Topic: Pernell Charity Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Pernell Charity recorded "Blind Man" on his Trix CD, "Pernell Charity--The Virginian". Pernell Charity was discovered by blues researcher Kip Lornell when Lornell was still in high school, or soon after. Pernell Charity hailed from Waverly, Virginia, a small town near Petersburg in Southwest Virginia. His repertoire had some similarities to those of Virginians of his generation like John Jackson, John Cephas and the Foddrell brothers, but differences, too--on the basis of his CD, he seems to have been more strongly influenced by Buddy Moss, Ralph Willis and Lightnin' Hopkins than any of the other players named above. He accompanied himself in E position in standard tuning for "Blind Man". Here is his performance of "Blind Man": 



INTRO SOLO

Yes, I was standing at my window, tears runnin' all down my cheek
Lord, I was standing at my window, tears runnin' all down my cheek
I could see that woman I really love, stoppin' every man in the world she meet

Then I started to screaming, "Lord, what wrong have I done?"
So I started to screaming, "Lord, what wrong have I done?
Every woman that I get, seem like she wants some other one."

Yes, I was standin' on the corner, between 35th and Main
Yes, I was standin' on that corner, 'tween 35th and Main
Blind man walked up and took my woman and he, even called her name

He says, "Aw, baby, I'm blind, you brought eyesight and made me see."
He says, "Aw, baby, I'm blind, you brought eyesight and made me see."
Then that blind man asked her a question, "Baby, who can your rider be?"

Know I was standin' there, just tremblin', with my head down in my hand
Poor me was standin' there just tremblin', with my head down in my hand
Lord, I know that woman goin' to say, "Lord, I ain't got no man."

SOLO

Edited 10/24 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

   

[Blues Vintage]

Maybe one minor suggestion,

between 35th and Main      I think he omits the "be" a little

'tween 35th and Main

[Johnm]

I agree, Blues Vintage, he says "'tween" the second time he sings the line, and I have made that change, thanks.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Pernell Charity played "Find Me A Home" out of E position in standard tuning, showing the influence of Lightnin' Hopkins and Ralph Willis, as well as his own ideas. I've not heard a lot of players from Virginia of his generation who played anything like this. Here is "Find Me A Home":



INTRO SOLO

Yes, I'm gon' find me a home, baby, I'm gon find it 'way out in the wood
I'm gon' find me a home, 'way out in the wood
Yes, I'm gon' let all of these no-good womens know that, oh, I don't mean them no good

Yes, you know my peoples and all told me, in my neighborhood, "That little woman you met with, she don't mean you no good." I'm gonna
Find me a home, find it 'way out in the wood
I'm gonna let all these no-good womens know that, Lord, I don't mean them no good

Yes, you know she have been a good little woman, but you haven't done what you should, that's why I'm gon' find me a home, babe, find it 'way out in the woods, I'm gonna
Find me a home, find it 'way out in the wood
I'm gon' let all these no-good womens know that, Lord, I don't mean them no good (Spoken: Yeah, play it a little while, boy, now)

SOLO (Spoken: I'm gon' tell you 'bout that no-good woman. Yeah, she don't mean her man no good. Play it)

Yes, I'm gon' find me a home, baby, find it 'way out in the wood
Yes, I'm gon' find me a home, 'way out in the wood
I'm gon' let all these peoples in this world know that, Lord, I don't mean them no good

You know, my peoples done all told me, in my neighborhood, "That little woman you met with, she don't mean you no good.", I'm gon
Find me a home, find it 'way out in the wood
Yes, I'm gon' let all these peoples in this world know that, Lord, I don't mean them no good (Spoken: Yeah, yeah, way to play it now)

SOLO

Edited 10/29 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

 





 

[Blues Vintage]

I think Pernell is consistent with singing "peoples" instead of "people" throughout the song.
So also for 4.3

[Johnm]

I agree, Blues Vintage, and I also found that I had spelled "world", "word" in that same line. I have made the corrections.