OK here's what I think. "Arsenic", cosmetic cream to lighten skin. "Lemon", oil for the hair. "Tap it flat", pat the hair down flat on the head. It does make sense, he's tongue-in-cheek talking about dressing up for his woman.
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I wish to be cremated. One tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract - Groucho Marx
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. OK here's what I think. "Arsenic", cosmetic cream to lighten skin. "Lemon", oil for the hair. "Tap it flat", pat the hair down flat on the head. It does make sense, he's tongue-in-cheek talking about dressing up for his woman.
Lemon is also a hair lightner. I reckon he's spoofing his buddies in the 20's who tried to lighten up, cf. Palmer's Skin Success, et al. Weird times, at least McTell saw the funny side. Brilliant.
Hi all,
I fished out all the McTell lyric threads and put them in here. Some of the transcriptions are done or very close to being done. If you can remember having transcribed some McTell songs in these threads, you might want to re-visit and see if you feel like the lyrics are in final form, and thus ready for the move to Weeniepedia. All best, John Quote So what might be the deal with arsenic? According to my research, the following three highly toxic materials were common components of skin lightening creams all the way back to Roman times: Lead, Mercury, Arsenic! Lead and mercury were recently found in cosmetics being manufactured TODAY! WTF!? WTF are these people thinking!? You're getting tap light ? Not Two Ply? History of the FDA here: http://www.fda.gov/oc/history/historyoffda/default.htm
This book caused a stir in 1933: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100,000,000_Guinea_Pigs I'm getting 'tap it flat', as in the hair to the head (after applying lemon oil tonic), or maybe a hat. Oh I see, no, the last bit I think is 'tip light', as in to go lightly, maybe a contraction of 'tiptoe'. Or maybe 'trip light', as in 'tripping the light fantastic'. That fits actually, sets up a real comic scene and all makes sense. The phrase was current in the Twenties: "The phrase is used in the second line of a 1927 song by Billy Murray and Aileen Stanley - 'I'm Gonna Dance Wit da Guy Wot Brung Me' - a comical duet between two New York types using one slang phrase after another in a vaudeville-like routine. The manner in which the phrase is used, suggests that 'tripping the light fantasic' was a not unusual bit of Roaring 20's slang" - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trip_the_light_fantastic So the current theory in play is this: Can I get arsenic, lemon and tap it flat, and trip light' across your flo'? Good call merging threads Johnm, thanks. ..with the 'arsenic' interpretation evolving, this phrase is beginning to make some sense! ..nice work!
I have some McTell lyrics that I was thinking of posting in the McTell wiki...shall I do that, or dump them here for 'dissection'? ..I've listened fairly carefully w/ Transcribe and phones, so I feel about > 90% or so re accuracy.. Let me know, glad to add what I have..Tom ..with the 'arsenic' interpretation evolving, this phrase is beginning to make some sense! ..nice work! Tom, I'm sure all weenies would be honored if you'd post them here. They will be well looked after. In the spirit of all things wiki we've always stated we'd be delighted for any content to flow between wikipedia and weeniepedia. ..ok, so I have these in a word doc so I'll just cut/paste here for others to dissect or comment
Scary Day Blues -- Blind Willie McTell I want to wait around here baby, until your fried pie?ll get done I want to wait around here baby, until your fried pie?ll get done Because I think I got a nickel, I wants to buy me one I want to cut out find a woman, to do like my last rider done I want to cut out find a woman, to do just like my last rider done She kept it all for her daddy, she didn?t give nobody none Then my baby got a bed, it shines like a morning star My good mama got a bed, it shines like a morning star And when I crawls in the middle, it rides me like a Cadillac car My good gal got a mojo, she tryin? to keep it hid My good woman got a mojo, she tryin? to keep it hid But Georgia Bill got something, to find that mojo with I said she got that mojo and she won?t let me see I said she got that mojo and she won?t let me see And every time I start to lovin?, she try to put them jinx on me ?Play it a little bit for me Mr. So n So for I know you like it? Well she shake it like the Central, she wobble like the L&N I say she shake it like the Central, she wobble like the L&N Well she?s a hot shot mama, and I?m scared to tell her where I been Then my baby got something, she won?t tell her daddy what it is My good mama got something, she won?t tell her papa what it is And when I crawls in my bed, I just can?t keep my black self still Well I done got reckless and I broke my mama?s rule Lord Lord Well I done got reckless and I broke my baby?s rule I?m here wanderin? round in Georgia with these doggone scary day blues Great choice, fits right in with Broke Down Engine. Thank the Lord it's Saturday tomorrow and I can spend some time playing guitar and listening. He changes 'snake' to 'self' in the penultimate verse for the recording, thinks I as I was listening to it today. 'Self censorship in the blues', a good topic.
Just from memory, this should be "I wonder could I find a woman..." Chris ..good catch, Banjochris, I hear that, too .. just 'cut out' to find a woman always sounded cooler than wondering ;-)
tw I think 'cut out' is correct,
I want to cut out, find a woman, to do like my last rider done Wanna cut out find a woman, do just like my last rider done Minor point, I hear 'rides' not ride: And when I crawls in the middle, it rides me like a Cadillac car |