Topic: Otto Virgial Lyrics

[JohnLeePimp]

One of my favourite bluesmen is Otto Virgial, who cut four sides in Chicago in either 1925 or 1935 (the latter date seems more likely, since Bluebird records was established in 1932).

His "Seven Year Itch blues" is a great piece with tormented singing and fairly cohesive lyrics, it might be one of the first pieces to synonymise the term (which means scabies) with unease and restlessness:

I woke up this mornin', clock was striking four (x2)
I was itchin? so bad had to pack my things and go

(I got the?) seven year itch baby, I'm going 'cross town to scratch
Seven year itch baby, going 'cross town to scratch
Now if I don't quit itchin?, baby I won?t be back

I?m goin? up on the mountain, I?m gonna root just like a hog
Goin? up on the mountain, I?m gonna root just like a hog
I?m gonna drink muddy water, sleep in a hollow log

Hmmmm x2

I?m going to drink muddy water
Sleep in a hollow log

I?m goin? to the river, sit right on the ground x2
If I got the itch too bad... jump overboard and drown

My mamma she told me, when i started running ?round
My mamma told me, when i started running ?round
Say son you may fly high but some day you gotta come down

Hey, ain't gonna sing no more x2

Now if I don't quit itchin'
...pack my things and go

[Johnm]

Thanks for posting this one, John Lee.  I had never heard it before.  In terms of his treatment of time, Otto Virgial definitely sounds like he's from the mid-30s rather than the mid-20s.  He sounds like he has a bit of that "Hernando A" sound, too.  Like Garfield Akers and Robert Wilkins on "Get Away Blues", he avoids going to the V chord at all, and from beginning to end on "Seven Year Itch Blues" just rocks back and forth between the I and the IV7 chord.  For more on the "Hernando A" sound, go to http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3474.0 . 
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Otto Virgial had one day in the studio, I believe, October 31, 1935, in Chicago.  One of his cuts from that day was "Got The Blues About Rome", for which he accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning.  He has a wonderful signature lick for the song, and the it gains in strength and effectiveness as he repeats it over the course of the rendition.  He eschews a V7 chord for the song, returning to the IV chord where you would expect the V7 chord to fall.  Something about the sound of the song is vaguely reminiscent of Rube Lacy's "Ham Hound Crave", though this song is not obviously derivative of that one.  Otto Virgial sings the repeat line of each of his verses, over the IV chord, with a kind of special intensity or urgency that is really exciting--all the more so for seeming slightly out of control.  Here is "Got The Blues About Rome":



Oh, I woke up this morning, same thing on my mind
I woke up this morning, same thing on my mind
Didn't have nobody, jump me up and down

Well, I got the blues about Rome, boy, Rome is not my home
Got the blues about Rome, boy, Rome is not my home
Don't worry about me, baby, I'll be there 'fore long

Oh, sometime I think my girl's too sweet to die
Sometime I think my girl's too sweet to die
Then again I think she ought to be buried 'live

Well, I'm just standin' here, wonderin', would a matchbox hold my clothes?
Standin' here, wonderin', matchbox hold my clothes?
Ain't got so many matches, got so far to go

Well, I've got nineteen women, and I b'lieve I want one more
I've got nineteen women, b'lieve I want one more
That one more suit me, gonna let that nineteen go

Well, I feel like jumpin' through the old keyhole in your door
I feel like jumpin' through the keyhole in your door
"When you jump through here, you sure won't jump no more."

Edited 6/17 to pick up correction from uncle bud

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Otto Virgial's "Bad Notion Blues" was played out of E position in standard tuning, as was "Got The Blues About Rome".  "Bad Notion Blues" has a bit more rhythmic drive, though, as well as rhythmic tapping on either the top of Virgial's guitar or upon the floor.  Here is "Bad Notion Blues":



Oh, I woke up this mornin', sure was feelin' bad
Oh, I woke up this mornin', sure was feelin' bad
Thought about the good times that I, most that I once have had

Well, I had a notion this mornin', oh, and I b'lieve I will
Had a notion this mornin', baby, I b'lieve I will
B'lieve I make my home up on Dago Hill

Oh, I b'lieve I'll leave here, babe, before it be too late
Oh, I b'lieve I'll leave here, babe, before it be too late
For my woman I love, she just won't wait

Oh, my Mama she told me, ain't been no great long time
Oh, my Mama she told me, ain't been no great long time
Oh, some of these mornin's (guitar finishes line)

Oh, I'm goin' way 'way just to wear you off my mind
Oh, I'm goin' way 'way just, wear you off my mind
For you keep me worried and bothered all the time

Oh, Lord have mercy on my worried soul
Oh, Lord have mercy on my worried soul
I wouldn't mistreat my woman for no, 't'ain't nobody, no

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Little Girl In Rome" is probably Otto Virgial's best-known song, if any of his songs can be accorded that status.  He once again accompanies himself out of E position in standard tuning, but the form for this song is more unconventional, with each stanza consisting of just two lines, with the second line an abbreviated version of the first.  Virgial has a way of hitting his open sixth string with a steady stream of eighth notes under his singing, giving it almost a drum-like effect that is a great sound and really exciting.  I'm not at all sure that I have the word in bent brackets in the sixth verse right, and would very much appreciate correction or corroboration.  Here is Otto Virgial's rendition of "Little Girl In Rome":



I got a letter this mornin', from that girl in Rome, says she got somethin' for me, she gon' bring it back home
Got a letter this mornin', from that girl in Rome

I went down to the depot, I act like some child, I said, "Ticket Agent, what train must I ride?"
Got the worried blues and I can't be satisfied

Well, I'm going way 'way to, wear you off my mind,'cause you keep me worried and bothered all the time
I'm goin' way 'way to wear you off my mind

I got something to tell you, just before I go, it ain't nothin, baby, turn your lamp down low
I've got something to tell you, just before I go

I went down to the railroad, I looked down the track, thought about my little good girl, come a-easin' on back
I went down to the railroad, I looked down the track

Yond' come my baby, comin' down the line, with her headlight just shinin' like, coaches all behind
Yond' come my baby, comin' down the line

Well, I had one good girl, and she strayed, went away, I didn't think my baby treat me this a-way
I didn't think my baby treat me this a-way

Now, if I could holler like some mountain jack, I would go on the mountain and call my baby back
Now, if I could holler like a mountain jack

Mama, she caught the Southern, my Daddy rode the blinds.  He said, "Baby, you can't quit me, ain't no need of you tryin'."
Said, "Baby, can't quit me, ain't no need of ---"

Edited 6/23 to pick up correction from jpeters609

All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Hi John - In "Got the Blues About Rome" I think the first verse, last line may be:

1.3 Didn't have nobody t' jump me up and down

[Johnm]

Thanks uncle bud, you're right for sure.  I'll fix that.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[jpeters609]

Hi John,
In "Little Girl In Rome," I believe the sixth verse, first line, may be:

"Yond' come my baby, comin' down the line, with her headlight just shinin' like, coaches all behind."

Sounds like that to me, and it makes sense what with the train and all.

-Jeff

[Johnm]

I think you're right on, Jeff, thanks so much!  I have made the change.  It's nice when the sound matches the sense.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm