Topic: Blind Boy Fuller Lyrics

[banjochris]

Some of Fuller's most impressive playing to me is on those fast numbers in E like "Funny Feeling" and "Sweet Honey Hole." He really keeps the rhythm going while switching from bass to treble licks and vice versa. As John says, very Moss-esque.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Boy Fuller record "I'm A Rattlesnakin' Daddy" at his first session, in New York City on July 23, 1935.  The model for the song's guitar part and melody was clearly Buddy Moss's "Dough Rolling Papa", recorded a little less than a year earlier in New York City on August 8, 1934.  Fuller was working from Buddy Moss's model in A position, standard tuning, and his guitar part shares many details with Buddy's earlier recording.  That having been said, Blind Boy Fuller always brought his own sensibility and liveliness to material he had harvested from other musicians.  Buddy had more variety and intricate detail work in his song, but Fuller's time and delivery are so strong that he had no need to apologize for anything (and I'm sure he didn't).  The song is a chorus blues, and Blind Boy Fuller gets a ton of verses in, especially considering that he also plays three full solos.  Fuller's lyrics shift their narrative voice halfway through the third verse.  John Jackson recorded a really nice version of this song on his first Arhoolie album.



   SOLO

   I woke up this mornin' 'bout half past four
   Somebody knockin' on my back door, sayin'
   REFRAIN: "That's my rattlesnakin' daddy, that's my rattlesnakin' daddy
   That's my rattlesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time."

   "Yes, he rattled the mornin', 'bout half past three
   Half past four he wanted to rattle some more, 'cause
   REFRAIN: That's my rattlesnakin' daddy, that's my rattlesnakin' daddy
   That's my rattlesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time."

   "I got a range in my kitchen, bake bread nice and brown
   Get my rattlesnake daddy turn my damper upside down."
   REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, 'cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy
   I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time (Spoken: Rattle now, boy)

   SOLO

   I can rattle to the left, rattle to the right
   A woman said, "I b'lieve my rattlesnake daddy can rattle all night."
   REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, 'cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy
   I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time

   I rattle every mornin', late at night
   Meanwhile my rattlesnake mama don't 'low me out of her sight
   REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, 'cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy
   I'm a rattesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time

   Now, the old folks rattlin', the young one, too
   Ain't nobody rattle just like, way I do
   REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, 'cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy
   I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, wants to rattle all the time

   SOLO

   Yes, I rattled this mornin' 'bout half past ten
   Half past nine I wanted to rattle again
   REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, 'cause I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy
   I'm a rattlesnakin' daddy, I wants to rattle all the time

Edited 7/24/20 to pick up corrections from Stumblin' and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

   

     

[joe paul]

I've been working on a couple of Blind Boy Fuller numbers lately, and could do with some help figuring out the lyrics to his "Big Bed Blues". Especially the fourth verse, I'm having trouble there.
Here's what I've got so far :



My baby going to leave me, I'll have a big bed by myself
My baby going to leave me, have a big bed by myself
Just as I got to learn to love her, I will learn to love me someone else

I want whisky when I'm thirsty mama, oh lord lightning when I'm dry
I want whisky when I'm thirsty, give me lightning when I'm dry
I wants a woman to love me while I'm livin' and heaven when I die

My baby says she's going to leave me, she'll need my help again
My baby going to leave me, she will need my help again
She must remember, oh lord I once have been her friend

(SOLO)

I hate to hear that .... (whistle blow boo-boo )
I hate to hear, mama,  (old whistle blow boo-boo???)
(Why, boy?) Cos every time I hear it, make me feel like ridin' too

Lord, I went to the station, I sure didn't see no train
I went to the station mama and I didn't see no train
I never seed my little woman,  ( well had ?) no- one to call her name



This is one of my favorites of his in C, there's a really sweet, laid-back feel to it.
Thanks for your help!

Gordon

[uncle bud]

Hi Gordon -

I hate to hear that .... (whistle blow boo-boo )
I hate to hear, mama,  (old whistle blow boo-boo???)
(Why, boy?) Cos every time I hear it, make me feel like ridin' too

I hate to hear that M & O whistle blow boo hoo
I hate to hear, mama, M & O whistle blow boo hoo

Lord, I went to the station, I sure didn't see no train
I went to the station mama and I didn't see no train
I never seed my little woman,  ( well had ?) no- one to call her name

Not sure of the last line. Could be "well had" as you have it, or "well I'd". Dunno.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Boy Fuller recorded "It Doesn't Matter Baby" at a session on July 12, 1939 in Memphis, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning, capoed up to sound around B or C.  The song is a 9-bar chorus blues in the "Worried Life Blues"/"Sitting On Top of the World" family.  I usually think of Fuller's music being so exuberant and often find that when I hear one of his slower numbers I particularly like it.  The point of view taken in the lyrics is very autumnal for so young a man to be singing.



   Uhohohoh, oh Lordy Lord
   Uhuhuh, oh Lordy Lord
   It doesn't matter, baby, how you treat me
   I'll get along somehow

   You needn't come runnin', screamin' and cryin'
   You mistreated me, woman, now you's off of my mind
   It doesn't matter, baby, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

   When I tried to love you, you wouldn't pay me no mind
   You could spend my dollars like you did my dimes
   It doesn't matter, child, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

   Get away from my window, don't knock at my door
   I've got me another woman, can't use you no more
   It doesn't matter, child, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

   Uhuhuh, oh Lordy Lord
   Oo-oo-oo, oh Lordy Lord
   It doesn't matter, child, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

   Now you know I told you, long time ago
   You had to reap just what you sow
   It doesn't matter, baby, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

   I'm doin' better than I did before
   I ain't gon' let you worry my mind no more
   It doesn't matter, baby, how it happened
   I'll get along somehow

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

In addition to being in the "Worried Life/Sitting on Top" family, it's also a fairly close cover of Big Bill's "The Sun Gonna Shine in My Door Someday." Big Bill's version is a lot more urban sounding and is a piano/guitar duet.

[The Gloth]

I wonder something about the lyrics to "Mama, let me lay it on you" : what does Fuller mean by "Cut your throat to boot" ? 

To me, it seems to say he's going to have sex with her dead body after he killed her...

[Stumblin]

"To boot" is just an old-fashioned way of saying "also," or "for extras."
So he's offering to cut her throat in addition to all the other threats.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Boy Fuller played "Little Woman You're So Sweet" out of Vestapol, and it was recorded near the end of his career.  Banjo Chris noted in an earlier post that the song was first recorded by Josh White, and you can find White's version of the song on YouTube.  The song is an 8-bar chorus blues, and follows the "How Long, How Long Blues" archetype, though Fuller is sometimes long on the front end of his main verse.  I'm not at all sure I have the opening line of the next-to-last verse right, and would appreciate some help with or correction of what I have.



Hey mama, hey gal
Don't you hear me callin' you?
You're so sweet, so sweet, my baby's so sweet

Says, I love my baby, love her to her bone
I hate to see my sweet sugar go home
She's so sweet, so sweet, my little woman's so sweet

See my baby comin', don't get so smart 
I'll cut your liver then I will plug your heart
You're so sweet, so sweet, my little baby's so sweet (Spoken: Call her again, boy!)

Hey mama, yeah gal,
Don't you hear Blind Boy Fuller callin' you?
She's so sweet, yes sweet, my little woman's so sweet (Spoken: Play it now!)

Hey mama, yeah gal,
Don't you hear me callin' you"
She's so sweet, so sweet, my little woman's so sweet

Woman I love, she done gone back home
When I think I'm treatin' her right, I must be doin' wrong
She's so sweet, so sweet, my little woman's s sweet

I would make a million trips, when I would rob a little bee
But the woman I love is sweeter anything in this world to me
She's so sweet, so sweet, my little woman's so sweet

Hey mama, yeah gal,
Don't you hear Blind Boy Fuller callin' you?
You're so sweet, yes sweet, my little woman's so sweet

All best,
Johnm






   

[banjochris]

I think that line is right, John.
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris.  I'll let it stand as is then.
All best,
Johnm

[Rivers]

Meat shakin woman, second verse;

And the dollars come ? down baby just like drops of rain.

In the BB Fuller book of Stefan Grossman book it says "chopping".

I believe it's "shiving", which is pronounced like "jiving" and is an old slang word meaning 'splintering' according to a quick Google search.

Fuller sings a two syllable word which does not sound at all like 'showering' to me, and even less like 'chopping'! There's  'SH', 'EYE' and a 'V' sound in there and 'ING' on the end. It's clear enough to not be any kind of stumble either.

Here's what I have:

Meat Shakin' Woman - Blind Boy Fuller, C position

[intro break]

I've got a big fat woman, meat shakin' on her bones
I said hey hey, meat shakin' on her bones
And every time she shakes, some man's dollar gone

Says I asked my woman, give me her smallest change
I said hey hey, give me her smallest change
And the dollars come shivin' down, baby just like drops of rain

[break] Yeah!

If you boys take my woman, you can't keep her long
I said hey hey, you can't keep her long
I got a new way of gettin' down, you monkey men can't catch on

[break]

Said fer my dinner, I want ham and eggs
Hey hey, I want ham and eggs
And fer my supper, mama I wants to feel your leg

Now you let me feel your leg, and it felt so soft
Hey hey, and it felt so soft
Said you know what you promised me, baby please don't put me off

[dj]

The way I hear it:

I got a gal she's crazy about me
Just as crazy as she can be
She ain't crazy but she's little bit funny that way

Went home last night knocked on my door
Heared a voice say "You don't live hear no more"
You ain't crazy but you little bit funny that way

Kept on knocking 'cause you having fun
Heared a voice say put it to you 'fore you knock
You're not crazy but you're little bit funny that way

Scat

Solo

I asked my woman "Where'd you stay last night?"
None of your business so I didn't treat you right
You're not crazy but you're little bit funny that way

Looka here woman upi talkin' too tough
You've got a man ain't goin' to stand that stuff
Not crazy but you're little bit funny that way

Solo

For my dinner I want to feel your leg
For my dinner I want to feel your leg
Not crazy but you're little bit funny that way

Let me feel your legs and they feel so soft
You know what you promised me you can't put me off
Not crazy but you're little bit funny that way

Scat

Solo

I love that woman 'fraid to call her name
She's a married woman, love her just the same
She's not crazy but she little bit funny that way

Solo



Edited to pick up correction from Gumbo.  And one from Stumblin

[Gumbo]

Great track!

3.2 ... 'fore YOU KNOCK

7.2 there is something where the CAN'T is but I think he almost says something by accident and swallows it

[dj]

"fore you knock" is right on.  Thanks, Gumbo.

In 7.2, I transcribed "can't" because I think that's clearly the sense of the line.  But you're right, it sounds like Fuller starts to sing "can", realizes that's not it, and just sort of swallows the rest of the word.