Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
meredithanthraxelrod:
This is a Walter Coleman record. I'd love to get all the words off this! I have some additional clarity, but I would love help figuring out the remainder of them. I changed them below and noted most of my changes.
--- Quote from: lebordo on April 17, 2005, 12:58:13 PM ---Finally, here's the earliest version of Mama Let Me Lay It On You listed in B&GR, Walter Coleman's Feb 1936 recording. Again, underlined portions are best guesses, so ideas are welcome.
Mama Let Me Lay It On You - Walter Coleman acc. own g and unknown 2nd g
(Mx 90611-C, recorded Feb 8 1936; issued on De 7157)
(Inst intro)
A mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
Then I'm goin' up stairs
T' turn your lamp down low
An' if your bed breaks down
See me pilin' on the floor
No it's a mama let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Mama let me lay it on you (uhh-huhh)
Give everything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
I'm goin' to buy you a diamond ring
A baby see you shake that thing
I'd give everything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give EVERYTHING in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
I'm goin' to buy ya (a) brand new bed
So ya can pin? it through your KIDMAN's head <--- was "thin man's head"
I'd give everything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give everything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
Boy if you ever wake up
ICY COLD IN HAND <---- was "I'se sick holding hands"
Feel for your midnight rider
Piling with another woman's man
Now j' baby let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Darlin' let me lay it on yo (mmm-humm)
Give anything in the whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
___________ and / in a dollar
A-mama six months ain't long
Any woman can get a man now days
__[incipatin']??____ ain't been out[/u] long
Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
It's mama pull off your dress
And put on your nightgown
I got a funny feelin' baby in my back
Mama won't you PILE IT down
Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you
(Instrumental to end)
...
... (spoken) Ahh, play it till I get back to George Street
...
... (spoken) Ahh, stomp that thing
...
--- End quote ---
Johnm:
Hi Meredith,
I think the first line of the fourth verse from the end is:
NINETY-SIX CENTS AIN'T a dollar
I'll keep listening to the rest.
All best,
Johnm
Stuart:
Hi Meredith:
I did a little listening and searching and I found this which you might have seen already:
https://tinyurl.com/y9z3z638
I took the hint and listened to Georgia White's reworking of the song:
https://tinyurl.com/y8jtfk7v
While not Walter Coleman's original, I think that it might be helpful to give it a listen. Naturally, we want an accurate transcription of Coleman's version. However, after listening to Georgia White, where John has "NINETY-SIX CENTS AIN'T a dollar," I believe Coleman is singing "NOW SIX BITS AIN'T a dollar."
Also: "So ya can pin it TO your KIDMAN's head"
Like John, I'll keep listening.
Johnm:
Yup, you have that line right, Stuart.
All best,
Johnm
Johnm:
Hi all,
It seemed like a good idea to try and get the remaining titles by this Cincinnati musician who recorded under so many different names. He recorded "Mama Keep Your Yes Ma'am Clean" at a session in Richmond, Indiana on September 4, 1930, and was backed on the title and the remainder of the session by James Robinson on violin (James Cole?), Ralph Miller on piano in E and surprisingly, Bayless Rose on guitar, playing out of F position in standard tuning. I was not aware that Bayless Rose had done any recording other than his solo titles. The song seems pretty clearly to be derived from Luke Jordan's "Won't You Be Kind", recorded about nine months earlier. The first four bars of each verse bear a melodic similarity to Leroy Carr's "Papa's On The Housetop", too. If any more proof was needed that Sweet Papa Tadpole and Walter Cole were the same person, Sweet Papa Tadpole recorded the very same title with Tampa Red and the unknown pianist very close to the same time, and the voices of the singers on the two tracks are identical. I"m transcribing this track first because it is easier to hear. Here is "Mama Keep Your Yes Ma'am Clean":
INTRO SOLO
Now, your mama found a jacket, it was laying in the grass, now, it's 'long come a bumblebee stung her yes, ma'am, yes
REFRAIN: Now, won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Oh now I heared a mighty rumblin', under the ground, it must be the devil turnin' Tony's mammy 'round
REFRAIN: A-won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Oh now it's mama, mama, mama, won't you look at sis? Out in the back yard, mama, a-doin' Chicago Twist
REFRAIN: Oh now, won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Oh now the preacher's in the pulpit jumpin' up and down, say your mammy's in the basement hollerin' "Pass the liquor 'round."
REFRAIN: Now, won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Now, your mammy's in the back yard, picking up chips, now it's along come a Jersey cow a-shakin' up her hips
REFRAIN: Now, won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Oh now the farmer and the hobo was playin' in the grass, now the farmer stuck the pitchfork, hobo's yas-yas-yas
REFRAIN: Now, won't you be kind to me? I'll be kind to thee, all this time with me, drinkin' wine with me
To be kind to me, it's mama, keep your yes ma'am clean
Edited 1/11 to pick up corrections from dj and Johnm
Edited 1/15 to pick up corrections from Johnm
All best,
Johnm
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