Topic: Sparks Brothers Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

I wasn't even close either. Chris, you're the best.

[banjochris]

Thanks Harry and John! The first time we dealt with that tune I couldn't hear that line at all; it just jumped out at me yesterday.

[Johnm]

I'd like to second Harry's assessment, Chris. You are the best at catching lyrics on these records of anyone I've encountered. And I think you've helped the rest of us raise our games by trying to move toward your standard. Thanks for all of your help. And Weeniepedia thanks you!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The Sparks Brothers recorded "Down On The Levee" at a session in Chicago on August 2, 1933, with Milton's singing once again accompanied by Aaron's piano playing in the key of G. "Pinetop" certainly was an elegant pianist, with a beautiful touch and great tone. Milton's vocal seems so much more "country" than Aaron's piano. I'm not at all sure I've got the name of the tavern right or a couple of other places in the lyrics, so see what you think--I'd appreciate any help. Here is "Down On The Levee":



INTRO

Down on the levee, down by Bootsy's place
Down on the levee, down by Bootsy's place
Find me half a pint of liquor, find me a roostin' place

Should die tonight, please don't bur' me at all
Should die tonight, please don't bur' me at all
Wrap me up, baby, pickle me in some straight alkyhol

St. Louis to the river, river to the deep blue sea
St. Louis to the river, river to the deep blue sea
Killed the woman I'm lovin', I don't care what becomes of me

SOLO

When I'm gone, please remember me
And when I'm gone, please remember me
Been a bad fellow, I did not intend to be

Anybody, asked you who compose this song
Anybody, asked you who compose this song
One of them two Sparks Brothers, they've been here and gone

Edited 11/8 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The Sparks Brothers recorded "4-11-44" at their first session, in Atlanta, on February 5, 1932, with Milton singing to Aaron's piano accompaniment in G. The record was released as being by "Pinetop and Lindberg". The only sense I can make out of the last verse is that Mercy is a woman's name, though it occurs to me now, that he may be personifying mercy, as singers sometimes personify the blues. Here is "4-11-44":



INTRO SOLO

Four 'leven, four eleven, four 'levens and forty-four
Four eleven, four eleven, four 'levens and forty-four
Good numbers on policy, ain't gonna play that game no more

Single one, single one, one, two, three and four
Single one, single one, one, two, three and four
My woman put me outdoors, I ain't got no place to go

My babe, my baby don't love poor me no more
My babe, my babe, don't love poor me no more
Reason I say that, people, her best friend told me so

SOLO (Spoken: Play 'em, Pine. That's it--pick 'em. Sure is worried about my girl, fella. Swing 'em, now. I gotta make Atlanta my home, fella.

Blues, these blues is bearing down on me
These blues, these blues is bearing down on me
I'm gonna pack my grip, going back to Tennessee

Blues and Mercy, everywhere you go
Blues and Mercy, everywhere you go
Shoot Mercy with a 32.20, say you done it with the .44

CODA

Edited 11/8 to pick up corrections from harry and Johnm

All best,
Johnm




 

[Blues Vintage]

I think he says "Atlanta" in that spoken part. It was recorded in Atlanta as you noted.

 I gotta make it t'night to my home.   I gotta make Atlanta my home.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Harry. I re-listened and you're right on the money. I've made the change.

[banjochris]

Some suggestions, John, on Down on the Levee:

1.1, 1.2 I think Bootsy’s is right
1.3 …find me A ROOSTIN’ place.

2.3 …pickle me in some STRAIGHT alkyhol

3.1. 3.2 ST. LOUIS to the river…

4.3 ONE O’ THEM two Sparks Brothers…

Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris, I re-listened and made the changes. Milton really pronounced "straight" strangely though, putting a "th" sound on the end of it. That was where I got the "fifth" that I had in there. Just one of those things, I guess.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The Sparks Brothers recorded "61 Highway" at a session in a session in Chicago on August 2, 1933 at which they also recorded "Down On The Levee" and "Chicago's Too Much For Me". Once again, Milton sang and Aaron accompanied him on the piano in F. I'm not at all sure about the word "shakin'" in verse three and would appreciate corroboration or correction. Here is "61 Highway":



INTRO SOLO

61 Highway, longest highway that I know
61 Highway, longest highway that I know
It run from New York City down into the Gulf of Mexico

Now you peoples, see that Greyhound bus when it run
Now you people, see that Greyhound bus when it run
It leaves out of New York City, [shakin'] on Highway 61

Please, please somebody for me
Please, please somebody for me
Go and catch that Greyhound bus, tell my babe she's all right with me

SOLO

And I know, you don't mean me no good
And I know, you don't mean me no good
You just pack your trunk, mama, go down in the piney woods

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The Sparks Brothers, billed as "Pinetop And Lindberg", recorded "East Chicago Blues" at their first session. Aaron plays the song in Eb. Milton elides "native home" a bit in the first line of the first verse in a way that I didn't know how to approximate phonetically, so I just put the meaning--he pronounces it clearly in the second line. Here is "East Chicago Blues":



INTRO SOLO

East Chicago, is my native home
East Chicago is my native home
Going to Chicago, peoples, and it won't be long

My babe, she don't mean me no good
My babe, she don't mean me no good
She wouldn't give me a nickel, now people, if she could

I was in Chicago, I had my good rags on
I was to Chicago, I had my good rags on
Now I'm in this town, got all my zoot suits in pawn

SOLO (Spoken: Play 'em, boy, play 'em. Make me think about East Chicago, oh, to be back in East Chicago. Somebody up in East Chicago, didn't you know 'er?

East Chicago's on fire, East St. Louis is burning down
East Chicago's on fire, East St. Louis is burning down
All you St. Louis women can run into my hometown

My babe, she don't treat me good no more
My babe, she don't treat me good no more
Gonna pack my grip, up the road I'll go

OUTRO

Edited 11/9 to pick up correction from banjochris and Thomas8

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The last song from the Sparks Brothers first session is "I Believe I'll Make A Change". Pinetop plays the song in F, and sounds his usual smooth-playing self, and Lindberg delivers his usual bright tenor vocal. Here is "I Believe I'll Make A Change":



INTRO SOLO

I believe, I believe I'll make a change
I believe, I believe I'll make a change
Gon' cut off my gas stove, and I'm goin' back to my range

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
For this life I'm livin', poor Lind can't be here long

It was the time, she was all right with me
It was the time, she was all right with me
When she had ninety-four dollars, she would give me ninety-three

SOLO (Spoken: Pick 'em, boy, pick 'em! Don't you b'lieve you'll make a change? I'm 'on make a change, myself. 1933 comes, I'm 'on, I'm gon' quit drinkin' my whiskey and gon' be a bootlegger, so pick 'em, a great long time. Me and you both will make a change, Pine, so pick 'em!)

You see my baby, give my babe my best regards
You see my baby, give my babe my best regards
So I'm still in this town, but the times is awful hard

CODA

Edited 11/9 to pick up corrections from harry

All best,
Johnm   

[banjochris]

61 Highway - "shakin" sounds right on to me.

On East Chicago, a minor suggestion:
3.1 I WAS IN Chicago...

Chris

[Thomas8]

Love the Sparks Bros! East Chicago is in Eb

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Chris and Thomas. I'm with you Thomas--wasn't Pinetop a nice player? So tasty!