Topic: Rosie Mae Moore Lyrics

[Norfolk Slim]

One of the few Bracey tracks yet to be pored over in this thread is Stranger Blues, recorded in February 1928.  I've been working on it a little tonight, and swiftly realised I'd have to figure out the lyrics for myself...

This one has a vocal by Rosie Mae Moore which is done few favours by the recording.  If you can get over the shrillness of the sound that has been captured though, I think she puts in a really good performance.  My (JSP) cd suggests that Bracey is on guitar and no one else is involved- but Moore does an aside in the intro "oh play it Mr Charley long time" which makes me wonder.  That said, the guitar patterns are fairly typical bracey.  Any clues on this would be welcome.

The lyrics, once you take the trouble to decipher them, are great- and typically braceyesque, being pretty maudlin and harsh in places.

I get the following, more or less, but am missing one key word in the second verse.  The best I've managed is "stallion" which seems to be a little contemporary.



And I'll feel tomorrow, like I feel today
And I'll feel tomorrow, like I feel today
before I stand to be mistreated girl
Ill take morphine and die

Now my ? got something, i's a brand new thing to me
Now my ? got something girl, 's a brand new thing to me
I just want to tell you it
sure sounds(?) good to me

Im a poor old stranger boys, and I just rode in your town
Im a poor old stranger girls I, just rode in your town
Lord I just came here
to ease my troublin' mind

Lord I'm so heartbroken but I cannot cry at all
Lord I'm so heartbroken girl I cannot cry at all
But if I find my man girls,
I'm gonna nail him to the wall

Im a poor old stranger, and I just rode in your town
Im a poor old stranger girl, and I just rode in your town
Lord if I find my man,
I'm gonna nail him to the wall

[Blind Arthur]

Personally I believe it is Charlie McCoy who on that same date recorded "Ha Ha Blues", "School Girl Blues" and "Staggerin? Blues" with Rosie Mae Moore and she encourages him just the same ("Oh play it, Mister Charlie"); in one verse of Staggerin? , after a long great solo by him, she sings "I love you, Mister Charlie, honey, God knows I do".
I?ve always loved that bit

[banjochris]

Definitely McCoy playing on "Stranger Blues," both aurally and in B&GR. The aside at the beginning is "Oh play it Mr. Charlie, long time and a heap of it."

1.1 and 1.2 the missing word is "daddy's" and it should be "it's" a brand new thing to me
1.3 I think that word is "stays"

3.1 should be "girls" instead of boys, I think and in this verse and the last should be "rolled" into town instead of "rode."
Chris

[Norfolk Slim]

Thanks- funny how the obvious words sometimes elude you when you are listening too hard.

With regard to the actual playing, I can only hear one instrument in the recording- are we saying that Bracey wasnt involved at all?  

Edited to say that Stefan Wirz's discography says Charley McCoy alone.  Which means that these lyrics probably dont belong in this thread at all!

[frankie]

Mad Dog Blues - Mary Butler (Rosie Mae Moore)
Actual pitch: G (f)
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Read my search warrant lady, I'm just looking for my man
Read my search warrant lady, I'm just looking for my man
I got my razor in my bosom and my pistol in my hand

I'm just like a mad dog, I snaps at everything I meet
I'm just like a mad dog, I snaps at everything I meet
But if I find my man, he sure is going to be my meat

I'm going to cut him with my razor, I'm going to use my pistol too
I'm going to cut him with my razor, I'm going to use my pistol too
Now they can call the undertaker to put your last clean shirt on you

I'm going to kill my man then I'm going to kill myself
I'm going to kill my man then I'm going to kill myself
I'd rather we both to be dead : than to see him with someone else

[frankie]

Staggering Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore
Actual pitch: B-flat
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk
'cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk
'cause I'm goin' away to leave you, I'm comin' back no more

Can you tell me pretty papa, where did you stay last night?
spoken:  Where did you stay?
Tell me pretty papa, where did you stay last night?
He said "It's none of your business, mama, so I treat you right."

'cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk
spoken:  You know I ain't drunk.
'cause you see me staggerin', daddy don't you think I'm drunk
I got my eye on the shotgun, the other one is on your trunk

spoken:  Oh, play it Mr. Charlie.

Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do
Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do
But the day you try to quit me, rider, that's the day you die

Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do
Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do
But the day you try to quit me, Charlie, that's the day you die

[frankie]

Ha-Ha Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore
Actual pitch: B-flat
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Gee, I'm feelin' kinda lonesome
Gee, I'm feelin' kinda blue
My daddy quit me, lord, I don't know what to do

He fooled me right from the start
Since he left he broke my heart
But let me tell you, I surely do feel blue

This morning I received a note
This was the answer I wrote

Now old man don't sing no blues to me
I'm just as good as any girl can be
You even told me right to my face
That you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways
I'm goin' on back to my baby again

So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa
Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

Now look man, don't [you turn away]
Sick and tired of your dirty ways
'cause you even told me right to my face
That you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways
I'm goin' on back to my baby again

So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa
Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

Oh, look man, you may go your way
I'm sick and tired of your dirty ways
'cause you even told me right to my face
That you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your lowdown ways
I'm goin' on back to my baby again

So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa
Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

[frankie]

School Girl Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore
Actual pitch: B-flat
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Now tell [me] little daddy what you got on your worried mind
Now tell me little daddy what you got on your worried mind
Tell your little mama your troubles, swear I'll tell you mine

I'll [] on your carriage, daddy and I'll [check] your line
I'll [] on your carriage, daddy and I'll [check] your line
I just stopped to tell you another man is got your [job]

It's hard to love a man when you know you really love
And it's hard to love a man, girls, when you know you really love
Lord, I can't quit him and I sure can't let him alone

Early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, that brownskin man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule

Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, that brownskin man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Rosie Mae Moore had one recording session, in Memphis on February 3, 1928, that yielded four titles that were released, on all of which she was accompanied by Charlie McCoy on guitar. For "Ha Ha Blues", Charlie McCoy played the song as a somewhat mystifying one-chorder, out of G position in standard tuning. The song is essentially the same number that Pink Anderson and Simmie Dooley recorded as "Gonna Tip Out Tonight". I'd very much appreciate help with any of the blank spots or other places that I have wrong. Here is "Ha Ha Blues":



INTRO

Gee, I'm feelin', kinda lonesome, gee, I'm feelin', kinda blue
My daddy quit me, Lord, I don't know what to do
He fooled me right from the sta-hart, since he left, he's broke my heart
But let me tell you, I sure, did, do feel blue

This morning I received a note. this was the answer I wrote:

Go on, old man, don't sing those blues to me. I'm just as blue as any girl can be
You even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways, I'm goin' on back to my baby again
So, come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

SOLO

Go on, old man, and you, go your way, sick and tired of your dirty ways
Said you even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways, I'm goin' on back to my babe again
So, right on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

SOLO

Go on, old man you may go your way, I'm sick and tired of your dirty ways
Said you even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place
I'm gettin' tired of your low-down ways, I'm goin' on back to my baby again
So, come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha

Edited 7/27 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and banjochris

All best,
Johnm 
 



 

[Blues Vintage]

So come in 'cause me and you can't love, papa, I'm tipin' out tonight,

Maybe the second time-  come on in

[Blues Vintage]

1.4 But let me tell you, I sure, Lord, -did- do feel blue      lose the blues?

2.1 Go on, -old- man

4.2 But -said- you even told me

[banjochris]

The missing bit is similar to what Pink and Sammie sing, but the beginning is different. I think she's singing:

Come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight...

I think the second time it sounds more like

Right on in...

confident of the "you can't bluff" part, which of course Pink and Sammie rhyme with "strut my stuff." And there is an "I'm" each time after "papa" but it's a bit hard to hear.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage and Chris. I wasn't particularly close on some of those lines and might not ever have gotten them, no matter how much listening I did. Thanks!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Rosie Mae Moore recorded "School Girl Blues" at the same session as "Ha-Ha Blues", and Charlie McCoy once again accompanied her in G position, standard tuning. I'd appreciate help with any blank places or places I've gotten the lyrics wrong. Verse two I'm barely hearing at all. Here is "School Girl Blues":



INTRO SOLO

Now, tell me, little daddy, what you've got on your worried mind
Now, tell me, little daddy, what you've got on your worried mind
Tell your little mama your trouble, swear I'll tell you mine

Hearts of stone you're carryin', daddy, and I shook your love
Hearts of stone you're carryin', daddy, and I shook your love
I just come to tell you, another man is got your job

SOLO

You're hard, love a man when you know you really love
And it's hard to love a man, girls, when you know you really love
Lord, I can't quit him and I sure can't, let him alone

Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, that brown-skinned man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule

INTERLUDE

Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school
Lord, that brown-skinned man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule

Edited 7/28 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm










 

[Blues Vintage]

Now, tell me, -little- daddy,

Hearts of stone you're carryin' daddy and I shook your love
Hearts of stone you're carryin' daddy and I shook your love
I just goin' -come- to tell you, another man is got your job


(And it's) -ain't it- hard to love a man, girls,

Lord, I can't quit him and I (don't care,) -sure can't- let him alone