Topic: Otis Spann Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Beat-Up Team


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Robert Lockwood Jr. - Guitar

August 23, 1960
New York, New York

Piano in E





Know the blues ain’t nothin’ but a botheration on your mind
You know the blues ain’t nothin’ but a botheration on your mind
When you think your woman is gone your woman there with you all the time

I used to pick a whole lotta cotton baby peoples and I used to pull a whole lotta corn
You know I used to pick a whole lotta cotton people and I used to pull a whole lotta corn
I used try to tell the city boy what to do but look like to me he just couldn't learn

Ain't it wonderful to know what to do special when you at home
Ain't it wonderful to know what to do special when you at home
That's why I was raised up working Lord now out there on Mister Mister Charley Farm

I couldn't go to town 'til Saturday peoples I couldn't even spend my dough
I couldn't even go to town 'til it was Saturday peoples I couldn't even spend my gold
You know I would even got scared now I was scared to go from door to door

Well when I wasn't driving tractors baby I had me a old beat-up team
You know when I wasn't driving tractors you know I had me a old beat-up team
You know I was down in Mississippi and people you know just what I mean

The work wasn't so hard but my boss was so doggone mean
You know the work wasn’t hard but my boss was so doggone mean
But I had two pretty horses Lord two of the one that you ever seen

You know when you see me laughing I'm laughing just to keep from cryin’
When you see me laughing you know I'm laughing just to keep from cryin’
You know I done worked so hard I can't it off of my mind

[Blues Vintage]

It Must Have Been The Devil


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Robert Lockwood Jr. - Guitar

August 23, 1960
New York, New York

Piano in A





Well it must have been the devil you know it must have been the devil
You know it had to been the devil you know it must have been the devil
You know it must have been the devil turned my baby down

Well I heard a mighty rumbling you know I heard a mighty rumbling
You know I heard a mighty rumbling you know I heard a mighty rumbling
Well I heard a mighty rumbling deep down in the ground

Well it sound like my baby you know it sound like my baby
You know it sound like my baby you know it sound like my baby
You know it must have been the devil turning my baby 'round

Well I cut your kindling woman you know I cut your kindling
Baby I cut your kindling little girl I cut your kindling
So woman don’t you cry tote the fun or goodbye

Well now look how it lightning baby woman look how it’s thundering
Baby look how it lightning woman can’t you hear how it’s thundering
You know it must have been the devil turning my baby down

But you don’t love me baby know if you don’t love me woman
If you don’t love me baby if you don’t love me woman
Why don’t you let it be the devil turning my baby down

[Blues Vintage]

Evil Ways


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Robert Lockwood Jr. - Guitar

August 23, 1960
New York, New York

Piano in C


Session supervisor Nat Hentoff
“He had his stuff so totally and deeply together. We could I suppose have done four albums, but we did two. I think everything was one take. If there was something that wasn’t one take, it’s because the engineer goofed, not him. He had an enormous spirit.”





Lord knows I love you can’t stand your evil ways
Lord knows I love you can’t stand your evil ways
Yes I’m gonna leave now baby and I don’t see how I can stay

Yes you go to bed evil mama too evil to say your prayer
Yes you go to bed evil baby too evil to say your prayer
When it come down for lovin’ I done swear your love ain’t there

Yes I just found out mama we been together too long
Yes I just found out we been together too long
Yes if a that the trouble baby your daddy soon be gone

Yeah let’s get together mama divide the little money we got (no we ain’t got much baby)
Yeah get together baby divide the little money we got
Yes I’m gonna leave now woman you can believe it or not

[Blues Vintage]

Baby Child


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Robert Lockwood Jr. - Vocals, Guitar
St. Louis Jimmy Oden - Vocals

August 23, 1960
New York, New York

Piano in G





Well I’m going back home to my (baby child)
Well I’m going back home to my (baby child)
Well I’m going back home to my (baby child)
Well I’m going back home to my (baby child)
I wanna meet my baby meet her with a smile

When that train rolled up (baby child)
When that train rolled up (baby child)
When that train rolled up (baby child)
When that train rolled up (baby child)
I wanna meet my baby meet her with a smile

I wanna send my baby (baby child)
I wanna send my baby (baby child)
I wanna send my baby (baby child)
Let daddy send his baby (baby child)
Let me see my baby see her with a smile

I send her all of my money (baby child)
I send her all of my love (baby child)
I send her all of my respect Lord (baby child)
I send her all of my regard (baby child)
I wanna see my baby see her with a smile

Catch the first thing smokin’ (baby child)
I’m gon’ catch the first thing smokin’ (baby child)
I’m gon’ catch the first thing smokin’ (baby child)
Catch the first thing smokin’ (baby child)
I’m going back home to see my baby child

Well you know she’s young and tender (baby child)
That’s why daddy love’s his baby (baby child)
My baby’s young and tender (baby child)
That’s why daddy loves that woman (baby child)
Don’t pay me no mind baby I’m in love with my baby child

Well I’m going back home (baby child)
Well I’m going back home (baby child)
You know I’m going back home (baby child)
You know I’m going back home (baby child)
Well I’m going back home to see my baby child

[Blues Vintage]

Country Boy


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Robert Lockwood Jr. - Guitar

August 23, 1960
New York, New York

Piano in D





INTRO

You know I'm just a country boy, and a long, long way from home
You know I'm just a poor country boy, and I'm a long, long way from home
You know peoples, I can't read or write, peoples, please don't do me wrong

Can you remember, baby, can you remember the words you said
Mmmm, oh-oh, can you remember the words you said
When I was sick and down, woman, I needed you to rub my achin’ head

I was born in the country, baby, peoples, and I never been to town
Yes, I was born in the country, peoples, I never been to town
You know, why don't you reconsider, baby, stop and lay your burden down

PIANO SOLO

You know, I been having trouble everywhere I go
Mmmm-mmm, I been having trouble everywhere I go
Yeah, because I'm a country boy, I been driftin’ from door to door

I’m gon’ catch the first thing smokin', back down the road I'm goin’
I’m gonna catch the first thing smokin', people, down the road I'm goin’
You know I am going back to Mississippi, people, where I was bred and born

[Johnm]

Thanks for posting that, Blues Vintage. Boy, what beautiful heavy time Otis Spann had!
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Hungry Country Girl


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano
Peter Green - Guitar
Danny Kirwan - Guitar
John McVie - Bass
Mick Fleetwood - Drums

January, 1969
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in C





INTRO

(Spoken: You know you people walkin’ ‘round here talkin’ ‘bout, their woman done left from all that kinda I don’t care and all, I don’t see why that woman have to leave here, mines ain’t left me yet, but I don’t know how soon, ‘cause I keep that woman of mine just as fat and healthy as she can be, sure do, you know because I raise hogs chickens and cows and everything, and she better not act like she hungry, I wants a cow dear, and if she want her shoak, I go out there and catch one of them shoaks, and she’ll have pork chops all the week, sure will, and every time she get hungry, she get evil, you can’t blame the girl, ‘cause she’s a country girl)

Now, my baby is a country girl, and she just can't help herself
Yes, my baby is a country girl, and she just can't help herself
And every time I tell her I'm gonna leave her, she say “Daddy, I don't want nobody else”

I sat around at night and cry, 'til the tears roll down my cheek (Spoken: Have mercy I do)
Yes, I sat around at night and cry, 'til the tears roll down my cheek
I said, baby, don't you worry, don't you worry, I got you plenty milk and meat

One day, baby, don’t think your daddy's gone
Oh, baby, don't never think your daddy gone
Well, you know he right there with you, now, standin’ in the blood and all

PIANO SOLO

Well, I buys her everything she need, she don't even have to go nowhere
My baby gets everything she need, she don't even have to go nowhere
Know the girl aughta bless me, aughta bless me, I even me bought that girl some hair

Weren't for lipstick and powder, don't know what in the world my baby would do
Weren't for lipstick and powder, I don't know in the world that girl could do
But I love that woman, in this story I'm tellin' you

Baby, honey, do you feel alright
Hey, baby, I wanna know do you feel alright
I wanna love you, baby, she tell me, “Daddy, you know I ain't tired tonight”

[Johnm]

Hi Blues Vintage,
The video you posted for "Hungry Country Girl" won't play in the U. S. I found another and posted it. Is it the same rendition you originally posted? This one has a long spoken intro which didn't show in the transcription.
All best,
Johnm

[islandgal]

...I even bought that girl some hair.

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John and islandgal.

Yes it's the same rendition. I skipped the spoken intro because I couldn't hear a lot of words.
I took a shot at it anyway.

[waxwing]

I took a shot at it, too.

(Spoken: You know these people walkin’ ‘round here, I'm talkin’ ‘bout?  Their woman done left them 'n'all that kinda "don’t care" and all. I don’t see why that woman have to leave him, mines ain’t left me yet. But I don’t know how soon. ‘Cause I keep that woman of mine just as fat and healthy as she can be. Sure do. You know because I raise hogs, chickens and cows and everything, and she better not act like she hungry. "I want some cow, dear."  And if she want her shoak*, I go out there and catch one of them shoaks*, and she’ll have pork chops all the week. Sure will. And every time she get hungry, she get evil. You can’t blame the girl, ‘cause she’s a country girl)

A shoat is a young pig, especially one just weaned. It seems there may be a regional pronunciation as "shoak"?

Always enjoyed Otis.

Wax

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Wax, I incorporated almost all your changes.

[Blues Vintage]

Mr. Jelly Roll Baker


Otis Spann - Vocals, Piano

1965
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in D





INTRO

Now Mr. Jelly Roll Baker, let me be your slave, when Gabriel blow his trumpet, you know I rise from my grave
For some of your jelly, yeah, some good old jelly roll
Yeah, you know it’ll do me good, baby, deep down in my soul

I was sentenced for murder, in the first degree, know the judge's wife called up say "Let Spann go free”
‘Cause he’s a, Jelly Roll Baker, yes, he bake the best jelly roll in town
Yes, I’m the only man can bake jelly roll, people, with my damper down (Spoken: Well alright)

SOLO

You know I bake my jelly, like I bake my bread, you know I’m put in me another order, baby, for two weeks ahead
I love your jelly, yeah, my good old jelly roll
Yes, you know I gets good, baby, way down in my soul

A man in the hospital, shot all full of holes, the nurse left the poor man dyin' says she got to, have her jelly roll
She love her jelly, yeah, them good old jelly roll
Yes, you know it’s good for the sick, yes, and it’s good for the old

OUTRO

[Thomas8]

Piano in D

[Blues Vintage]

Hi Thomas, I thought about that too. How do you know for sure?