Surprised there isn't a topic or any entries in Weeniepedia already but I'll start one.
Black And Evil Blues
Mmm these black and evil blues got me Mmm black and evil blues got me Somebody don't take em off of me gonna jump in the deep blue sea
Says I'm leavin you woman I swear I ain't comin back Says I'm leavin you woman Whoo Whoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo Says I ain't married to you woman I swear it's a natural fact
Don't trust no black woman to be your friend Don't never trust no black woman Whoo to be your friend I swear she'll mistreat you and she will stand up in your face and grin
I'm leaving town woman find you another brown I'm leaving you woman Whoo find another brown Um bootn ba ba bum ba bum ba dum
I don't want no black woman to put no sugar in my tea I don't want no black woman Whoo Whoo Whoo hoo hoo Tell me black is evil and I'm scared she might poison me
Mmm black woman treats me so lowdown That black woman Whoo treats me so lowdown Says I'm goin to the station catch that train and I'm Florida bound
Gonna sing these blue ooo Whoo Whoo hoo hoo Gonna sing these blue ooo ain't gon sing no more 'Cause that woman I love Lord she drove me from her door
Thanks, Scott
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 03:15:49 PM by Johnm »
Says I've sharpened little brother Lord I got little brother by my side Says I've sharpened little brother Whoo got him by my side When I find that thieving rascal I swear I'm gonna cut his lowdown hide
That butcher thinks he can carve wait 'til he see my little brother strut his stuff Butcher thinks he can carve Whoo Whoo Whoo hoo hoo When I get through cuttin that man the good Lord will know he's had enough
You mess with my woman I'm going to tell you what I'll do You mess with my woman Whoo tell you what I'll do Says I'll shoot you with my pistol I swear I'll cut you with my little brother too
When you mess with my woman make peace with God or the Devil one When you mess with my woman Whoo Whoo Whoo hoo hoo Gonna shoot you if you stand still gonna cut your nappy head off if you run
Me and little brother stop our fighting we you know we're Chicago bound Gonna stop our fighting Whoo ah Chicago bound Says we massacreed this city and we are bound for another town
Mmm mmm hmm Me and little brother bid you all fare you well to thee Says we finished our job and we just as happy as we can be
Thanks, Scott
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 10:55:03 AM by Johnm »
Hi Scott, Sorry it has been so long before anyone responded to your postings here. I listened to the two songs you transcribed and your lyrics sounded spot on, so I posted the songs in Weeniepedia. All best, Johnm
Hi all, Josh White accompanied himself out of Vestapol tuning at Bb for his version of "There's a Man Goin' Around Taking Names", from 1934. It would be interesting to find out if Josh arrived at his low-tuned Vestapol sound for Gospel numbers on his own, or if it came via some earlier influence on his music who was never recorded. He certainly didn't get the sound from Blind Joe Taggart. Tuning as low as he did afforded Josh the possibility of extravagant bends, which he played with masterful control. Here is his rendition of the song:
SOLO
There's a man goin' 'round, Lord, takin' names There's a man goin' around, takin' names Well, he took that rich man's name, and that rich man died in pain There's a man goin' 'round, takin' names
Lord, Lord, Lord, man goin' 'round, Lord, takin' names There's a man goin' around, takin' names Well, he took my father's name, and he left my heart in pain Lord, Lord, Lord, man goin' 'round, takin' names
Well, he went to that gamblin' den, takin' names Well, he went to that gamblers' den, takin' names Well, he took that gambler's name, Lord, the gambler died in pain There's a man goin' around, Lord, takin' names
Lord, Lord, Lord, man goin' 'round, Lord, takin' names There's a man goin' around, Lord, takin' names Well, he took my sister's name, he left my poor heart in pain There's a man goin' around, Lord, takin' names
Well, he's riding left and right, takin' names Well, he's riding left and right, Lord, takin' names Well, he' riding 'mong the wife, and the coloreds and the whites Lord, Lord, Lord, man goin' 'round, takin' names
SOLO Well, he took my brother's name, and he left my heart in pain Lord, Lord, Lord, man goin' 'round taking names
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 10:56:01 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Yet another Gospel song that Josh White recorded out of Vestapol in his early years (1933) was "Pure Religion, Hallelu'". Indeed, if Josh White's birthdate is correct as it is normally recorded, he was all of nineteen years old when he recorded this song! He really developed such a beautiful style in that tuning. Here is his performance of the song:
SOLO
You gonna need that pure religion, hallelu', hallelu' Gonna need that pure religion, hallelu' You gonna need that pure religion, pure religion will carry you through You gonna need that pure religion, hallelu'
Goodbye Mother, don't you moan, hallelu' Goodbye Mother, don't you moan, hallelu' Goodbye Mother, don't you moan, you may know I'm goin' home You gonna need that pure religion, hallelu'
Oh, goodbye Father, don't you cry (guitar) Goodbye Father, don't you cry, hallelu' Goodbye Father, don't you cry, you may know I was born to die Oh, what a wonder in the sun, hallelu'
SOLO
Now, hearse come backin' up to my door, hallelu' Hearse come backin' up to my door, hallelu' Hearse come backin' up to my door, I ain't gonna see my friends no more You gonna need that pure religion, hallelu'
Now, goodbye Father, don't you cry, hallelu' Goodbye Father, don't you cry, hallelu' Goodbye Father, don't you cry, you may know I was born to die You gon' need that pure religion, hallelu'
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 10:57:06 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Josh White's gospel songs in Vestapol are somewhat habit forming, I'm finding. Here's another, "I Don't Intend to Die in Egyptland". These songs represent a body of work which, apart from Ari Eisinger's sensational version of "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed", has largely gone uncovered by present-day players in the style. I suppose the fact that they are pretty much uniformly high concept arrangements that require hairbreadth control of bends and a sporting right hand might go some way towards explaining why the songs have not been covered more than they have.
I'd be interested to know who Josh White's vocal models were. His sort of elocutionary vocal delivery doesn't have many (or any) precedents in the singing of Country blues singers who recorded prior to him, though Lonnie Johnson had something of the same sort of sound. In the main though, recordings of religious numbers by his peers and those that came before him had a much rougher and less worked-out sound. In any event, here is "I Don't Intend to Die in Egypt Land":
SOLO
I don't intend to stop, I don't intend to stand I don't intend to die in the Egypt land I don't intend to stop 'til I reach the Promised Land I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: Lord, I can stay away, Lord, I can stay away Lord, I can stay away I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
The Pilate's wife, she had a dream I don't intend to die in the Egypt land That an honest man she seen I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
"Go bring me some water, let me wash my hand." I don't intend to die in the Egypt land "I shan't be guilty of an innocent man." I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: Lord, I can stay away, Lord, I can stay away Lord, I can stay away I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
The tallest tree in Paradise I don't intend to die in the Egypt land People down there call it the Tree of Life I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: Lord, I can stay away, Lord, I can't stay away Lord, I can stay away I don't intend to die in Egypt land
Mose, Mose, don't get lost I don't intend to die in the Egypt land Smite that rock and come across I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: Lord, I can stay away, Lord, I can't stay away Lord, I can stay away I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: I don't intend to stop, I don't intend to stand I don't intend to die in the Egypt land I don't intend to stop 'til I reach the Promised Land I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
REFRAIN: Lord, I can stay away, Lord, I can't stay away Lord, I can stay away I don't intend to die in the Egypt land
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 09, 2020, 03:19:09 PM by Johnm »
I would bet that Josh White was taking his vocal cues from the sophisticated tenors already appearing in Gospel quartets around this time. He knew and played with the Golden Gate quartet (as did Leadbelly) and the similarly cool precisely articulated vocal style is very similar to their lead tenor. https://youtu.be/ey9z8o7y-7A?list=PL1B425A911EAA6DC4
That was later in the 40's however, but this way of singing, Lonnie Johnson might very well have been his inspiration, was already around.
« Last Edit: March 27, 2015, 04:42:45 AM by Mr.OMuck »
Logged
My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
You make a good point, Phil. There may have been a tradition of more uptown Gospel ensemble singing that pre-dated commercial recording, or for that matter, Black Pop vocal groups like the Ink Spots, but long before the Ink Spots. It may have been that Josh White was purposely trying to get away from a "country" sound in his singing--it certainly seems so, but looking still to perform that kind of repertoire. Just to my taste, his singing works much better on the Gospel material he did than on the blues he sang. All best, Johnm
Hi all, For "Lord, I Want to Die Easy", from 1934, Josh White was once again working out of Vestapol tuning. It may be of interest to some of you that a high percentage of the Gospel songs Josh recorded in this style were 16-bar forms with an AABA phrasing of the lyrics. Of the songs transcribed thus far in this thread, "There's A Man Goin' Around, Taking Names", "Pure Religion, Hallelu", and "Lord, I Want to Die Easy" all conform to that structural model. Here is his performance of "Lord, I Want to Die Easy":
SOLO
I want to die easy, Lord, when I die I want to die easy, Lord, when I die I want to die easy when I die, shout, "Salvation" when I fly I want to die easy, when I die
I want to meet my Mother, Lord, when I die I want to meet my Mother, Lord, when I die I want to meet my Mother when I die, shout, "Salvation", Lord, Lord, as I fly I want to die easy, when I die
SOLO
Now, I want to cross over, Lord, when I die I want to cross over, Lord, when I die I want to cross over when I die, shout, "Salvation", Lord, as I fly I want to die easy, Lord, when I die
I want to meet my Jesus, when I die I want to meet my Jesus, Lord, when I die I want to meet my Jesus when I die, shout, "Salvation" as I fly I want to die easy, Lord, when I die
Now, I want to die easy, Lord, when I die I want to die easy, Lord, when I die I want to die easy when I die, shout, "Salvation" as I fly I want to die easy, when I die
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 10:58:13 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Josh White's rendition of "Can't Help But Crying Sometimes" is yet another of his Gospel songs that he chose to accompany out of low-tuned Vestapol. I think it is one of his most exciting guitar parts, and the melody has a minor cast, particularly in its second phrase, that makes it sound almost like something Skip James would have done. Josh consistently sings "can't help from crying sometimes", despite the title. Here is his rendition:
SOLO
REFRAIN: Lord, I can't help from crying sometimes I can't help from crying sometimes Through trials and through fears, Lord, my eyes got dim with tears And I can't help from crying sometimes
Now, it haven't been so very long, since I could look around So many loving faces I could see But that old master, Death, has come and cut their breath Lord, I can't help from crying sometimes
SOLO
Seems like I can't stop from sinning, I know hell's going to be my own I'm asking God to have mercy, and change my sinful soul 'Cause through trials and through fears, my eyes get wet with tears And I can't help from crying sometimes
REFRAIN: I can't help from crying sometimes I can't help from crying sometimes Through trials and through fears, my eyes got dim with tears I can't help from crying sometimes
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 10:59:13 AM by Johnm »
His In My Time Of Dying is probably the version of Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed that Led Zeppelin inexplicably credited to themselves. His is definitely more stately than Charley Patton's or Blind Willie Johnson's but I think I'd still vote for Charley Patton among the contenders for this song if I had to pick a favorite. White's bass bits are just about electric though.
In the time of dying I don't want nobody to moan all I want my friends to do, come and fold my dying arms
well, well, well, so I can die easy x3 Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
In the time time of dying i don't nobody to cry all I want my friends to do, come and close my dying eyes
well, well, well, so I can die easy well, well, well . . . well, well, well . . . Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Goin' on down to the river stick my sword up in the sand gonna shout my troubles over I've done made it to the promised land
Well, well, well I've done crossed over Well, Well, Well . . . Well, well, well I've done crossed over Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
He's a dying Bed Maker . . . well, well, well . . . well, well, well, He's a dying Bed Maker Jesus Gonna make up my dying bed
Goin' on down to the river stick my sword up in the sand gonna shout my troubles over I've done made it to the promised land
Well, well, well I've done crossed over Well, Well, Well I've done crossed over Well, well, well I've done crossed over Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Meet me Jesus, meet me Won't you meet me in the middle of the air and if these wings should fail me lord, won't you meet me with another pair
Well well well won't you meet me Jesus x 3 Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Well well well won't you meet me Jesus Well, Well, Well . . . Well well well won't you meet me Jesus Jesus Gonna make up my dying bed
« Last Edit: April 01, 2015, 10:00:35 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Thanks for posting "In My Time of Dying", Brad. Josh White backed himself out of Vestapol again for "Death's Coming Back After You". An unusually high percentage of these religious songs that Josh White recorded in this period, 1933--1935, focus on death. Here is his performance:
SOLO
REFRAIN: I declare, old death is coming back after you Death's coming back after you She went a long time ago, Lord, she won't be back no more Death is coming back after you
Oh, death came to my house, took my mother and gone Every time I look around, I miss her in my home She went a long time ago, Lord, she won't be back no more Death's coming back after you
REFRAIN: I declare, old death is coming back after you Death's coming back after you She went a long time ago, Lord, she won't be back no more Death's coming back after you
SOLO
REFRAIN: I declare, old death is coming back, Lord, after you Death's coming back after you She went a long time ago, Lord, she won't be back no more Death's coming back after you
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: August 28, 2023, 11:00:18 AM by Johnm »
It sounds to me like Josh may have chosen his low vestapol tuning in an attempt to achieve a slide-like sound. Maybe he imitated slide players to arrive at this? "There's a Man Goin' Around Taking Names" sounds to me just like a slide player would phrase it. What do you think?
I don't think that was the reason for the low tuning, Joe. Josh could certainly have played slide if he chose to do so. I think he liked the low-tuned Vestapol sound because it made extreme bends easier to do than in a guitar tuned at standard pitch. That combined with a rich chordal vocabulary that he found in Vestapol and utilized for these religious songs was the impetus for him playing so much there, I think.
For another player who chose to tune extremely low, and who utilized extreme bends, though with perhaps a tougher sound than Josh, check out Rosa Lee Hill, who was recorded by George Mitchell. She was incredibly adept at big bends. All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: April 02, 2015, 05:26:31 PM by Johnm »