Topic: Charlie Booker Lyrics

[Drew.MS.Blues96]

This is Rabbit Blues recorded by Charley Booker in 1952.
I probalby makes some mistakes,  just one guy helped me in The Real Blues Forum and this is what he heard on the record. I hope you can help me for a definitive lyric.

CHARLEY BOOKER

- Rabbit Blues (MM1794)
- No Ridin' Blues (MM1796) 1)

rec. c. January 23, 1952 in Greenville, MS; Charley Booker, voc, g; Houston Boines, hca; Ike Turner, p; Jesse 'Cleanhead' Love, dr
(INFORMATION FROM WIRZ)

Well I'm just, just like a rabbit. Baby ain't got no special home.
Well, I'm just like a rabbit, got no special home.
Been round here every day, but I may be gone.
*(Hangin' round here today, 'morrow I'll may be gone)

Now you taken, taken my rider when I never said a word.
Taken my rider, never said a word.
No you taken my rider and I sure gone *pay you first.(?)

Spoken: Play it boy

Now its bye, bye bye rider, baby now *if you call that song.
*(if you call that gone)
Bye bye rider, till you call that song.
Now I would stay round here and might trouble your happy home.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here is Charlie Booker's recording of "Rabbit Blues".



All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Here's what I hear.

*(Hangin' round here today, 'morrow I'll may be gone)
Hangin' round here ev'ry day, 'morrow I may be gone

*(if you call that gone)
sounds right and makes sense

[Blues Vintage]

Never heard of Charlie Booker. Some suggestions,


2.3 No you taken my rider and man I sure gone *pay you first.(?)

3.1 Now its bye, bye bye rider, baby now and if you call that gone

3.3 Now and I would stay round here you and might trouble your happy home.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I re-listened to that 2.3 line, and I think it is:

   No, you've taken my rider, man, I sure gon' pay you fer [sic]

Short for saying, "You've taken my rider, man, I sure gonna pay you for doing that", i. e., I'm gonna get you for that.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Charlie Booker recorded the mis-titled "No Ridin' Blues" in Greenville, Mississippi in July of 1952 or 1953, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning. He was joined on the track, according to the discographical information supplied on the JSP set "Mississippi Blues--Another Journey" by an inaudible Ike Turner on piano, Houston Boines on out-of-tune harmonica and Jesse "Cleanhead" Love on drums. The song starts out being a one-chord version of "Special Rider", but during the harmonica solo, Charlie Booker goes to the IV and V7 chords.  Here is "No Ridin' Blues":



INTRO SOLO

Oh Lord, I ain't got no special rider here
Oh Lord, I ain't got, man, no special rider, special rider here
Well now, if I is, then she sure don't feel, sure don't feel my care
Well now, if I is, man, she sure don't feel, sure don't feel my care

I said, Greenville's smokin' and old Leland's burnin' down
I said, Greenville's smokin', baby, and Leland's burnin', Leland's burnin' down
Well, I believe I'll take my woman out of Greenville town (Spoken: Play it, Houston)

HARMONICA SOLO

I said, bye-bye, rider, if you call that gone
Singin' now, bye-bye rider, baby, and if you call, if you call that gone

CODA

All best,
Johnm