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Author Topic: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics  (Read 707 times)

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Offline Blues Vintage

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Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« on: February 10, 2021, 06:09:54 AM »
Poor Coal Passer


Frank “Springback” James – Vocals, Piano
Willie Bee James – Guitar

Chicago, Illinois
December 21, 1936

Piano in G





A poor coal loader and in the mine
Slave for my woman 'til I must goes blind
Now I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine
Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind

I work so hard from dawn to dusk
Can't find a woman that I can trust
Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine
Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind

I work so from six to six
Kidman waitin’ to get his business fixed
Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine
Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind

I work every day in the mine
Come home at night you got my best friend cryin’
Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine
Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind

The food you cook a hound dog sick
Woman I swear you's a no good chick
Cause I'm a poor coal loader way down in the mine
Slave for you woman I almost goin’ stone blind
« Last Edit: February 10, 2021, 06:30:35 AM by Harry »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2021, 06:14:07 AM »
Rusty Can Blues


Frank “Springback” James – Vocals, Piano
Willie Bee James – Guitar

Chicago, Illinois
May 15, 1935

Piano in C





Mama you don’t do nothin’ but lay ‘round on your rusty can
Mama you don’t do nothin’ but lay ‘round on your rusty can
But you’ve got to get up here if you want me for your man

Now you told me easter wanted a nice long evening gown
Now you told me easter wanted a nice long evening gown
Why that’s anymore I do for you all you want to clown around

Just one or two drinks of whiskey and you just can’t keep it still
Just one or two drinks of whiskey and you just can’t keep it still
Cause your love comes down and you goes up ‘gainst my will

Now I told you woman so many times before
Now I told you woman so many times before
‘Bout the no good men that is hangin’ ‘round your door

You wanna show your D.B. ring I’m a poor hard workin’ man
You wanna show your D.B. ring I’m a poor hard workin’ man
The next time I catch you wrong gon' get on your rusty can
« Last Edit: February 11, 2021, 06:14:55 AM by Harry »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2021, 06:21:45 AM »
Thanks for posting those, Harry. A couple of suggestions for lyrics:

   In the end of the refrain for "Poor Coal Passer", STONE blind

In "Rusty Can"

   In 2.1 and 2.2, "EASTER" rather than "eastern"

   In 5.1 and 5.2 "HARD-workin'" rather than "heart workin'"

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2021, 06:34:17 AM »
Agree with all of them. Thanks.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2021, 11:28:41 AM »
Hi Harry, when entering "Rusty Can Blues" in weeniepedia and re-listening, I think the tagline to the last verse is:

   The next time I catch you wrong, GONNA GET on your rusty can

Offline banjochris

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2021, 01:27:23 PM »
Agreed on that one, John, I was just listening to it myself.

I have never heard this performer; he's good and I like Willie B. James' guitar. Springback has an interesting habit of changing chords early, which seems a little odd to do under his singing – doesn't sound bad, just different.
Chris

Offline Johnm

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2021, 06:20:36 PM »
I agree with you, Chris, I quite like James' singing and playing, and I'm always impressed when an accompanist, like Willie Bee James in this instance, is not thrown by the fact that the singer being accompanied likes to phrase short and hit chord changes early, as you noted. In such an instance, if the accompanist goes ahead and phrases "normally", they have the power to make the singer sound really amateurish. Willie Bee James doesn't do that here--he listens well and sticks with Frank James all the way, helping get really nice takes.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2021, 06:14:18 AM »
Hi Harry, when entering "Rusty Can Blues" in weeniepedia and re-listening, I think the tagline to the last verse is:

   The next time I catch you wrong, GONNA GET on your rusty can

Yes, I agree. But it sounds to me like gon' get.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Frank “Springback” James Lyrics
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2021, 08:23:45 AM »
I agree with your suggestion, Harry, and made the change in weeniepedia to reflect that.

 


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