Topic: Big Bill Broonzy Lyrics

[uncle bud]

Big Bill recorded it with the State Street Boys before cousin Sam, so maybe Sam's version will shed light. Available below.

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[Rivers]

Excellent Andrew, thanks very much.

I hear "That's different in some women I know". I think that's what he's singing in the State Street Boys version, with "That's..." pronounced "Thar's..". I will mak-a-zee-change.

[tseaver]

Just my take:

PAPA'S GETTIN' HOT


_ Rose ___on my shoulder
_  Note __ in my hand
papa begins a'thinkin'
mama's got another man

....

you never_  tease _me
you never_ do _
[line left blank for whatever reason]

[cru423]

 I Can't Be Satisfied



Now listen here my baby, tell you what I want you to do
Want you treat me mama, like I do you

Well I can't be satisfied, and I can't be satisfied
And I can't mistreat her, not to please nobody's mind

Now I love my sweety, tell you the reason why
My baby got something, to satisfy my mind

refrain

Lord starvation's in my kitchen, rent sign's on my door
Good girl told me, she can't use me no more

refrain

I'm leaking at the heart, bleeding at the nose
Good girl told me, she can't use me no more

refrain

Got on my high‑cut stockings, low-cut shoes
Mama I ain't bettin' what I sure could lose 

refrain

Now look a‑here boys, ain't this rich
I got to pay my wife, for everything I get

refrain

[bird to whistle]

Papa's Gettin' Hot

I have love you in the parlor,
love you in the park.
I loved you in the moonlight,
love you in the dark.

Can't you warm up to me? hey hey
Can't you warm up to me? hey hey

Your papa's getting hot,
mama's love is getting cold.

Cause when you used to love me,
it filled me through and through.
You don't even kiss me,
like you used to do.

Can't you warm up to me? hey hey
Can't you warm up to me? hey hey

Your papa's getting hot,
mama's love is getting cold.

Head rose on my shoulder,
note in my hand.
Pop begin to think,
mama's got another man.

Can't you warm up to me? hey hey
Can't you warm up to me? hey hey

Your papa's getting hot,
Mama's love is getting cold.

It's hot in the country,
hot in town.
sweat rolling off you,
from your head on down.

Can't you warm up to me? hey hey
Can't you warm up to me? hey hey

Your papa's getting hot,
your mama's love is getting cold.

Say, you never tease me,
you never do

Can't you warm up to me? hey hey
Can't you warm up to me? hey hey

Your papa's getting hot,
mama's love is getting cold.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Bill recorded "Frankie and Johnny" in his Folkways period.  This version is currently available on "Big Bill Broonzy-Trouble In Mind", Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40131.  Big Bill backed himself out of D position in standard tuning here, and sounds to be flat-picking, playing a relatively simple boom-chang accompaniment.  God, could he sing!  He sings what is probably the first melody for this song that most of us heard, the one that Aaron Copland would have used if he'd done an arrangement of it for a ballet or symphony.



Frankie and Johnny was lovers, oh, how they could love
They sworn to be true to each other, true as the skies above
It was her man, 'cause he's doin' her wrong

Frankie went down to the corner, to get her a stein of beer
She aksed the big old fat bartender, "Have my lovin' Johnny been here?
He was my man, but he's doin' me wrong."

Said, "I ain't gonna tell you no story, I ain't gonna tell you no lie
He was here 'bout an hour ago with that gal they call Nellie Blye, 'nd
He was your man, but he's doin' you wrong."

Frankie went down to the hotel, she didn't go down there for fun
Under her long red kimono she carried her .44 gun
Lookin' for the man that had done her wrong

Johnny pulled off his Stetson hat, hollered, "Now, baby, don't shoot!"
Frankie pressed her finger on the trigger and that gun went "rrrroooolietoo"
She killed her man, 'cause he done her wrong

This is the end of my story, this is the end of my song
Frankie's down in the county jail, poor thing, down there all alone
She killed her man, 'cause he done her wrong

All best,
Johnm

[Mr.OMuck]

Glad you mentioned BBB's singing John. Its the wildest, free-est, craziest vocalizing out there..totally original. Anyone playing this music should be paying as much attention to BBB's singing as to anyone's guitar playing.

[uncle bud]

I agree that Big Bill was a fantastic singer, though I confess to thinking he overdid it in some postwar recordings, laying on the gospel gravy a bit thick sometimes. And I really love a lot of those postwar recordings.

But what voice to go with his killer thumb.

[Mr.OMuck]

Thats funny , I think of gospel gravy, (very good btw, original?) as heavily vibrato laden. BBB 's voice is notably absent of vibrato if memory serves. What he does do is draw out phrases till you think they'll snap. It always feels to me as though he's searching for the "right" feeling by doing that.

[uncle bud]

Not mine, I first heard the phrase from Johnm, and it stuck for me.

I think of it as more melismatic, with some other vocal gymnastics thrown in. Too many notes, like the feller said in Amadeus. 

Anyway, Big Bill is not a serious offender, IMO, and it's more about stretching things out with him, as you say, but occasionally he goes too far for my tastes.

[Laura]

I've always found BBB's vocals to be very lovely - sorry for the lame adjective but that's how I feel

Anyway I came here looking for the lyrics to "Worrying You Off My Mind" - Couldn't find anything so I'll write down what I can - need some help with the first and last verse in particular.  Please let me know any corrections and I'll edit them in. Thank you.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worrying You Off My Mind - Big Bill Broonzy

I made a long day, walkin' 'long and crying,
I lost my baby, can't be satisfied,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, cos I'm just worryin' you off my mind

When ya get in trouble, haven't got a friend,
Just take it easy, they'll need your help again,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, cos I'm just worryin' you off my mind

Now it ain't hard, to live alone,
Just hard to be married, and break up your home,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, cos I'm just worryin' you off my mind

But that's alright, that's alright for you,
You need me some morning, when I won't need you,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, cos I'm just worryin' you off my mind

*guitar break*

When I was down, lost my wife and my friends,
When I got my money, they all come back again,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, I'm just worryin' you off my mind

(One mornin') pretty women, runnin' hand in hand,
When they raise no squabble, takin' some woman('s) man,
So when I'm gone, gal take it easy, cos I'm just worryin' you off my mind

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Rivers]

For the first verse I hear "I made a long day,"

I think he sings "gal" rather than "girl" throughout in the tagline.

Last verse, for line 1, I have no alternate hearing, so I think you're right.
Line 2 I hear "When they raise no squabble"

[Laura]

Thanks Rivers, that sounds good.  I'll add it in now.

[The Gloth]

Hello, I'm trying to catch the lyrics for "Pneumonia Blues". Here is what I got so far, could you help me ?



Pneumonia Blues

I'm feeling sick and bad, my head is hurting too,
Go and get the doctor so he can tell me just what to do
Because I keep on aching, yes I ache both night and day
yeah, doctor doctor, please drive this old pneumonia  way

I have got the pneumonia, I've got it in both my sides
My friends treat me so bad 'til I just can't keep from crying
poor me I keep aching, yes I ache both night and day
yeah, doctor doctor, please drive this old pneumonia  way

I have used Vicks bags, I've used everything my friends said
Now, I b'lieve I'll drink a hot toddy, and go to bed
Because I keep on aching, yes I ache both night and day
yeah, doctor doctor, please drive this old pneumonia  way

My friends told my wife, they had did all they could
They say "put him in a hospital before he ruins the neighbourhood",
I keep on aching, yes I ache both night and day
yeah, doctor doctor, please drive this old pneumonia  way

The doctor said my fever was a hundred and three
The nurse said "put him in a private room that's where he ought to be
Because he keeps on aching", yes I ache both night and day
yeah, doctor doctor, please drive this old pneumonia  way

[Johnm]

Hi The Gloth,
Here's what I'm hearing:

   1.4 Yeah, doctor, doctor, please drive THIS OLD PNEUMONIA 'WAY

   2.2 My FRIENDS TREAT me so bad 'til I just can't keep from crying
   2.4 Yeah, doctor, doctor, please drive THIS OLD PNEUMONIA 'WAY

   3.1 I have ? , I DONE USED EVERYTHING MY FRIENDS SAID
   3.2 NOW, I B'LIEVE I'LL TAKE A HOT TODDY, AND GO TO BED
   3.4 Yeah, doctor, doctor, please drive THIS OLD PNEUMONIA 'WAY

   4.1 My friends TOLD my wife they had did all they could
   4.2 They say, "Put him in a hospital before HE RUINS the neighborhood."
   4.4 Yes, doctor, doctor, please drive THIS OLD PNEUMONIA 'WAY

   5.4 Yeah, doctor, doctor, please drive THIS OLD PNEUMONIA 'WAY

I'll attach Big Bill's performance so that other people can figure out the middle of that first line to verse three.



All best,
Johnm