Topic: Big Bill Broonzy Lyrics

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Jean, I have made the change.

[Johnm]

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
   

[Blues Vintage]

Probably just a typo;

Lord, you treat me just like so some man you never known

[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!

[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

 
 

[islandgal]

The only thing I would suggest is in the first verse, last line, add the word now:
Lord, I'll give you satisfaction now if it's all night long.

Jean

[islandgal]

In Mistreatin Mama Blues, I would suggest there is an extra and in this line:

You gwonna want me some mornin' and, Lord, and I won't want you

Instead should be:
You gwonna want me some mornin', Lord, and I won't want you

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Jean, I have made both changes.

[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

[Blues Vintage]

One minor squabble;

2.1 When you you'll get in trouble

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Blues Vintage.

[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 

[banjochris]

I can't make out that first bit of 1.1, John, although what you have sounds awfully close to me.

2.1 ...he GET IN A GAME, baby...

I think in 7.1 the missing word is likely "catch"

Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris. I have made those changes.

[Blues Vintage]

My input,

5.1 you'll look have my picture

7.1 just catch find you another man

I think 'find' is more likely for 7.1.