Topic: Blind Willie McTell lyrics

[Censio]

mmmm intersting but if the track have been recorded as murderer's home blues it's surely what mctell sing but that could an illusion or something like that.
I don't realy understand the English by listening

[uncle bud]

Hi Censio - there have been lots of blues songs mistitled by producers, field researchers and others. The fact that Lomax recorded McTell doing this song, and that there is a collection of Lomax material subtitled "Murderous Home" makes me wonder whether the song was incorrectly titled when recorded, since it's not exactly clear to me what McTell really sings. Either title could make sense. That's why I was throwing it out there for other people to comment. We can help transcribe the lyrics, but you'll have to be patient and wait until someone has time.

[banjochris]

Different Lomax, though, UB. I think it's actually "Murderers' Home."

I did all I could baby, satisfy your mind,
Well I wake up every morning you got me moaning and crying.
Trying to send me to the chain gang, back to the murderers' home
I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd let that reckless woman alone.

Now I'm gonna have to give you my number, 4-11-44,
I'll be there forever, I ain't got no wheres else to go.
Cause I've got to go to the chain gang, back to the murderers' home
I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd let that reckless woman alone.

He was a mean old judge, wouldn't give me no fine,
Only thing going to relieve me is old Father Time,
I got to go to the chain gang, back to the murderers' home
I would have been in a better shape mama, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.

When I was down in the alley mama drinking that old mean booze and gin,
Say you better do your running around cause you ain't never going to do it again
'Cause it leads me straight to the chain gang, down to the murderers' home,
I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.

Goodbye everybody here comes the jailer with a key,
Farewell to freedom I don't want no one to pity me,
I'm going to the chain gang, down to the murderers' home,
I'd have been in a better shape mama, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.

So now bye-bye all you womens this is the last I've got to say
Say I'm going on and make my time I'll be a free man some day,
But I ain't going back to the chain gang, back to the murderers' home,
I'd have been in a better shape baby, if I'd have let that reckless woman alone.

[Censio]

Thank you Banjochris for the lyrics. You really help me man you are a jedi master!

Uncle Bud in my opinion the question answer can surely be in a book written by lomax or an old magazine or newspaper but I don't really know all the context around John and Alan Lomax. Murderer and murderous are synonyms I think (I'm not sure)

[onewent]

Any help with a few word appreciated..one of the slide masterpieces, superior tone, both guitar and voice!  Tom



I Got To Cross The River Jordan ? Blind Willie McTell  - Atlanta Sessions 1949
I got to cross that ? I got..  ol Jordon    ..
Nobody here  .. can ?.  Lord I got ta .. River of Jordan
That Jordan river is cold and chilly
Lord I got .. I got to cross it ?.
Nobody .. can ?.  Lord I got ta  .. chilly Jordan ..
And I got I got to ??lie?? in some ..  Lord I got .. in the graveyard?.
Nobody .. can ?. Lord I gotta? .. in that cold place
Then I got to meet  my ?.  Lord I got to meet my savior ?.
Nobody .. can ?. So Lord I gotta .. my father?
Then I got to stand my ?. Lord I got ..  my trials ?.
Nobody .. can .... Lord I got ta .. in the judgement..
Yet I got to weep that?.  Lord I got? chilly Jordan ?.
Nobody .. can?.Lord I got to .. deep water?
Lord I got to walk that lonesome journey
Lord I got .. ??Jesus??  journey ..
Nobody .. can ?. Lord I got to .. oh Lordy ?.
So now I got to cross cross cross that ?.
Lord I got... Jordon  ?.  Nobody .. can ?.   Lord I got to .. chilly Jordan ?.

[Johnm]

Hi Tom,
I moved your post over here since there was already a McTell lyrics thread going.
all best,
Johnm

[onewent]

Oh, yeah, the lyrics board would make sense 
..thanks John.., and feel free to delete my persistent repost back on the 'Licks and Lessons' board .. tw

[Gumbo]

wrt Razor Ball I hear

Mighty Chest Charlie (is this the same person as Mighty Big Chief in the second verse?)

Whythathadahit like a good drink of whiskey ..

(i like the Croupier variant idea)

Put your lights out Callie, call fightin the game

[Gumbo]

wrt Scarey Day Blues i hear "I wonder could I find .." the word "I" clinches it there - I can't hear the 't' in 'out'

[Gumbo]

Let Me Play With Yo' Yo Yo
can anyone clarify the fifth verse?



Mama let me play with yo' yo-yo
I will let you play with mine
Baby let me play with yo' yo-yo
I like to take my time
I got a brand new yo-yo, brand new string
that's the way to drive the women hearts in pain
Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I'm gonna let you play with mine, I say
I will let you play with mine

Mama let me play with yo' yo-yo
I'll let you play with mine
Baby let me play with your yo-yo string
cause i'm a man like to take my time
you might go east might go west
that's why the women won't let me rest
Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I will let you play with mine, I say
I'm gonna let you play with mine

play that thing for me, Weaver
play it like Miss Cora like it
she like it that way!
she like it so it's good!
do that thing to Miss Kate

Now, Mama let me play with yo' yo-yo
I'm gonna let you play with mine
that's why i'm crazy bout a real yo-yo
? like to take my time
I'm gonna take all my money, throw it up against the wall
I'll take what sticks and you can have what falls
Let me play with yo' yo-yo-yo
I will let you play with mine, I mean
I'm gonna let you play with mine

Baby let me play with yo' yo-yo
I'll let you play with mine
that's why i'm wild about a real good yo-yo
like to take my time
you might throw it in a cadillac, throw it in a Ford
i'll throw the string out on the running board
Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I will let you play with mine, I'm screamin
I'm gonna let you play with mine

Mama Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I'll let you play with mine
that's why i'm wild about a real yo-yo
said she like to take her time
here i stand , against the fence
A woman that mitted ?? ain't got no sense
Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I will let you play with mine, when you want it
I'm gonna let you play with mine


Now baby let me handle your yo-yo string
I'll let you play with mine
that's why I'm wild bout a real yo-yo
y'know i like to take my time
twitch it like a tadpole, snatch it like a frog
what every time i throw the string you got to holler gawd dog
Let me play with yo' yo-yo
I will let you play with mine, I say
I'm gonna let you play with mine

[Gumbo]

God Don't Like It
does anyone hear the fourth verse differently?



Some say they done cut whiskey out but you can have a little wine
most everybody gets on a drunk by drinking this old moonshine

refrain:
now God don't like it and (I don't either)
now God don't like it and (I don't either)
now God don't like it and (I don't either)
it's scandalous and a shame

some of our members gets on a drunk just to speak their sober minds
and when they raise the Devil, Lord, they put all the blame on shine

refrain

some of our preachers just as bad as the members about this old moonshine
they're trying to make love with every woman they meet just a buyin' and drinkin' shine

refrain

then some of our children got naked and the mothers never go
but the father makes that money by the roll for the women know that shine is gold

refrain

they said this yellow corn makes the best kind of shine
they'd better turn a-that corn to bread and stop that making shine

refrain

I know you don't like this song just because i speak my mind
but i'll sing this song a-just as much as i please because i don't drink shine

refrain

edited for corrections suggested below

[Gumbo]

Stomp Down Rider
verse five could use some fresh ears



When I first met you Mama you was so nice and kind
you done got reckless and changed your mind
but you're the stomp down rider
Now you're the stomp down rider
you're the stomp down rider
but you're much too drunk for me

When i was down south baby i was with my broad
I'm here in Atlanta treated like your dog
Now you're the ...

Now if you don't want me baby don't you dog me around
Now honey chill i can leave your town
Now you're the ...

Now if you don't want me baby give me your right hand
I'll go back to my woman, you go back to your man
Now you're the ...

I even give you my money, baby, ??
I done everything that you require
But you're the ...

whip it a little bit boy

Even hold your head when you're feeling bad
I'll even sing and dance for you when you're sad
But you're the ...

You done come in this morning won't tell me where you been
you got straight lovin goin back again
But you're the ...


I'm walking round baby with my head hung low
look here mama i ain't gonna do right no more
But you're the ...


play it out


I want take me a trip up on the mountain top
come back and show you how to eagle rock
But you're the ...

I liked it cause it's good
play it like it cause it's the same thing

When I first met you Mama you was so nice and kind
you done got reckless and changed your mind
but you're the ...

stand by if you wanna hear it again

[maddoggirl]

Gumbo, for the fourth verse I think I might be hearing:

But the father makes that money by the roll for the women for to shine their soul.

I've also always heard 'stoned or drunk' rather than 'on a drunk'. Just an idea though.

[Bunker Hill]

But the father makes that money by the roll for the women for to shine their soul.

Bitter experience has taught me to steer clear of lyric debates but I'd venture this:

But the father makes that money by the roll for womens know shine is gold.

Now where's Chris when one needs him? 

[Gumbo]

Good ears, you two! I hear 'roll' and 'women know that shine is gold' now. Thankee kindly. If there are no dissenters i will edit the text