wonder why my partner is sittin' around LOOKIN' sad?
1.2 WONDER WHY'S my PARTNER sittin' around LOOKIN' sad?
1.3 I mean, THAT woman, if she quit me, it's gonna be too black bad.
2.1 She's a SPARE MADE woman AND she's CUNNIN' as a squirrel
2.2 She's a SPARE MADE woman, CUNNIN' as a squirrel
3.2 She's a dark brownskin AND we call her 'Chocolate Drop'
4.1 When I first met the woman I FIGURED I HADN'T made no hit
4.2 When I first met the woman, FIGURED I HADN'T made no hit
5.1 I met her at a sociable, she ACTS just like a crook
5.2 I met her at a sociable, ACTS just like a crook
5.3 Lord, when she starts to lovin', man it 'tain't in the BOOK
6.1 ('Too bad mama. I mean too BLACK BAD') Two words, as in 1.3?? Brackets for speech??
dingwall:
PROPOSED FINAL VERSION
Long Lonesome Blues(2472-1) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. March 1926, Pm 12354
A position pitched at Ab
I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls.
I say, I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls.
Hadn't have lost my sugar, well, I would not have walked at all.
Some women see you comin', man, they go get the rocker chair.
Women see you comin', go get the rocker chair.
"I wanna fool this man and make out he?s welcome here."
So cold in China, the birds can hardly sing.
So cold in China, birds can hardly sing.
You didn?t make me mad till you soak my diamond ring.
Hey, mama and papa, and papa's papa 'deed double do love you, doggone it.
Somebody?s talking to you, mama and papa ?deed double do love you.
What you cryin' 'bout, baby, papa don't care what you do.
Well, I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout.
I say, I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout.
When she gets a letter Lemon have rolled them few days out.
Woman, if you don't love me, just be frank and tell me so.
I say, if you don't love me, be frank and tell me so.
So I can leave your town and hang crepe on your door.
Said, baby, what's the matter, Papa Lemon can't get no mail.
Said, baby, what's the matter, Papa Lemon can't get no mail.
Mama, dreamt last night, pulled a black cat across your trail.
I said, fair brown, tell me where'd you stay last night.
Said, fair brown, "Where'd you stay last night?"
Your hair's all down, you know you ain't talkin' right.
NOTES
3.1/2 I hear CAN instead of the expected CAN'T. Many hear CAN'T.
4.1 This is as I hear it, but see note below.
7.3 Again, many disagree with my line.
See Blind Lemon thread, page 42, reply 616 on all above points.
-------------------------------------
This one is difficult!
Long Lonesome Blues(2472-1) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. March 1926, Pm 12354
A position pitched at Ab
I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls
I say, I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls
Hadn't a' lost my sugar, [and] I wasn't gonna walk at all.
Some women see you coming, man, they go get their rocker chair
Women see you coming, go get their rocker chair
"I wanna fool this man and make out he?s welcome here."
So cold in China, the birds can't hardly sing
So cold in China, birds can't hardly sing
You didn?t make me mad till you broke my diamond ring.
Hey mama mama papa papa 'deed double do love you doggone it
Somebody?s talking to you mama papa ?deed double do lo--ve you
What you cryin' 'bout, baby, papa don't care what you do.
I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout
I say, I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout
When she gets a letter Lemon have wrote [some] few days out.
Woman if you don't love me, just be frank and tell me so
I say if you don't love me, be frank and tell me so
So I can leave your town and hang crepe on your door.
Said baby what's the matter, Papa Lemon can't get [no mail]
Said baby what's the matter, Papa Lemon can't get [no mail]
Mama said last night, fool, a black cat?s crossed your trail.
I said fair brown, tell me where'd you stay last night
Said fair brown, where'd you stay last night
Your hair's all down, you know you ain't talkin' right.
Long Lonesome Blues(2472-1)
1.3 Hadn't HAVE lost my sugar, WELL, I WOULD NOT(pronounced WOULDNA) HAVE WALKED at all.
2.1 Some women see you COMIN', man, they go get THE rocker chair
2.2 Women see you COMIN', go get THE rocker chair
3.1 So cold in China, the birds CAN hardly sing
3.1 So cold in China, birds CAN hardly sing
3.3 You didn?t make me mad till you SOAK my diamond ring. (SOAK=PAWN)
4.1 Hey mama AND PAPA, AND PAPA'S papa 'deed double do love you, doggone it.
4.2 Somebody?s talking to you, mama AND papa 'deed double do LOVE you
5.1 WELL, I know, my baby, she gonna jump and shout
5.3 When she gets a letter Lemon have ROLLED THEM few days out.
7.1/2 Said baby what's the matter, Papa Lemon can't get NO MAIL
7.3 Mama, DREAMT last night, PULLED a black CAT ACROSS your trail.
---------------------------------
Long Lonesome Blues(2472-2) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
This whole posting was over the limit allowed, and I have posted this take with various comments on page 42.
------------------------------------------
PROPOSED FINAL VERSION
Long Lonesome Blues(1054) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. May 1926, Pm 12354
A position and pitch
I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls.
I say, I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls.
Hadn't have lost my sugar, just wasn't gonna walk at all.
Women see you comin', man, go get the rocker chair.
Women see you comin', go get the rocker chair.
"I wanna fool this man and make out he?s welcome here."
So cold in China, these birds can hardly sing.
So cold in China, birds can hardly sing.
You didn?t make me mad till you soak my diamond ring.
Hey, mama and papa, and papa's papa ?deed double do love you, doggone it.
Somebody?s gonna tell you, mama and papa ?deed double do love you.
What you cryin' 'bout, sugar, papa don't care what you do.
I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout.
I say, I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout.
When she gets a letter Lemon have rolled them few days out.
Tell me what?s the matter, baby, I can?t get no mail.
Could you tell me what?s the matter, Papa Lemon can?t get no mail.
Mama, dreamt last night, pulled a black cat across your trail.
I got up this mornin', the blues all around my bed.
I got up this mornin', the blues all around my bed.
Fixin? to eat my breakfast and the blues all in my bread.
NOTES
3.1/2 I hear CAN instead of the expected CAN'T. Many hear CAN'T.
4.1 This is as I hear it, but see note below.
6.3 Again, many disagree with my line. See Blind Lemon thread.
See Blind Lemon thread, page 42, reply 616 on all above points.
----------------------------------------
Long Lonesome Blues(1054) - Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicago c. May 1926, Pm 12354
A position and pitch
I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls
I say I walked from Dallas, I walked to Wichita Falls
Hadn't a' lost my sugar, [and] I wasn't gonna walk at all.
Women see you coming, man, go get their rocker chair
Women see you coming, go get their rocker chair
"I wanna fool this man and make out he?s welcome here."
So cold in China, the birds can't hardly sing
So cold in China, birds can't hardly sing
You didn?t make me mad till you broke my diamond ring.
Hey mama mama papa papa ?deed double do love you doggone it
Somebody?s talking to you mama papa ?deed double do lo--ve you
What you cryin' 'bout, sugar, papa don't care what you do.
I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout
I say, I know my baby, she gonna jump and shout
When she gets a letter Lemon have wrote [some] few days out.
Tell me what?s the matter, [that?s] I can?t get [no mail]
Could you tell me what?s the matter, Papa Lemon can?t get [no mail]
Mama said last night, son, a black cat?s crossed your trail
I got up this morning, the blues all around my bed
I got up this morning, the blues all around my bed
Fixin? to eat my breakfast and the blues all in my bread
Long Lonesome Blues(1054)
1.3 Hadn't HAVE lost my sugar, JUST(???) wasn't gonna walk at all.
2.1 Women see you COMIN', man, go get THE rocker chair
2.2 Women see you COMIN', go get THE rocker chair
3.1 So cold in China, THESE birds CAN hardly sing
3.2 So cold in China(CHINEE, but think better as CHINA???), birds CAN hardly sing
3.3 You didn?t make me mad till you SOAK my diamond ring. (SOAK=PAWN)
4.1 Hey mama AND papa, AND PAPA'S PAPA 'deed double do love you, doggone it.
4.2 Somebody?s GONNA TELL YOU, mama AND papa 'deed double do LOVE you
5.3 When she gets a letter Lemon have ROLLED THEM few days out.
6.1 Tell me what?s the matter, BABY, I can?t get NO MAIL
6.2 Could you tell me what?s the matter, Papa Lemon can?t get NO MAIL
6.3 Mama, DREAMT last night, PULLED a black CAT ACROSS your trail
7.1 I got up this MORNIN', the blues all around my bed
7.2 I got up this MORNIN', the blues all around my bed
Edited to change spelling of SOKE to SOAK=PAWN. Memory!!
Edited to remove doubt about ROLLED THEM FEW DAYS OUT, thanks to Johnm, Banjochris, Uncle Bud and Waxwing. October 22 2008.
Johnm:
Hi dingwall,
It's great to see the work you've been doing on Lemon's lyrics. I think when Lemon says "rolled them few days out", he's referring to completing a jail sentence. Smith Casey used the same phrase in the same context (and may have gotten it from Lemon's record).
All best,
Johnm
banjochris:
And Sleepy John uses that verse in "Airplane Blues," too, and says rolled. The prison thing is always how I understood it too.
Also, the last line of the first verse of "Long Lonesome" I always thought was something like "Hadn't have lost my sugar, that wasn't no walk at all," meaning the walk wouldn't have been a problem if his woman hadn't left him.
Chris
uncle bud:
Thanks to Bob, John and Chris for all the supporting evidence. I'm a convert! I'd add Blind Boy Fuller's "Flyin' Airplane Blues" where he sings "whenever she get all (hold?) of this here letter, I done rolled my long time, I done lolled (his error) my long time out." Making the prison term reference even more obvious.
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