Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics

Arthur Weston Lyrics

(1/3) > >>

Johnm:
Hi all,
Arthur Weston's "Uncle Sam Called Me" comes from his Testament CD, "Arthur Weston-Pea Vine Whistle". Weston was recorded by Pete Welding in St. Louis, where he (Weston) resided. The program is roughly divided in half into Weston's solo numbers and ones on which he is joined by Big Joe Williams and a harmonica player. I tend to prefer the solo numbers, just because Big Joe's musical presence was so powerful that I think he effaces somewhat the distinctive personal aspects of Arthur Weston's music on the tunes they played together. For "Uncle Sam Called Me", Arthur Weston accompanied himself out of Spanish tuning, and his sound in that tuning has a very strong Mississippi flavor. Here is "Uncle Sam Called Me":



INTRO

Yes, Uncle Sam sure done called me, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go
REFRAIN: Yes, Uncle Sam sure done called me, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go
Yes, he have called me to the United States Army, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go

Yes, Uncle Sam called me this mornin', boy, when the clock was strikin' four, he says, "Fall outa your bunk, boys, and get back out in the rain and snow."
REFRAIN: Yes, he sure have called me, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go
Yes, he have called me to the United States Army, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go

Uncle Sam sure done called me, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go
REFRAIN: Uncle Sam sure have called me, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go
Yes, he have called me to the United States Army, yes, boys, you know I sure is got to go

Yes, you know I had a little woman, her name was little Pearlie Mae, "Uncle Sam done called me to the United States Army, baby, you know I got to go and stay.
REFRAIN: Yes, he sure have called me, yes, Pearlie Mae, you know I got to go
Yes, he have called me to the United States Army, yes, Pearlie Mae, you know I got to go."

"Yes, I'm gon' tell you one more thing, Pearlie Mae, I know you sure ain't gonna like, Uncle Sam done called me to the United States Army, I don't know whether I will ever get back.
REFRAIN: Yes, he sure have called me, yes, Pearlie Mae, you know I got to go
Yes, he have called me to the United States Army, yes, Pearlie Mae, you know I got to go."

Well, Mother begin to scream, scream and holler, sayin', "Lord, have mercy on my child."
My Mother begin to scream, scream and holler, sayin', "Lord, have mercy on my child."
I told her, "Hush, hush now, Mother, don't you cry, 'cause you, knowed Uncle Sam knew I was born to die."

Lord, look at that big gun yonder. Man, you know it's settin' way out in the west
Lord, just look at that big gun yonder. Man, you know it's settin' way out in the west
But whenever you get in touch with Uncle Sam, boy, he gon' learn you all about the rest

CODA

Edited 2/26 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage, Johnm and banjochris

All best,
Johnm     
 

Blues Vintage:

2.1 Roll Fall outa your bunk

5.1 the end of the line sounds different but can't give a decent suggestion

The laste verse: I have to re-listen later

Johnm:
Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I got the corrections in 2.1 and 5.1. Like you, I don't know how I would change the opening of the first two lines of the last verse.

banjochris:
I'm hearing 5.1 the way John has it now –
last verse I think is "Lord, just look at that big gun yonder..." with no "just" the first time. I'm not hearing "moon" there.
Chris

Blues Vintage:
I heard "gun" on the first listen too but hesitated (about the sense).

Edited to add: makes perfect sense as it's a song about the army.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page