Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Tommy Johnson Lyrics
cheapfeet:
Waxwing . . . this is a great tune, one of Tommy's most haunting ones that i've never heard anyone play before. I've taken several stabs at it over the last few years (this is in 'E' standard tuning & position right?) & seems to be a very creative & personal member of the 'Pony' family of songs. That first verse is virtually undecipherable altho' I'm hearing something like 'No it don't, whole god place now mama, seem like home to me' for the second line . . . everything else you have seems pretty close to me. Great great tune.
uncle bud:
In Big Road Blues, David Evans has the 1st verse as:
Lonesome place don't seem like it's home to me
Lord, this old lonesome place don't, mama, seem like it's home to me
2nd verse he has:
"I rose this morning..."
Hard to tell, really, IMO.
4th verse he has:
"...caused my heart to mourn"
5th verse he has:
"Says, I'll 'knowledge [as in "acknowledge"] now, pretty baby, that I treat you mean"
banjochris:
That last line starts "Says I'm gonna acknowledge" to my ears as well. (I can even hear the "ac".)
Chris
waxwing:
Hmm, I like "rose" for the 2nd verse, but it really sounds like "moan" in the 4th.
Yeah, after considerable listening, I think v.1 starts with "Lonesone place" as suggested by Bob McL., too.
And I also hear v.5 pretty much as David has it, except it sounds more like "Baby, Baby" than "pretty Baby" and, yeah, BC, I even hear the "ack". Man that was tough to hear, but I can make most of the sounds out. [Edit after further listening due to Chris' post -G-] Actually now I do hear the "pretty baby", but no "now". So I hear, "Say's I'm gon' acknowledge, pretty baby, that I treat you mean."
I think v.2 starts, "Now, Lord, I..." and I think in v.5 it's "fell so heavy", not "felt".
I'll make the changes as I now hear them, but welcome more suggestions. Also would still like to hear of a better copy. Anyone know how many copies of the 78 exist? Just wondering. I assume, since Bob transcribed it from Yazoo L-1007 (an LP), that there might be a Yazoo CD version around.
Yeah, CF, it is a killer tune, in E, as you say. Not a tremendously difficult song to suss out, as John M. said in class, but getting all those bends to sound good is really tough. I have to grip downward with middle, ring and sometimes index fingers to get all those bends and releases on the 4th fret, 4th string, smooth and clear.
Thanks for your help folks.
All for now.
John C.
uncle bud:
--- Quote from: waxwing on September 19, 2007, 12:11:04 AM ---I assume, since Bob transcribed it from Yazoo L-1007 (an LP), that there might be a Yazoo CD version around.
--- End quote ---
Is there a name for the LP? I haven't memorized catalog numbers. :P
Edited to add: OK, did some Googling (but still don't memorize catalog numbers), and it is on the out of print Jackson Blues CD (and presumably LP) which I have. I'll take and listen and get back to you.
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