You know, old folks say, it's a long lane don't have no end and a bad wind don't never change. But one day, back when Hoover was president, I was driving my cart down Beale Street, and I seen a rat, sitting on top of a garbage can, eating a onion, crying - Furry Lewis, quoted in Stanley Booth's Rhythm Oil
Hi all, Big Bill Broonzy recorded "Mistreatin' Mama Blues" twice, in relatively rapid succession, first on February 9, 1932 for Champion, as "Mistreatin' Mamma Blues" played by Big Bill Johnson, and again on March 29, 1932 for Banner, as "Mistreatin' Mama Blues", played by Big Bill. In both instances, the song was flat-picked in C position, standard tuning. Broonzy's flat-picking on this song and "How You Want It Done" is reminiscent of early Bluegrass lead guitar playing. Here is "Mistreatin' Mama Blues":
INTRO SOLO
Whyn't you tell me, lovin' mama, baby, what have I done so wrong? Whyn't you tell me, lovin' mama, baby, what have I done so wrong? Lord, you treat me just like some man you never known
Says, you gwonna call me some morning, mama, Lord, and I'll be gone You gwonna call me some old morning, mama, Lord, and I'll be gone Lord, and I know you're gwonna miss me, from rolling in your arms
I have got somethin' to tell you, mama, please keep it to yourself Babe, I got somethin' to tell you, mama, please keep it to yourself Lord, if I can't have you, babe, I don't want nobodies else
SOLO
Lord, I feel so worried, mama, I don't know what to do Lord, I feel so worried, babe, I don't know what to do Lord, my wife's done quit me, my Lord, and my sweetie, too
Babe, but that's all right, mama, baby, that's all right for you Mama, that's all right, baby, mama, that's all right for you You gwonna want me some mornin', Lord, and I won't want you
Now, baby, don't mistreat me, 'cause I'm a motherless child Now, mama, don't mistreat me, 'cause I'm a motherless child 'Cause you may be in my same shape, baby, someday, by and by
CODA
Edited 7/6 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage Edited 7/9 to pick up correction from islandgal
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 09, 2022, 05:50:58 AM by Johnm »
Yup, you're right, Blues Vintage--thanks for the catch.
EDITED TO ADD: It turns out that I had already transcribed these lyrics and entered them in Weeniepedia. It was in the Miller's Breakdown thread a couple of years ago and I had forgotten about it-doh!
« Last Edit: July 07, 2022, 11:48:22 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, As with "Mistreatin' Mama Blues", Big Bill Broonzy recorded "How You Want It Done?" twice, in relatively rapid succession, the first time for Paramount, around May of 1931, and then again for Banner, on March 29, 1932. He flat-picked the song out of G position in standard tuning, and I suspect he learned the accompaniment from Louie Lasky. Here is "How You Want It Done?", in the Banner version, I think:
INTRO SOLO
Why don't you tell me, lovin' mama, how you want your rollin' done? Why don't you tell me, lovin' mama, how you want your rollin' done? Lord, I'll give you satisfaction now, if it's all night long
Lord, I got up this mornin' just about the break of day Lord, I got up this mornin', mama, just about the break of day Lord, I'm thinkin' 'bout my baby, Lord, the one that went away
SOLO
Lord, I've got me a little old brownskin just as sweet as she can be Lord, I've got me a little old brownskin mama as sweet as she can be Lord, she low and she is squatty but she's all right with me
SOLO
Now, you can put me in the alley, my gal's name is Sally, you wake me up in the mornin', mama, I still got that old habit, why don't you Tell me, how you want it done? Lord, I'll give you satisfaction now if it's all night long
SOLO
Lord, it's some of these old mornings, Lord, I knowed it won't be long Lord, it's some of these old mornings, mama, know and it won't be long Lord, I know you're gwonna call me, baby, Lord, and I'll be gone
CODA
Edited 7/9 to pick up correction from islandgal
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 09, 2022, 05:52:25 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Big Bill Broonzy recorded "Worrying You Off My Mind, No. 1" on March 29, 1932 in New York City, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning. The song is essentially the same number as "Worried In Mind Blues", which he had recorded a month earlier in Richmond, Indiana. Here is "Worrying You Off My Mind, No. 1":
INTRO SOLO
A many long day, walk along and cryin', I lost my baby, can't be satisfied REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
When you'll get in trouble, haven't got a friend, just take it easy, they'll need your help again REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
Now, it ain't hard, to live alone, just hard to be married, and break up your home REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
But that's all right, that's all right for you, you need me some mornin', when I won't need you REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
SOLO
When I was down, lost my wife and my friends, when I got my money, they all come back again REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
But money and pretty women, run hand in hand, when they're in a squabble, takin' some woman's man REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
CODA
Edited 7/11 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 11, 2022, 04:35:09 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Big Bill Broonzy recorded "Worrying You Off My Mind No.2" immediately after recording "Worrying You Off My Mind No. 1", and it shares the same accompaniment, melody and phrasing with that number, differing only in its lyrics. I'm not at all sure of the bent bracketed places in the lyrics and would appreciate correction/corroboration. Here is "Worrying You Off My Mind No. 2":
INTRO SOLO
[Says I caught some in] bad luck and trouble, too, I lost my baby, my sweetie, too REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
When a man is down, haven't got a friend, he get in a game, baby, he ain't got no chance to win REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
You have been tryin' to quit me, didn't have no need, so I'm leavin' this morning, you can jump and dance REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
Now fare you well, my little girl, I'm leavin' this morning, now don't be worried REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
I'm leavin' this morning, don't want to go, you'll look my picture, you never see me no more REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
I cooked your breakfast, brought it to your bed, and took my comb, baby, and combed your head REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
Now don't cry, baby, don't weep and moan, just catch you another man, 'cause this one's gone REFRAIN: So when I'm gone, gal, take it easy, 'cause I'm just worryin' you off of my mind
CODA
Edited 7/12 to pick up corrections from banjochris
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 12, 2022, 01:46:08 PM by Johnm »