Topic: Big Joe Williams Lyrics

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris.  I re-listened and everything you suggested checked out in terms of sound and sense.  I have made the changes, thanks!  I will keep listening to that bent bracketed phrase and see if I can make any headway on it.

[Rivers]

I hear "if you care to go" for the bent bracketed phrase

[Johnm]

After re-listening many times, I agree with you, Rivers--thanks!  The sound is good, and the syntax is less awkward than it was with "we" in there.  I have made the change.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Joe Williams' version of "Worry You Off My Mind" is taken from his Testament CD, "Big Joe Williams-Back To the Country". He is joined on the track by fiddler Jimmy Brown, and Joe accompanied himself out of Spanish tuning, as he he customarily did. The song bears a resemblance to Furry Lewis's first recorded version of "I Will Turn Your Money Green" but is even closer to Ishmon Bracey's "Suitcase Full Of Blues", especially in the way it is quick to the IV chord. I sure like the way that Big Joe worked with fiddlers. Here is "Worry You Off My Mind":



INTRO SOLO

Well, I'm goin' away, babe, to worry you off my mind
Well, I'm goin' away, babe, worry you off my mind
You know you keep me worried, bothered all the time

Said, the woman I'm lovin', she's so far away
Aw, the woman I'm lovin', she's so far away
You know I wish I was at home, with her this old very day

SOLO

If you may go, babe, leave a dollar here
If you may go, woman, leave a dollar here
But I know you don't love me, you don't feel your daddy's care

SOLO

Edited 10/8 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

There's something before "feel" in the last line.

Possibly "you don't" real fast and swallowed

But I know you don't love me, you don't feel your daddy's care

"Feel" sounds like "feed", hard to hear, but possible because of the "leave a dollar here" line.

[Johnm]

I re-listened, Blues Vintage, and you're right about that quick "you don't" in the tagline to the last verse. I'll make that correction.
Thanks!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Joe Williams' performance of "Mean Backstabber" also comes from his Testament CD, "Big Joe Williams-Back To The Country", and it's one of his few solo features on that album. He played it in Spanish tuning and hearing the freedom of his phrasing and the various places he goes on the guitar over the course of his rendition serve as reminders, were such necessary, of how many sounds in Spanish tuning he had, and continues to have, all to himself. His combination of an imitable picking hand and a huge imagination for his fretting hand was formidable. I'm not sure I have the end of the tagline of the second verse correct and would appreciate some help with it. I took "iron" to mean a gun, like a shooting iron, thinking he might have to put his lead mule down. Here is "Mean Backstabber": 



INTRO

It's a mean backstabber, woh, have stole my babe and gone
It's a mean blackstopper, Lord, stole my babe and gone
Aw, you can tell by that, man, I ain't gon' be here long

Well, my lead mule got cripple, woh, and my off mule died
Well, my lead mule crippled, wohohoh, and my off mule died
Well, you know I don't need nothin', buddy, woh, bring me a loaded iron

Mmm-ooo, he won't eat water (Spoken: won't drink water) woh, my old mule won't eat corn
Well, my old mule won't drink water, woh, boys, he won't eat corn
Lord, can I drive 'im, well, boys, and he won't go 'long?

SOLO

One of these old mornings, Lord, I'm gon' try and make it back down home
One of these old mornings, boys, I'm gon' try and make it back down home
I'm gon' leave Chicago, somebody here keep Big Joe wrong

CODA

Edited 10/10 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

   

[Blues Vintage]

I hear the "It's" also for 1.1 like 1.2

[Johnm]

I think you're right, Blues Vintage, and I will make that change, thanks.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Shake Your Boogie", Big Joe Williams was joined by Jimmy Brown on fiddle and Willie Lee Harris on harmonica. The band really hits the ground running--this would be a great dance number. Big Joe really kicks out the jams here, his solos after the second and third verses run wild. Here is "Shake Your Boogie":



INTRO SOLO

Well, I got a gal, she's long and slim, but when she start to boogie, too bad, Jim, come on and
REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and
Shake your boogie, 'cause your boogie's all right with me

SOLO

Well, mama, mama, mama, just look at sis, she's standin' in the back yard, tryin' to get it fixed, come on and
REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and
Shake your boogie, your boogie's all right with me

SOLO

Well, I got a gal, she's long and tall, when she start to boogie, man, she holler "Hot dog!", come on and
REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and
Shake your boogie, your boogie's all right with me

SOLO

I wanna buy me a bulldog, and my wife didn't know, I killed a man 'bout my sweet jellyroll
REFRAIN: Shake your boogie, come on and shake your boogie, come on and
Shake a little boogie, your boogie's all right with me

CODA

Edited 11/9 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

3.1 when she start to boogiein' have to boogie, man she holler "Hot dog!"

4.3 Shake your a little boogie, your boogie's all right with me

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Blues Vintage, I have made the changes.