Topic: Andrew Dunham Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Andrew Dunham recorded "Sweet Lucy" in Detroit in the early '50s or late '40s, backing himself on an electric guitar out of A position in standard tuning, tuned a half-step low.  If you've not heard the song, you can find it in the "What Is This Musician Doing?" thread, at:  http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10188.0 .

With a ton of reverb and an eerie sound, Dunham really made an unforgettable number with this one.  He phrases it very freely, alternating between loose verses and lyrics breaks.  I believe he only recorded four titles and I sure wish there were more out there.  I think of him as being from Detroit, but that is only because he was recorded there.  He could have been from anywhere.
Lyrically, I believe Dunham is using "'fuse" for "refuse", much the way singers of religious numbers often use "buked" for "rebuked".



Yes, she's a Sweet Lucy-drinkin' woman
She don't 'fuse to now and then
Oh yeah, she don't 'fuse to now and then
She's crazy 'bout her Sweet Lucy, don't care what you do

Now, look here, Mist' houseman,
Seem like it's kinda hard to hear
You can drink, and bring me a fifth of your old whiskey
Bring me a drink of your old bad wine
Say, Mist' houseman,
Seem like you kinda hard to hear
Says, she's a Sweet Lucy-drinkin' woman
She don't 'fuse to now and then

SOLO

Yes, she love her Sweet Lucy
Don't care what I do
Oh yeah, don't care what I do

When I go to work the mornin',
I leave her in the bed
When I come in at evenin'
She's got a fifth of wine
Out in the street, in her stockin' feet
Yes, she's a Sweet Lucy-drinkin' woman
She don't 'fuse to now and then

(SPOKEN: Yeah!  she's a drinker.)

All best,
Johnm

[jpeters609]

Yes, she's a Sweet Lucy-drinkin' woman
She don't 'fuse to now and then
Oh yeah, she don't 'fuse to now and then

John,
This is a great song, and the murky reverb of the guitar (and the recording as a whole) only adds to its terrific ambience. I have always "heard" the lyrics to be something like the following (I put "heard" in quotes because I suspect my own imagination was completing what I couldn't really hear):

Yes, she's a Sweet Lucy-drinkin' woman
She'd abuse it now and then
Oh yeah, she'd 'buse it now and then

For a little added color, here's an image of a more recent variety of Sweet Lucy (a bottled liqueur)...

[Johnm]

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the alternate theory.  Andrew Dunham never uses the word "it" in the places you have it, though.  He always says "to" in those places.  I feel like I hear the "f" sound in front of the "use" sound pretty clearly, too.  I think Dunham was being ironic.  When he says she "don't 'fuse to" drink Sweet Lucy "now and then", he's saying more politely, "She never turns a drink down, ever."
All best,
Johnm 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Andrew Dunham accompanied himself out of A position in standard tuning for his version of "Corinne". He recorded just a few titles in Detroit in the Post-War period, and they all have an exciting, raw sound--that ripping sheet metal tone his guitar has is much to be admired. I wish more songs with this kind of approach and sound had been recorded. Here is "Corinne":



INTRO

Corinne, Corinne, Corinne, please don't go leave me here
Yes, Corinne, Corinne, please don't go leave me here
If you will go leave me, Corinne, please leave me a mule t' ride

Now you know, Corinne, grass gettin' green, means old mule, can make it anywhere
Corinne, plea-ea-ea-ea-ease don't go leave me here
You know I'm a-just a poor boy, a long way from home

You know, Corinne, you is my all-in-all, if you go to leave me, leave me a dime for beer
Corinne, you is my all-in-all

Last I seed you, Corinne, you was standin' in the station yard, say you'd booked to go, didn't have a dime
Corinne, you, plea-ease don't go leave me here
You know I'm just a poor boy, I'm a long way from home

SPOKEN: Now you know I'm just a poor boy, a long way m' home, got no place to go. Goodbye, Corinne, fare you well, it's all I got to say.

You know, you know, you know, I'm a long way from home
Yeah, you know, you know I'm a long way from home

Say I'm outdoors, I have no place to go,
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, this is all I got to say
Yes, goodbye, this is all I've got to say
Fare you well, this is all I got to say

All best,
Johnm