Topic: Rosa Henderson "Papa Will Be Gone" lyric help needed!

[Cleoma]

Hi all,
I know, Rosa Henderson is not really country blues, but I am completely stumped trying to figure out the second line.  I have:
I'm tired of fussing and calling you down
Your trifling ways is the talk of the town
You played around and tried to   me
You caused such misery

Here is the song (I shrank the file so I hope this is audible) -- any suggestions?
Thanks,
Suzy



[attachment deleted by admin]

[uncle bud]

Sounds like "tried to two-time me", though it's delivered a bit oddly.

[Bunker Hill]

Hi all,
I know, Rosa Henderson is not really country blues,

I'm going to take this even more off topic by saying that in June 1963 Victoria Spivey took Len Kunstadt to meet Rosa and recounted  the experience in Recrod Research 75 (Aprill 1966), the cover of which has a signed 1920s publicity shot of her alongside 1963 snapshots taken of her with Victoria.

I'll butt out now.

[Cleoma]

I would love to read that interview!  Do you have it?  Any chance you could somehow post it?
Suzy

[Bunker Hill]

I would love to read that interview!  Do you have it?  Any chance you could somehow post it?
Suzy

The "typesetting" of Record Research was done using a portable typewriter. If unable to OCR I'll jpeg the page.

There was only ever one obituary to her by Derrick Stewart-Baxter,  ?Farewell Rosa Henderson" (Jazz Journal, July 1968). This weekend I'll create a new topic in the Article's section and post both there.

[Lyle Lofgren]

Hi, Suzy --

I've listened to that line about 50 times, at different tempi, and I still don't know what she's singing. It's not "tried to two-time me;" there's an "s" sound in there. Since "two-time" is probably close to the meaning, it's probably OK to use it as the best substitute. I can't imagine who could prove you wrong, unless it was once printed as sheet music. Or else just mumble the line.

Rosa's voice was very similar to yours, so I'm sure you'll do a great job with it.

Lyle

[Cleoma]

Actually it is not me who is singing it -- it is my 21-year-old daughter, Allegra, and we're having a ball figuring out words, chords, and enjoying this music together. A couple of years ago, I gave her one of my old computers and she asked me to leave all the music on there, so she and her friends have been having a dandy time listening to and learning songs by Rosa Henderson, Ida Cox, Victoria Spivey, the Carter Family, and other assorted old music.  It's interesting, because some of the songs she is drawn to are the same ones that I was drawn to, but others, not.  Although she has access to way way more material than I did.  Nobody bothered to release 50 sides by Rosa Henderson in the 70s.  I think the only woman blues singer whose complete works were reissued at that time was (of course) Bessie Smith -- whose voice still sends chills up my spine.  What a magnificent singer!

Suzy

[Lyle Lofgren]

It would be nice to hear Allegra sometime, to hear in what ways she does and doesn't sound like you.

Lyle

[Johnm]

Hi all,
This is another from a few years ago that was never finished, I think.  I don't know if I'm entirely sold on "sneak by" in the third line of the verse, it also sounds something like "snake pad".  Here goes:



I'm tired of fussing and calling you down
Your trifling ways is the talk of the town
You played around and tried to two-time me
You've caused such misery

Done everything that a sweet mama should
Done everything I could
Still you won't appreciate
'Til it will be too late

You gonna wake some mornin', you gonna be in mournin'
'Cause sweet mama will be gone
You gonna wake up sighin', you gonna wake up cryin'
You'll be all alone
You used to call me your ace in the hole
But papa, papa, you'll miss sweet jellyroll
You gonna wake some mornin', you gonna be in mournin'
But sweet mama will be gone

Oh, you're gonna wake some mornin', you're gonna be in mourning
'Cause sweet mama will be gone
Oh, you're gonna wake up sighing, you're gonna wake up crying
You'll be all alone
You used to call me your ace in the hole
But papa, papa, you'll miss sweet jellyroll
You're gonna wake some morning, you're gonna be in mourning
But sweet mama will be gone

Edited to pick up change from uncle bud and waxwing

All best,
Johnm

[waxwing]

Just listening on laptop speakers, Johnm, but it sounds like "tried to two-time me" to my ears. Does sound kinda fuzzy tho'.

Wax

[Johnm]

Re-listening, John C., I agree with you, and that also is what uncle bud heard way back in 2010.  I will make the change.
All best,
Johnm

[Prof Scratchy]

Two time makes sense and is probably right. Not easy to hear though, is it?

[waxwing]

Re-listening, John C., I agree with you, and that also is what uncle bud heard way back in 2010.  I will make the change.
All best,
Johnm

Heh,heh. Right, I see UB's post now. Since you mentioned it was 5 years back I figured it was several pages back. Didn't notice the discussion was at the top of the page. So, yeah, I agree with Uncle Bud.

I think maybe she has a very sibilant "T", as in "Tsoo-Tsime". Sibilance can reek havoc on a microphone if she's miked up close. Not sure what techniques they were using in 1924, probably singing into a horn. Definitely pre "electrical" mics, which they started to use around '28 IIRC.

Wax

[Johnm]

You're right, Prof Scratchy, that is a tough phrase to hear.  And I heard it so differently to begin with, sometimes it almost seems like it is changing on you!