Topic: John Lee Hooker Lyrics

[jpeters609]

John,
I can't quite make out the word in your first bracket, but for the second one I hear:

"We gonna go and run"

-Jeff

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Jeff. I re-listened and you're right on the money so I've made the change. Thanks.

[Blues Vintage]

My best guess would be "in old bottom".

The line after the first interlude needs correction I believe;
Rabbit on the, rabbit on, rabbit on the log

[Johnm]

Hi Blues Vintage,
I'm fine with the first line after the interlude. He says "on the" and "on" under his breath but he does sing them.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Lee Hooker did a wonderful version of "Catfish Blues" on his "Jack o' Diamonds" album, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning. He achieves a wonderful effect by quite often having the guitar drop out altogether underneath his singing, which really accentuates the call-and-response aspect of the song. What a wonderful voice he had! I'm not at all certain I have the last two lines of the last verse correct--he's singing very quietly there. Here is his "Catfish Blues":



INTRO SOLO

Yes I wished I, was a catfish
Swimmin' way down in the ol', deep blue sea (Spoken: Yes, yes, yes)
I'd have all these good-lookin' women, oh Lord, boy,
Fishing after me, fishing after me,
Oh Lord, sure enough, boy

INTERLUDE

There's one thing, baby, you know it ain't right
You cook cornbread for your husband
Biscuits for your man, biscuits for your man
Biscuits for your, biscuits for --

INTERLUDE

Yes, I'm goin', yes, I'm goin', babe
Lord, and cryin' won't, make me stay (Spoken: yes, yes, yes)
Yes, the more you cry, little woman, oh Lord
Further you drive, further you drive
Oh, drive me, drive me
Drive me, drive me away
Drive me away

Yes, I went to my, baby's house
Yes, I sat down on her step
She said, "Come on in, come on in, now, Johnny, oh yes my
Husband just now left, just now left
Oh Lord, oh, just now left
Oh, just now, oh, just now
Oh, just now

CODA

Edited 12/11 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

John, I think in the first of those last two lines after Oh Lord, he sings Oh just now left and I think he's repeating "Oh just now" or "Oh just now left" following that. He is fading out quite a bit there!
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris. Upon re-listening, I could hear what you suggested and have made those changes.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Lee Hooker recorded "Bumble Bee Blues" with an ensemble and it appears on an anthology called "Essential Detroit Blues". John Lee accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning for the performance and his guitar has a wonderful "ripping sheet metal" sort of tone. I analyzed John Lee's vocal phrasing of this performance in the thread "Vocal Phrasing: The Long and the Short of it", at https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=951.msg90203#msg90203 for any of you who are interested. I don't know who his band members were, and would appreciate that information if any of you know it Here is "Bumble Bee Blues":



INTRO

Bumble bee, bumble bee, bumble bee . . . bumble bee, please come back to me
Bumble bee, bumble bee, bumble bee . . . bumble bee, please come back to me
Bring me my granulated sugar, bumble bee, and try to ease my baby to me

She stung me this morning, I been lookin' for her all day long
Yes, she stung me this morning, yes, yes, I been lookin' for her all day long
Get me to the place, one time, hate to see my bumble bee leave home

My bumble bee got a stinger, just as long as her right arm
Yes, my bumble bee got a stinger, just as long as her right arm
Every time she sting me, hate to see my bumble bee leave home (Spoken: Now rock the blues away!)

PIANO SOLO

Yes, buzz me, buzz me, buzz me, 'til I don't want no more, buzz me, buzz me, bumble bee now, rock me all night long, I said
Buzz me, buzz me all night long
I said buzz me, buzz me, I don't want no more

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Lignite]

According to Leadbitter and Slaven; on Bumble Bee Blues (1951) John Lee Hooker is accompanied by Boogie Woogie Red - piano and Curtis Foster - drums. Here is a photo of Boogie Woogie Red that I took during the first Country Blues Festival U.N.C. Chapel Hill, N.C. back in 1973.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the information, Lightnin'. That's pretty cool that you got to see Boogie Woogie Red--also cool that you have that picture and can still lay your hands on it after all these years!
All best,
John

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Lee Hooker was joined by Eddie Kirkland on guitar, Bogie Woogie Red on piano and Tom Whitehead on drums for "Love Money Can't Buy", recorded on June 25, 1953 in Detroit. The song has a very intense vocal from John Lee Hooker, even by his standards. I'm missing a word in the last verse and would very much appreciate help getting that. Here is "Love Money Can't Buy":



INTRO

Love, love, love money can't buy
Love, oh love, love money can't buy
I tried it seven long years, she made a fool out of me

I take my friend in, I bought him fine clothes, next thing I know, you goin' 'round with my wife
Oh love, love money can't buy
I tried it seven long years, she made a fool out of me (Spoken: Yeah, boy!)

GUITAR SOLO

I learned my lesson, long, long time ago, I done found out, boys, that, Lord, it just won't do
Oh love, love money can't buy
I tried it seven long years, she made a fool out of me

GRIND TO A HALT

Edited 4/24 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

The missing word in the last verse could be Lord

2.1 I bought him fine clothes

[Blues Vintage]

Lord it just won't

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage, I will make both of those corrections. That is a great, intense track, isn't it?

[Blues Vintage]

Sure is.
I must admit I don't like John Lee's one chord boogies. Too repetitive after a while for me.
He's got more compilation records than Bob Dylan probably, I do really like his live record with Muddy's Band "Live at Cafe Au Go Go".