Topic: Curley Weaver Lyrics

[bayrum78]

I've been listening to Curley Weaver songs lately and his Dirty Deal Blues is a good one. If I am not mistaken it is played in standard tuning Key of G capoed at the 1st fret.  I would like some help with the lyrics. My source is Docd-5110 Georgia Blues and the track under discussion is pretty scratchy. Perhaps others have a different source with better audio quality and can hear the lyrics better.  Here is "Dirty Deal Blues" and this is what I am hearing:



When you are tired mama lay down on your bed (repeat)
I brought you your medicine I also brought your bread

Now you laugh today, sure can't do it again
Now you laugh today, sure can't do it again
I brought you your medicine, you won't even let me in

I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night
I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night
Don't matter what time I go there, he never put out all his light

I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here
I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here
I go home up the country, I want to know what I'm doing round here

Hey hey hey hey hey, hey hey hey hey hey   (repeat)
These women in Atlanta they treat me like a dog

I run to the telephone, pressed the receiver down
I run to the telephone, pressed the receiver down
I said, "Hello Central, give me Dr. Brown"

[dj]

The last verse is:

I HAVE TO telephone, have to get her fever down
I HAVE TO telephone, have to get her fever down
I said "Hello Central, give me Dr. Brown"

There are some spots in earlier verses I think aren't quite right, but I'd have to listen some more before making suggestions.

[uncle bud]

That's a cool tune. I haven't noticed it before, probably because it went by in a fog of surface noise. Some things I still need to listen to some more but here are a few corrections and suggestions. The more uncertain bits are in square brackets:

Verse 2 is very tricky. I am not sure about lines 2.1 and 2.2

[NOW YOU LAUGH] today, [SURE] CAN'T do it again
[NOW YOU LAUGH] today, [JUST] CAN'T do it again
I brought you your medicine, YOU won't even let me IN

I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night
I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night
DON'T MATTER WHAT TIME I go there, he never PUT out all HIS light

(This verse occurs in Blind Lemon's Mean Jumper Blues: "I go there early in the morning, and I goes there late at night/Don't care how late I goes there, he has never turned out his light")

I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here
I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here
[I GO] home up the country, I want to know what I'm doing ROUND here

The I GO above is probably more like Curley swallowing I'M GOIN'.

The last verse appears in Blind Lemon's Gone Dead On You Blues (slightly different, Lemon's sings "pulled the receiver down". Which as someone pointed out here at some point, I believe, is how those old telephones worked):

I RUN TO THE telephone, PRESSED THE RECEIVER down
I RUN TO THE telephone, PRESSED THE RECEIVER down
I said, "Hello Central, give me Dr. Brown"

edit: could possibly be "TOUCHED the receiver down". Not sure.

[dj]

Wow, uncle bud, I think you've nailed it.  Good ears!

Man, those QRS pressings are worse than Paramounts.

[uncle bud]

Thanks, dj, although the key was recognizing Lemon's verses then deciphering how they differ in Weaver's tune. I agree, that pressing sounds like it has extra furniture in it.

Nate, regarding the playing of this tune, I would say it is in Spanish tuning, pitched as you say in the neighbourhood of G sharp or so. A couple things point me to this, the foremost being that the accompaniment is similar to a style of accompaniment used by Barbecue Bob and Charley Lincoln that was in Spanish. This includes in particular the end tag riff in the bass. You can also hear he goes to a low V note in that riff, not available in G standard. Another clue is the open 5th string for the bass in the IV chord, which would then be completed by barring the remaining strings at the 5th fret. Not a clincher, but the chord is quite ringy and seems to point to this position, IMO, rather than a C chord position with G bass in standard tuning. But that bass riff is the real tip off for me, just because I have used it playing other tunes.

[bayrum78]

Thanks guys! UB, in particular thanks for your in depth lyrical and tuning analysis. When I first started listening to the lyrics, I couldn't recognize anything he was singing except for a couple of words and thought there's no way these lyrics can be deciphered, but I kept listening literally dozens of times and I gradually heard more and more. It's funny how obvious parts sounded afterwards.
About the tuning -   I had rather hastily asumed standard G basing it largely on the I7 chord.
 For that descending bass walk in standard  used the 1st string G note as a pedal point, left stings 2 and 3 open then walked down the  4th string which maiantained a pretty open sound. When I have the opportunity, I'll rework it in Spanish. 

I'm really pleased this song has now been given the all around attention it deserves. Considering I couldn't find any reference to it relating to Curley Weaver on the internet or on weenie, this one may have been mouldering unplayed and undiscussed since Curley passed away. It's an exciting prospect (to me at least), that it's once again ready for prime time. I'll post my rendition on the backporch when I get a chance. It might be fun if others did as well. Any takers?

[uncle bud]

I'm really pleased this song has now been given the all around attention it deserves. Considering I couldn't find any reference to it relating to Curley Weaver on the internet or on weenie, this one may have been mouldering unplayed and undiscussed since Curley passed away. It's an exciting prospect (to me at least), that it's once again ready for prime time. I'll post my rendition on the backporch when I get a chance. It might be fun if others did as well. Any takers?

It's quite possible you're right that the song has been mouldering pretty much unnoticed and unplayed, Nate. And I agree, it's exciting when one of these completely obscure but cool songs gets some new life breathed into it. It's one of the real pleasures of the weenie site for me, honestly.

[uncle bud]

BTW, I found the version from the Atlanta Blues JSP set to be slightly better in terms of noise, likely just the Document with better EQ but it may help folks decipher things a bit more. Attached.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[bayrum78]

I have corrected the lyrics.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I merged Nate's thread on Curley Weaver's version of "Dirty Deal Blues" with the pre-existing Curley Weaver Lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm

[L.C. Van Howl]

Hello!

Im looking for a little help with the lyrics to this, "WHO STOLE THE LOCK"

[L.C. Van Howl]

WHO STOLE DE LOCK, I DONT KNOW
WHO STOLE DE LOCK ON THE HEN HOUSE DOOR?
I'LL FIND OUT BEFORE I GO
WHO STOLE DE LOCK ON DE HENHOUSE DOOR

PEOPLE IN TOWN (? ? ?)

ILL FIND OUT BEFORE I GO
WHO STOLE DE LOCK ON DE HEN HOUSE DOOR

HAD A LITTLE GAL, SWEET AS A PLUM (?)
HIT ON THE HEAD, HALF PAST DUMB (?)
I'LL FIND OUT BEFORE I GO
WHO STOLE DE LOCK ON DE HENHOUSE DOOR

. . .

it goes on and on... I'd like to know what another set of ears hear throughout it. It's a damn fine tune.

[cru423]

Who Stole de Lock? 

Who stole the lock, I don't know
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
I'll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

People in town scared again
People in the country picking cotton again
I found out before I went
Who stole my rooster who stole my hen

Had a little girl, sweet as a plum
Found an egg about as long as my thumb
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

Don?t come in here with your nose all snotty
Know any chicken stealers, better ask somebody
Judged him right before his face
Gave him ninety-nine years and two extra days

Old Uncle Moe is sick in bed
Doctor said he's almost dead
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

Woke up this morning about half past six
Now turn over mama let?s get it fixed
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen house door

Old Aunt Dinah's long and tall
Shakes it like some winding ball
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

Had a little dog his name was Bill
Won?t bite my brother Will
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

Old Aunt Dinah?s sick in bed
Doctor said she's almost dead
I?ll find out before I go
Who stole the lock on the hen-house door

[harriet]

Hope these are correct...  Here is "My Baby's Gone":



My Baby's Gone

My baby?s gone and I 'll  soon be gone myself
My baby?s gone and I 'll  soon be gone myself
That the reason why I ain't got nobody else   

If the good gal quit you and you ain't done nothin wrong
If the good gal quit you and you ain't done nothin wrong
Don't take it so hard cause your life won't last you long

I'm gonna act like a rambler ain't gonna never stay at home
Act like a rambler ain't gonna never stay at home
I'm gonna catch me a freight train I'm going back to Baltimore

My baby gone and I'm almost in my grave
My baby gone and I'm almost in my grave
Gonna leave Georgia cause I'm tired being you women's slave

mmmmmmmm
mmmmmmmmm
mmmmmm (melody hummed for verse)

[banjochris]

You've got it -- I would suggest "your life" in 2.3 and "I'm gon' catch" (he really swallows the G) in 3.3, but other than that looks good to me!
Chris