SENTENCE BLIND MUSICIAN FOR ASSAULT - Columbia, S. C., July 17. - (A. N. P.): Simmie Dooley, blind musician, has been sentenced to serve two months in the State penitentiary having been found guilty of a charge of assault and battery. Dooley's chief instrument is a guitar which he plays so well that while being brought to jail he earned nearly ten dollars from people along the way - Norfolk Journal and Guide, July 19, 1924
I think I've got most of it, but the words in [ ] are unclear to my ears.
If you notice anything else wrong, please let me know. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!
Lyrics so far:
I?m goin in [hand?] can?t get nothing here Goin in [hand?] can?t get nothing here I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel no where
I can?t have but to worry how my good friend done And have but to worry how my good friend done And my money [bout?] a dollar now won?t give me nickel one
Mother told me times and times again Mama told me times and times again Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend
Lord look down on poor me pity my worried case Lord look down on me pity my worried case Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways
Yes give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad Yes give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad Cause you know I want a friend like the one heart Adam had
« Last Edit: July 11, 2020, 07:42:02 AM by Johnm »
This is how I hear so far. I hear DONE in one line then GONE in the next. He's also not saying heart, he's kinda saying "that" but with an H. I've heard that type of slang before. Hope this helps and doesn't add confusion.
I cant help but to worry how my good friend Done Cant help but to worry how my good friend Gone And my money BY THE dollar, now wont give me nickel one
Mah-mah told me times and times again Ah Mama told me times and times again Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend
Yes give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad Yes give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad Cause you know I want a friend like the one that Adam had
I Can't make out that word in the first verse, but I have some minor corrections for the last verse:
JES' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad JES' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad Cause you know I want a friend like the one WHAT Adam had
On further thought, I wonder if Slim isn't singing "I cant help but to worry how my good friend GONE" in both of the first two lines of the second verse. I assume his good friend who's gone is his luck.
I?m cold in hand can?t get nothing here Cold in hand can?t get nothing here I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel nowhere
I cant help but to worry how my good friend done Can't help but to worry how my good friend done Had my money by the dollar now won?t give me nickel one
Mama told me times and times again Yes mama told me times and times again Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend
Lord look down on poor me pity my worried case Lord look down on me pity my worried case Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways
Jes' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad Jes' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad Cause you know I want a friend like the one what Adam had
« Last Edit: July 28, 2011, 05:30:14 PM by tomfeldmann »
Pretty sure he's singing DONE both times in lines 1 and 2 of the second verse, which makes a lot more sense when the third line is (as I'm also pretty sure it is):
HAD my money by the dollar, now won't give me nickel one. Chris
Rivers, thanks, after careful review I have to agree with all the changes and this is basically the same as what Tom posted above. I used studio monitors. Although I can clearly hear the word GONE in verse two, line 2, I have to say, this should likely have been pronounced DONE and this could be a slight mistake he made when singing it. I agree with JM saying the "cold in hand" was the gem. I also clearly hear "Had my money" with these monitors. This also helped me have a lot more respect for this Ga artist. Great stuff!
FINAL VERSION
I?m cold in hand can?t get nothing here Cold in hand can?t get nothing here I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel nowhere
I can?t help but to worry how my good friend done Can't help but to worry how my good friend done Had my money by the dollar now won?t give me nickel one
Mother told me times and times again Mama told me times and times again Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend
Lord look down on poor me, pity my worried case Lord look down on me, pity my worried case Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways
Jes' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad Jes' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad Cause you know I want a friend like the one what Adam had
I'd appreciate it if someone could look through my transcription of this tune. It was recorded in 1935 with Black Bob on piano, Big Bill Broonzy on guitar, and probably Washboard Sam on washboard, according to Dixon and Godrich. The tune is in the key of B flat, and it sounds to me, like Broonzy is playing out of the G position with a capo on 3rd fret. Can anyone confirm this? Corrections welcome. I don't know if I was able to transcribe the nonsense scat singing in any intelligible way.
I?M NEEDING SOMEONE (EXACTLY LIKE YOU ) -Bumble Bee Slim
Travelled this whole wide world through, I stopped by here to tell you, I?m needing me someone exactly like you.
Please don?t drive me away, Babe, take me back once more, do, I?m needing me someone exactly like you.
Oh, it makes me feel so blue, when I?m away from you. Here?s my heart, here?s my hand, can?t you understand?
I can?t live much longer, make my heart go stronger, I?m needing me someone exactly like you.
Hi Pan, That's a nice find, and another 32-bar "Pop Blues", a la "Eagle Ridin' Papa" and other tunes by Georgia Tom and Bo Carter. I'm hearing Broonzy accompanying it out of G position in standard tuning, just as you have it, and flat-picking too, like he did on a lot of his '30s small ensemble sides. The song was certainly influenced by Jimmy McHugh's Pop Standard, "Exactly Like You". All best, Johnm
Hello all, this is my very first post here, and a call for help. Can't manage to find the lyrics on the web for that famous "meet me in the bottom" by Bumble Bee Slim.. Here's what i heard, but not trusting my ears and english, all comments and corrections will be welcome.
Meet me in the bottom, bring my boots and shoes Lawdy mama, great God almighty Meet me in the bottom, bring my boots and shoes I got to leave this town, I ain't got no time to lose
The woman I love, she done gone back home Lawdy mama, great God almighty Woman I love, she done gone back home Every time she leaves me, she makes my blood run warm
(here it's start turning quite difficult)
She called that same and ol' lemon, I stood looking down ( I hear u laughing ) Oh lawdy mama, great God almighty same and ol' lemon, I stood looking down that doesn't make any sense wtf: I couldn't stand to see, my woman leave this town
She got cold black eyes, long black curly hair Lawdy mama, great God almighty Cold black eyes, long black curly hair You know she got something', tease me anywhere
My folks please ()________________ Lawdy mama, great God almighty __________________________ She's a married woman I don't wanna?
Thank you!
« Last Edit: July 11, 2020, 07:44:22 AM by Johnm »
Hi BlueMoutarde, Welcome to Weenie Campbell! I will try to help with the lyrics as much as I can. In the lines that are cited, the first number indicates the verse, and the second number indicates the line of the verse under discussion. Changes to what you had are in CAPs.
3.1 She caught that SEMINOLE LEMON, I stood looking down 3.3 SEMINOLE LEMON, I stood looking down (Seminole Lemon was a train)
4.1 She got COAL black eyes, long black curly hair 4.3 COAL black eyes, long black curly hair 4.4 Well, she got something, FEED me anywhere
5.1 WHITE folks, please DON'T GIVE THAT GAL NO JOB 5.3 WHITE folks, please DON'T GIVE THAT GAL NO JOB 5.5 She's a married woman, I DON"T WANT HER TO WORK SO HARD
6.1 She got dimples in her jaw, right down on the ground Lawdy mama, great God almighty Dimples in her jaw, she's right down on the ground She got a way of lovin' will make a rabbit hug a hound
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 11, 2020, 07:44:43 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, I merged BlueMoutarde's recent thread on Bumble Bee Slim's version of "Meet Me In the Bottom" into the Bumble Bee Slim Lyrics thread. All best, Johnm
Bumble Bee Slim - Vocals Myrtle Jenkins - Piano Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar
Chicago, Illinois July 18, 1935
Piano in Bb
You're a cold blooded murder and I can't look in your face You're a cold blooded murder and I can't look in your face You got blood in your eyes you got lowdown dirty ways
Now you got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea Now you got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea When I try to love you I keep tremblin' in my knees
You's a cold blooded murder and I'm still in love with you You's a cold blooded murder and I'm still in love with you We can't get together no way I tries to do
Early one morning I asked you for your kiss You took your big pistol knocked me to my knees Early one morning well I asked you for your kiss You took your big pistol and you knocked me to my knees
All last winter I was sleeping by myself You's on a big time lovin' someone else All last winter I was sleeping by myself You's on a big time and lovin' someone else
« Last Edit: December 24, 2020, 09:31:49 AM by harry »
Thanks Chris and Thomas. Far as I know Honey Hill only recorded with Bill Gaither and some solo stuff. If B&GR has Myrtle Jenkins I gotta trust that. She frequently recorded with Bumble Bee Slim.
Fair enough no problem, though Honey Hill and Bill Gaither recorded a fair amount of sides backing Bumble Bee Slim in a Leroy Carr Scrapper Blackwell manner. This one is fairly appropriate
Fair enough no problem, though Honey Hill and Bill Gaither recorded a fair amount of sides backing Bumble Bee Slim in a Leroy Carr Scrapper Blackwell manner.
I was unaware of that. Thanks for pointing that out, Thomas.
Hi Harry, I think that 2.2 is "You've got to see that I'm SAFE INDOORS", 5.1 is "If I get 'rested, without a DOUBT", 6.1 is, "You've got to walk, STRAIGHT IN THE PATH", 6.2 is "You've got to give me, my SHOWER BATH".
Bumble Bee Slim - Vocals Jimmie Gordon - Piano Charlie McCoy - Guitar
July 11, 1935 Chicago, Illinois
Piano in F Guitar in D Position
INTRO
You get your breakfast in the morning, your dinner on time, I let you spend my dollar, just like you spend my dime Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistakes
When I first met you, mama, you didn’t have no clothes, you was broke and hungry, and out of doors Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistakes
Men didn’t want you, when you was down and out, I got you up on your feet, now they got you steppin’ out But I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake
All these many years, baby, you’ve been bringing me that jive, goin’ to the store at noon, and coming back at five But I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake
I work hard all the time, and bring you my pay, you get behind my back, and give it all away Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake
« Last Edit: June 18, 2022, 05:35:44 AM by Blues Vintage »
Great song choice! I'm certain it's the old accompanying team of Jimmie Gordon on piano and Charlie McCoy on guitar playing out of D position. They have such a distinct sound between them.
B & GR have Broonzy on guitar for a June 26 session and July 18 Session. The have McCoy for a April 12 session. I really thought it was Broonzy at first. They sound alike to me (McCoy and Broonzy). I gotta listen some more to make a final personnel edit. Not to be disrespectful to you or John. But I'm leaning towards McCoy right now.
I listened to some Roosevelt Sykes the other day with an unknown musician playing tremelo guitar which I think was Broonzy. I'll post that in a separate thread.
Hi all, I do think after re-listening that the guitar on "Fattening Frogs For Snakes" is played out of D position as Thomas stated. Whether the accompanists are Charlie McCoy and Jimmie Gordon I couldn't say because I'm not familiar enough with them working in an accompaniment capacity to pick them out of a musical line-up with any degree of confidence. It sounds like Thomas has listened to them much more than I have and has their sound in his head, so he's probably right. All best, Johnm