Topic: Ralph Willis Lyrics

[Gumbo]

I've been enjoying the various Ralph Willis threads this evening (check the tag at the bottom of this page) and thought we could make a start on the lyrics. I'm guessing (hoping) you guys have some others already on file coz some of those lines are chock full of syllables   Here is "Going to Virginia":



Going To Virginia
recorded for Savoy in June 1948 in NYC
solo guitar in E

here's what I got

I wanna know girl what in the world you eat
make your breath smells like your feet
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

Well I got a little girl she's little and low
used to let me do it but she won't no mo'
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

Well Mama used to tell me Daddy told me too
chasin' women gonna be the death of you
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

Well ashes to ashes, dust to dust
show me a woman that a man can trust
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

well I got a little girl, little and low
used to let me do it but she won't no mo'
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

play it live for me 'gain

I don't want no woman don't know A from B
she used to be down on my pa's cornfield
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

Well I'm going up town I want spread the news
these old women got me wearing the brogan shoes
well, I'm goin to Virginia
I said yes Virginia
if the bus don't stop no train don't turn around

edited to pick up corrections from cru423

[Gumbo]

and here's the earlier version



Going To Chattanooga
recorded in 1946 for 20th Century in NYC

If the boat don't sink if the train don't turn around

Whyn't you tell me what is that you eat
make your breath smell like your feet
So I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink, the train don't turn around

Come home last night bout half past ten
put the key in the hole but I couldn't get in
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink the train don't turn around

No Monkey in the bath ?? Possum up a tree
want these gals to come and hoopee with me
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink, the train don't turn around

I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink the train don't turn around

I used to have a gal she was little and low
used to let me shake it but she don't no more
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink, the train don't turn around

If you got a good man he love you a lot
keep a smile on your face, your big mouth shut
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink the train don't turn around

If the boat don't sink the train don't turn around

I went up on Main Street come down flats ?
looking for the gal cut up my last pair of pants ??
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
Yeah Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink, the train don't turn around

Just as soon as the freight train roll in the yard
I'm going to Chattanoogee like to ride the rods
I'm going to Chattanoogee, I'm going to Chattanoogee
If the boat don't sink, the train don't turn around

If the boat don't sink the train don't turn around
 

[Gumbo]

Here's Johnm's transcription of Old Home Blues from the Rag Blues and Circle of Fifths thread.
recorded for Prestige in NYC, October 3rd 1951



 Oh yes, darling, I will be standing, way down on that railroad line
   Well, darling, darling, oh my darling,
   I've got the Old Home Blues, yes I mean,
   I really have the Old Home Blues

   Yes, I've got my suitcase packed, and I don't intend to turn back
   No need to grievin', darling, 'cause I told you I was leavin'
   I hear those Home Blues

   You know, when things look like it's swell
   Somethin' come along, make it bad for me, well, well, well, well
   Well, darling, darling, oh my darling
   I've got the Old Home Blues, yes, I mean,
   I really have the Old Home Blues

[cru423]

Goin' to Virginia (to the tune of Move to Alabama)

6th verse

Don't want no woman don't no A from B
She used to be down on my pa's cornfield

7th verse

Well I'm going up town I want to spread the news
These old women got me wearing the brogan shoes

"Brogans" were originally army boots worn in the Revolutionary War. In "Black Bottom Blues" recorded by the Georgia Crackers in 1927, they refer to prison boots, "And now I'm on the chain gang/wearing them brogan shoes".

[Gumbo]

Thanks cru423. I couldn't make head nor tail of that cornfield one!
The brogan shoe is interesting as it's an Irish word meaning a sturdy shoe. My preferred choice of footwear!

[Gumbo]

Blues, Blues, Blues
recorded August 31 1950 in NYC with Brownie McGee (and Orchestra)
number 15 in Stefan's discography



Baby it's blues, blues, blues that's all I ever got
yes it's blues, blues, blues that's all I ever got
I got so many dog gone blues boys I don't know whether it's cold or hot

Y'know the blues is my first name, yeah it's my second name too
Yeah the blues is my first name, yeah it's my second name too
I got so many dog gone blues boys i don't know what I will do

When I walk down the street yes I look both ways
When I walk down the street yes I look both ways
that's why everybody talkin' 'bout me yes both nights and days

got to play a little bit for you now

well I got a little girl yes she lives way up town
y'know I got a little gal yes she lives way up town
yeah y'know that woman o' mine done an' left me yes she done an' throw'd me down

[Gumbo]

So Many Days
recorded 1946 in NYC



Got me sitting here wondering, great god will a matchbox hold my clothes
Got me sitting here wondering, yeah will a matchbox hold my clothes
You know I ain't got so many matches, woman
great god got such a long way to go

Yeah the blues, yeah the blues how in the world do you do
Yeah the blues, blues how in the world do you do
Yes I'm speaking to you little woman
Oh I can't get along with poor you

Yeah got me sitting here wondering, yeah will a matchbox hold my clothes
Yeah I'm wondering, will a matchbox hold my clothes
Yeah I ain't got nobody, great god to satisfy my soul

Yes, I'm going down in Georgia yeah I'm behind the rising sun
Yes I'm going down in Georgia yeah I'm behind the rising sun
I'm gonna ask the good lord great god what have I done was wrong?

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Ralph Willis recorded "Just A Note" in 1946, backing himself out of E position in standard tuning on a wonderful-sounding electric guitar.  This is terrific guitar-playing, about as good as East Coast playing gets, right up there with the best of Buddy Moss and Blind Boy Fuller.  I taught this song several years ago at Blues Week in Northampton, and it would be really nice if I still knew how to play it.  Oh well, I can learn it again, but it seems so darned inefficient. 
In addition to being a fine guitarist, Ralph Willis was a good singer with a very droll delivery.  He actually reminds me a lot of Bill Cosby in his early years, telling stories.  This is worth seeking out if you've not heard it, and virtually all of his titles (as well as almost all of Gabriel Brown's and Dan Pickett's) can be found on the JSP set "Shake That Thing--East Coast Blues 1935--1953".  Here is "Just A Note":



You know, I'm a stranger, mama, just come in your lonesome town
Yes, I'm a stranger, no-good gal, Ralph did come in your town
Just because I'm a stranger, now, everybody want to try to dog me around

Do you know I got a letter this mornin'?  Wasn't nothin' in it but a note
Yes, I got a letter this mornin', wasnt nothin' in it but a note
You know, I says, I'm rid of that woman, I says, "Gal, I'm not no billy goat."

I say, you may think I'm crazy, your daddy's nobody's fool
Gal, you may think I'm crazy, your daddy's nobody's fool
Lord, before I'd take your doggin', I'll eat grass like a Georgia mule

You know, I'm a stranger, no-good gal, just dropped in your lonesome town
Yes, I'm a stranger, gal, just walked in your lonesome town
Just because I'm a stranger, now, everybody want to try to dog me around (Spoken: Play it on out for me, do like on a dream.)

SOLO

You got a lemon sittin' on your table, one is sittin' up on your shelf
You got a lemon sittin' on your table one's sittin' up on your shelf
If you just let me squeeze your lemon, gal, I 'clare, you want nobody else

I'm gon' tell you, God, want to squeeze it, while I'm sittin' in your lonesome town
Yes, I want to squeeze it, baby, while I'm sittin' in your town
I want you to catch the juice and please don't let it fall on the ground

Edited 7/10/16 to pick up correction from Johnm

All best,
Johnm

 

[banjochris]

No Monkey in the bath ?? Possum up a tree

I don't have these unfortunately but this bit was in the sample on iTunes and it sounds to me like
Y' know monkey and the bearcat, bottom of a tree

Chris

[Gumbo]

Thanks Chris. Bear sounds right  I'm hearing an F rather than a C immediately after ...
Monkey and the bear fight bottom of a tree?
Monkey and the bear, fat possum up a tree?

could be either to my ear ...

I'm really enjoying that Shake that Thing set, all the Ralph Willis and Dan Pickett (i'm not so taken by the Gabriel Brown yet).