Topic: Mance Lipscomb Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I first heard Mance Lipscomb's version of "Cocaine Done Killed My Baby" on his Arhoolie album, "Texas Sharecropper And Songster, Volume 2". He played the song out of C position in standard tuning, and it shares it's melody with "Nobody's Dirty Business", as performed by John Hurt. Here is Mance's version from that record:



Cocaine done killed my baby, and don't try to run me crazy
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while
I'm goin' away to leave you, I know it's going to grieve you
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while

Don't say that I didn't love you, I don't think myself above you
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while
Cocaine done run me crazy, even now, tried to kill my baby
Cocaine, kill you after a while
Cocaine done rocked me crazy, I b'lieve it's gonna kill my baby
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while

I'm goin' away to leave you, it's going to grieve you
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while
Don't say that I didn't love you, don't think myself above you
Cocaine gonna kill you after a while

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[monts]

Hi all, would anyone know the lyrics to Angel Child?  I can't find anything at all. 

[Blues Vintage]

Hi all, would anyone know the lyrics to Angel Child?  I can't find anything at all. 

Hi Monts, please post what you have and we'll try to help out.

[monts]

Okay, thanks I'll get back to you soon!

[Dom94]

Hi All,
From CD Vol.3 (Captain,Captain) ,so let's try this ,  missed a line or 2

ANGEL CHILD

Yes I want to see my little Angel,my little angel child
I want to see my little angel,my little angel child
Love to look in my baby's face people, love to see her smile

Yes she made me a promise, she made it to me one day
She made me a promise, she made it to me one day
I wonder why my little angel , she would walk away

When you used to be sweet mama, you ain't sweet no more
you used to be sweet babe, you ain't sweet no more

I

First Guitar solo

All in my dreams, I can hear my doorbell ring
All in my dreams ,people, I can hear my doorbell ring
When I woke up this morning, couldn't see a dogone thing

If I have someone to love me, halfway treat me right
I have someone to love me , halfway treat me right
I'd quit running 'round here,staying out late at night

Second Guitar solo

[monts]

Thank you!  That's pretty close to what I thought.  I can't get the line you don't have either. 

[David Kaatz]

It would be helpful if you could post a link to a YouTube video of the song. There are a bunch of versions up on YouTube but I couldn’t find one that matched the lyrics you show. There is a version by Daddy Stovepipe that is close, but leaves out the third verse - maybe he couldn’t decipher it either.

[Blues Vintage]

INTRO

Yes, I want to see my little angel, my little angel child
I want to see my little angel, my little angel child
Love to look in my baby’s face, people, love to see her smile

Yes, she made me a promise, she made it to me one day
She made me a promise, she made it to me one day
Wonder why my little angel, she would walk away

Well, you used to be sweet, mama, you ain't sweet no more
You used to be sweet, baby, you ain't sweet no more
I drove the nail this mornin’ but you, pullin’ out the wood

SOLO

All in my dreams, I can hear my doorbell ring
All in my dreams, people, I can hear my doorbell ring
When I woke up this mornin’, couldn't see a doggone thing

If I have someone to love me, halfway treat me right
I have someone to love me , halfway treat me right
I'd quit running 'round here, staying out late at night

SOLO

[monts]

Thank you very much!!!

[banjochris]

I'd suggest "nail" instead of "mule" in that third verse.
Chris

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris. Never knew "drive a nail" was an expression put to great use by Lipscomb as a metaphor.

[Slack]

It is or was a pretty common sexual metaphor, which makes sense in the context of the verse.  Mance ain't getting laid.

[monts]

Thank you... I thought he might have said nail... now pulling out the wood makes perfect sense! What a great line!
I love Mance!

[ksherlock]

St Louis Blues:



I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, she up and left this town

Feelin' tomorrow like i feel today
I'll pack my suitcase and make a getaway

She's a St Louis woman she wears a diamond ring
Well she leads her man around by her apron string
... yeah she dooooo

I got the st Louis blues I'm blue as I can be
My babe got a heart like a rock cast in that sea
Or else she wouldn't go so far from me

If it weren't for the powder and the store bought hair
Woman I love, she couldn't go nowhere

Come on out that kitchen, stop your foolin' round
Smell your bread a burning, turn your damper down
... yes

Well your bread ain't brown, and your cooking ain't clean
Oh your bread ain't brown and your dog gone cooking ain't clean
You're the nastiest woman 'most I ever seen

I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, well she can't be found

I got up this morning and laid by myself
Looking for my babe and she had done left
...this town

Baby just don't quit me, try me one more time
If you don't quit me try me one more time
Tell me just before you wear me off your mind



Feelin' tomorrow like i feel today
I'll pack my suitcase and make a getaway

I hate to see the evening sun go down
Cause my gal she up and left this town

She's a St Louis woman she wears a diamond ring
Well she leads her man around by her apron string
... yeah she dooooo

I got the St Louis blues I'm blue as I can be, dog gone
my babe got a heart like a rock cast in that sea
or else she wouldn't go so far from me

If it weren't for powder and the store bought hair
Girl I got, she couldn't go nowhere

Come on out of that kitchen mama, stop your foolin' round
I smell your bread a burning, turn your damper down
... yeah i doooo

Your bread ain't brown and your dog gone cooking ain't clean, dog gone
Your bread ain't brown and your dog gone cooking ain't clean
You're the nastiest woman I almost ever seen

Got up this morning, I was feeling wrong
Reached for my pistol and my barrel had gone

If you don't want me baby, don't run no stall
I can get more crooked women  than my paint can haul
... yes i can!

My babe done quit me and throwed my clothes out doors
My girl done quit me and throwed my clothes out doors
that's alright baby, gonna reap just what you sow


Live at the Cabale / Early Days Back Home snippet:

See baby, you fooled around and done
You caused me to love you, now your man done come

She's a St Louis woman she wears a diamond ring
Well she leads her man around by her apron string
... yeah, she dooooo

I got the St Louis blues I'm blue as I can be
Got the St Louis blues I'm blue as I can be
My babe done quit me and cross that deep blue sea

[banjochris]

I think Mance might be singing "than my PAINT can haul" in that second-to-last verse, paint as in horse.
Chris