Topic: Blind Percy and His Blind Band Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I remember first hearing Blind Percy and His Blind Band's version of "Coal River Blues" on an old Yazoo anthology.  The song has such a distinctive ensemble sound:  fiddle, kazoo and at least two guitar plus vocal.  I think some people attribute this song to Blind Joe Taggart, but it doesn't sound like him to me, either vocally or instrumentally.  I'm not sure I have all the lyrics right and would appreciate correction or corroboration.



INTRO (Spoken during intro:  Aw, do that thing now!)

Going up Coal River, coming down no more
Going up Coal River, coming down no more
Gonna leave your town, pretty baby, stop knockin' on your back door

SOLO

Goin' across deep water, and no skiffs around
Across deep water, and no skiffs around
Just stop our boat, pretty baby, just let 'er sink on down

My Mama told me, baby, my Papa told me, too
My Mama told me, pretty baby, my Papa told me, too
If you love that little woman, gonna have a place to go

Don't want no woman, got hair like horse's mane
Don't want no woman, got hair like a horse's mane
Well, they're so doggone evil, want every woman's man

Ahhhhh, broke down in tears today
Ahhhhh, broke down in tears today
I got the blues so bad, pretty mama, I can't see a way

Edited 4/30 to pick up corrections from dj

All best,
Johnm 

[dj]

I think you've got the lyrics basically right, John.  I just have two suggestions:

2.2: ACROSS deep water...   (I don't hear anything before "across").

5.3:  I got the blues so bad, pretty mama, I can't see A way   

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, dj.  I made both of the changes you suggested.  I really love this track and don't know why exactly--maybe because it is NOT one of those that sounds like it could have been made yesterday.  Everything about it evokes a time that will never return.  Thanks again.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The only other cut from Blind Percy and his Blind Band is "Fourteenth Street Blues".  The band has the same sort of loosey-goosey feel as on "Coal River Blues", and the most audible guitarist is working out of G position in standard tuning again.  All of the phrasing is short, especially in the instrumental responses to each sung phrase, but the band hits it all together.



FULL INTRO SOLO

Fourteenth Street women don't mean no man no good
Fourteenth Street women don't mean no man no good
Go out and get full of liquor, raise sand all over the neighborhood

Let me tell you, mama, like the Dago told the Jew
Let me tell you, mama, like the Dago told the Jew,
"If you don't want me, a cinch I don't want you."

There's two kind of nations, I sure can't understand
There's two kind of nations, I sure can't understand
That's a Chinese woman, and a doggone Dago man

I was born in Texas, I were raised in Tennessee
I was born in Texas, I were raised in Tennessee
You missed a real brownie, when you picked all over me

I feel like jumping through the keyhole in your door
I feel like jumping through the keyhole in your door
Told me this mornin', you didn't want me no more

I feel like snapping my big gun in your face
I feel like snapping my big gun in your face
Had the nerve to tell me, 'nother man's got my place

SOLO

All best,
Johnm