Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Tommy Johnson Lyrics
dj:
The fourth (or fifth?) song Tommy Johnson was never issued, but at least two takes were recorded and have survived on untitled test disks. Uncle bud did a great job of untangling the various and confusing titles given this song and figuring out the tuning here. For the sake of completeness here, I'll quote uncle bud here: "The tuning is EGDGBE, dropping the 5th string from an A to a G, to play out of C position without fretting the tonic in the bass."
David Evans, in Big Road Blues, suggests that for Tommy Johnson, a song consisted of a couple of core verses and a guitar part, and this song is a good example of that. the first two verses are almost identical in both takes, while the third and fourth verses have nothing in common and probably come from a pool of verses that Johnson used when singing this song. With this in mind, it would make sense for these two takes to be called Button Up Shoes (take 1) and (take 2) or maybe Barefoot On The Ground (take 1) and (take 2).
Banjochris did the heavy lifting on the lyrics back on page 3 of this thread. I'll repost them here because I've made a slight alteration to verse 2 of take 1, and because I think I've pretty much figured out the last line of take 1. (Alternate suggestions are still welcome, and the line is unclear enough that I think an asterisk with alternates is warranted when the lyrics are entered in Weeniepedia). Basically, I think Johnson is saying that since he's not going to Bogalusa, the Bogalusa women have to stay on the road to him.
Take 1:
Cryin' Lordy Lord, Lordy Lordy Lord
Lordy Lord, Lordy Lordy Lord
Says I would go with you, but your doggone man too bad
Cryin' when I was with you baby you had button-up shoes to wear
When I was with you you had button-up shoes to wear
Now when I done quit you, well you're barefoot on the ground
Mmmm, looka here mama, see what you done done
Looka here mama, see what you done done
You done made me love you, now your tryin' to put me down
Says I would go to Boogaloosie, but it's too low down
Would go to Boogaloosa, but it's too low down
Tell them Boogaloo women they must keep this easy road
Take 2:
Cryin' Lordy Lord, Lordy Lordy Lord
Lordy Lord, Lordy Lordy Lord
Says I would go with you, but your doggone man too bad
Cryin' when I was with you you had button-up shoes to wear
When I was with you you had button-up shoes to wear
Now then I done quit you, well you're barefoot on the ground
Says I would go with you, but your home ain't none of mine
Says I would go with you, home ain't none of mine
Says I would go with you, but your home ain't none of mine
I woke up this morning, said my morning prayer
Woke up this morning, said my morning prayer
Lord I ain't got no woman to, well, speak in my behalf
dj:
After two songs by the New Orleans Nehi Boys, four songs by Ishman Bracey, and six songs that have apparently not survived, Tommy Johnson recorded two takes of Black Mare Blues, both of which are available today. The first verse indicates that this song is in the same family as Charley Patton's Pony Blues. Johnson had used the tune for Big Fat Mama Blues at his second Victor session. Big Fat Mama was played out of A position; as far as I can tell through the racket the Nehi Boys are making, Black Mare Blues is played out of E position, standard tuning, though it utilizes some of the sliding "D7" chord on the first three strings that Johnson used in Big Fat Mama. The first take of Black Mare sounds at F#, the second at G.
Take 1:
Hitch up my buggy, saddle up my black mare, saddle my black mare
Hitch up my buggy, saddle up my black mare
Find my woman, know she's out in the world somewhere
I been drinkin' all night Baby, drank the whole night long, drank the whole night long
I been drinkin' all night Baby, and the night before
I been drinkin', and I, I ain't got sober yet
Well I'm goin' back home, fall down on my knees, fall down on my knees
I'm goin' back home, goin' fall down on my knees
Goin' acknowledge, mama, that's the end of me
Mmmmmm, I ain't goin' stay no more, ain't goin' stay here no more
Mmmmmm, ain't goin' stay here no more
Saw you last night, Mama, well a, and the night before
Well you gonna have 'em rounders of your own, rounders of your own
You gonna have 'em rounders of your own
Take 2:
Hitch up my buggy, saddle my black mare, saddle my black mare
Hitch up my buggy, saddle up my black mare
Find my woman, 'cause she's out in the world somewhere
If I call you, you refuse to come, you refuse to come
Now if I call you, you refuse to come
If I call you Mama, said I'll sure 'nough call your name
I been drinkin' all night, and the night before, and the night before
I been drinkin' all night girl, and the night before
Been drunk, Baby, and I ain't got sober yet
Mmmmmm, I ain't goin' stay here no more, ain't goin' stay here no more
Mmmmmm, Ain't goin' stay no more
Saw you last night, Mama, well a, and the night before
Well you gonna have a rounder of your own, rounder of your own
Yes, you gonna have 'em rounders of your own
You gonna have 'em, Mama, rounders of your own
The Gloth:
Ok, my two cents about "Canned heat blues" lyrics question :
I hear :
"Jake alcorub is (?) tearing (?) 'bout my soul
because brownskin women don't do the eeeee, easy roll"
(could be "been" instead of "is", and "tearing" sounds actually like "turning" without the "n").
TJ joe96:
Hey guys ;) i'm new and I need please of Tommy Johnson' Ridin' Horse Blues
I'm Italian and its to difficult for me
Thanks for the help
:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzHmm6z72SI
dj:
We never did Ridin' Horse, eh? Probably because it's darned near indecipherable in places. :D Here's a stab at it.
Ridin' Horse
Cryin' who's that yonder comin' down the road, coming down the road?
Now, who's that yonder, comin' down the road?
Well it looks like Maggie, Mama, but she walk too slow
Cryin' what made Grandma love her Grandpa, love her Grandpa so?
Mmmmm, what made Grandma to love her Grandpa so?
It was [that little bit a' somethin' he done] eight long years ago
Cryin' see see rider, see what you done done, see what you done done
Mmmmm, see see rider, see what you done done
You done made me love you, now you tryin' to put me down
Cryin' ain't gon' be your ridin' horse no more, ridin' horse no more
Says I ain't gon' be your ridin horse no more
Long before I be, I will take morphine and die.
What good is a bulldog, he won't bark or bite, he won't bark or bite?
What good is a bulldog, he won't bark or bite?
And what good is a woman she won't ask you what you like?
Now who's that yonder, see them dressed in red, see them dressed in red?
Who's that yonder, see them dressed in red?
Well they must be the children, Mama, that my Moses led
(Edited to pick up my own corrections)
(Further edited to pick up suggestions from banjochris)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version