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Author Topic: In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics  (Read 3053 times)

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Offline frankie

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In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics
« on: September 19, 2017, 07:36:43 PM »
I know this topic will overlap with a couple of other threads and I do apologize for that. This thread will capture lyric transcriptions for songs recorded by musicians associated with the Mississippi Sheiks:
  • Alec Johnson
  • Charlie McCoy
  • Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore
  • Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
  • Jackson Blue Boys
  • Leroy Carter (Walter Vincson)
  • Mary Butler (Rosie Mae Moore)
  • Mississippi Blacksnakes
  • Mississippi Mud Steppers
  • Sam Hill From Louisville
  • Walter Jacobs and the Carter Brothers
  • Walter Vincson/Vinson/Vincent/Jacobs

Notably absent:
  • Eugene Powell
  • Bo Carter
  • Sam Chatmon
  • Other singers accompanied by the Mississippi Sheiks - Texas Alexander, for example

A project for the future, I suppose...  on to the songs...

Offline frankie

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Your Friends Gonna Use It Too - Part 1 - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2017, 07:39:11 PM »
Your Friends Gonna Use It Too - Part 1 - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
Actual pitch: D-flat (s)
Main guitar position: E-flat
Fiddle position: E-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: D-figures up the neck

Lyrics:
Old Jack loved whiskey and he had a friend
Every time he'd leave, he'd be slipping in
And he was using that, too, was using that, too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

Where Jack would go, couldn't anyone tell
His wife loved his friend mighty well
And he would use her too, would use her too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use her too

Well, Jack had [flour] in his [barrel]
His friend kept him always on the square
He was using that, too, was using that, too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

Well Jack had shirts hanging 'side the wall
The friend he had didn't have nary one at all
He would use them too, would use them too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use them too

Well, Jack bought a car, you knowed it couldn't run (it)
If you use her again, now you ought to not done it
He would use that too, would use that too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use them too

Well, Jack had chicken on the roof
Every night he would miss about two
His friend was using them too, friend was using them, too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use them too

Well, Jack had biscuits on his shelf
Every night they would disappear
His friend was using them too, friend was using them, too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use them too

Offline frankie

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Your Friends Gonna Use It Too - Part 2 - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2017, 07:48:01 PM »
Your Friends Gonna Use It Too - Part 2 - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
Actual pitch: E-flat
Main guitar position: E-flat
Fiddle position: E-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: D-figures up the neck

Lyrics:
Jack always worked, he never did play
But these late days money have got away
His friend is using that, too, friend is using that, too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

Jack lived well in his home
Friend have stole his wife and gone
Oh, using her too, oh, using her too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use her too

spoken: Oh, step on it

Jack go to church, come to save souls
His friend at home saving sweet jelly roll
Oh, using that too, oh, using that too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

Jack come in, couldn't get in at al
Found another mule kicking in his stall
Oh, using that too, oh, using that too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

spoken: Step on it again

Oh, Jack went to town, told the chief police
His wife done quit him, he can't see no peace
Oh, using that too, oh, using that too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

Well, you may be happy, walk the street
Friend gonna use that [while] she sleep
Oh, using that too, oh, using that too
Well, you needn't-a get mad, your friend gonna use that too

spoken: Step on it

Offline frankie

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Mississippi Yodelin' Blues - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2017, 07:49:12 PM »
Mississippi Yodelin' Blues - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
Actual pitch: F (s)
Main guitar position: F
Fiddle position: F
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: Vestapol



Lyrics:
Going back to Mississippi, baby, and it won't be long
Going back to Mississippi, baby, and it won't be long
If you don't believe I'm leaving, just count the days I'm gone
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

Mississipi River, it is so deep and wide
Mississipi River, it is so deep and wide
Because the girl that I'm lovin', is on the other side
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

Way down in Mississippi, baby where I was born
Way down in Mississippi, baby where I was born
And I'm a stranger here, a great long way from home
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

But if I could read one sweet letter from you
If I could read one sweet letter from you
Then you could tell me, baby, just what you going to do
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

A Tennessee woman make a hound dog lose his trail
Tennessee woman make a hound dog lose his trail
And a Mississippi brown make a tadpole slap a whale
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

People go to church to try to pray and save souls
People go to church to try to pray and save souls
Now they go to church to sell sweet jelly roll
Yodel-ay-hee, ay-hee, ay-hee

Offline frankie

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Working Man's Blues - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2017, 07:50:16 PM »
Working Man's Blues - Chatman's Mississippi Hot Footers
Actual pitch: F
Main guitar position: F
Fiddle position: F
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: Vestapol

Lyrics:
So long I worried, I stole away and moaned
So long I worried, stole away and moaned
Didn't have no one baby to love me, I didn't have no happy home

I've been walking all night when the sun refused to shine
I've been walking all night when the sun refused to shine
And if I find her tonight I'm gonna really work her overtime

Sweet baby, crying won't help you, your praying won't do no good
Sweet baby, crying won't help you, praying won't do no good
That's when your faro, she have quit you, done everything you could

spoken: Oh, step on it

The work ain't so hard, baby, oh, it's the way you do
The work ain't so hard, baby, oh, it's the way you do
Remember, the way you treat poor Walter, it's coming home to you

You go to your home, look where my old clothes used to hang
You go to your home and look where my old clothes used to hang
Just think about the way you treated me all last winter and spring

Offline frankie

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Hidin' On Me - Jackson Blue Boys
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2017, 07:50:24 PM »
Hidin' On Me - Jackson Blue Boys
Actual pitch: B
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: B-flat
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
I was out on the wagon, trying to sell coal
Baby in the bakershop, selling jellyroll
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Say, you remember last winter when times was hard
Put wood in your kitchen, coal in your yard
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
I know something you been doing
There's a little something, gonna drive you to your ruin
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
I was setting in the corner just as still as a lamb
Wasn't too still to hear the back door slam
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
It was way last winter, the weather was rough
Gal was on the corner, just a-struttin' her stuff
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you
You don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree
Get out of my orchard, let my sweet fruit be
Ain't no use you trying to hide on me, I know something on you

Offline frankie

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Sweet Alberta - Jackson Blue Boys
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2017, 07:51:32 PM »
Sweet Alberta - Jackson Blue Boys
Actual pitch: B
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: B-flat
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Alberta, Alberta where you been so long?
Alberta, Alberta where you been so long?
Ain't been no loving since you been gone

Tell me Alberta, where you stay last night?
Tell me Alberta, where you stay last night?
Come home this morning, sun was shining bright

Tell me Alberta [sic], tell her to hurry home
If you see Alberta, tell her to hurry home
Haven't been no loving since she been gone

Alberta, Alberta what you going to do?
Alberta, Alberta what you going to do?
Just a little bit of loving, let your heart be true

I met Alberta way across the sea
I met Alberta way across the sea
She wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't care for me

Alberta, Alberta be a pal of mine
Alberta, Alberta be a pal of mine
Now you left me walking, tears rolling and crying

Goodbye Alberta, it's fare you well
Goodbye Alberta, it's fare you well
When I'll get back here, can't anyone tell

I love Alberta, tell the world I do
I love Alberta, tell the world I do
Just a little bit of loving, let your heart be true

Offline frankie

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It's Gonna Stare You In The Face - Sam Hill From Louisville
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2017, 08:23:47 PM »
It's Gonna Stare You In The Face - Sam Hill From Louisville
Actual pitch: E
Main guitar position: Dropped-D
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: Dropped-D



Lyrics:
So long I worried, stole away and moaned
No one to love me, no happy home
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Walked down the road, I was losing my mind
Seemed like every minute I was going stone blind
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Your cryin' won't help you, your praying won't do no good
When your far-ee have quit you and you done everything you could
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Listen here, baby, take your time
I done quit jokin', now you know I ain't lying
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Go to my home and look where my clothes used to hang
Think about the way you treated me all last winter and spring
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Listen here, baby, there is the door
You used to be sugar but you ain't sweet no more
I'm cryin' please baby, don't do me this-a-way
Now, remember this way you treat me is gonna stare you in the face someday

Offline frankie

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Near The End - Sam Hill From Louisville
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2017, 08:25:05 PM »
Near The End - Sam Hill From Louisville
Actual pitch: E (f)
Main guitar position: Dropped-D
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: D
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
No more mistreating among the women and men
No more mistreating among the women and men
Because this road I'm traveling have carried me to the end

I never caused no confusion, had no word to send
Never caused no confusion, had no word to send
But still this road I'm traveling have carried me to the end

No, I can't speak a word to express myself
I can't speak a word to express myself
All friends have forsaken me for somebody else

When I was up, my money that they would spend
When I was up, my money that they would spend
But now I'm down, babe, and near the end

It ain't no use to have, oh, too many of friends
Ain't no use to have, oh, too many of friends
It won't none be with you when you're near the end

They'll call you "Misters" and "Missus," give you a smile and a grin
Call you "Misters" and "Missus," give you a smile and a grin
But won't none be with you when you're near the end

Offline frankie

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Things 'Bout Comin' My Way - Sam Hill From Louisville
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2017, 08:33:20 PM »
Things 'Bout Comin' My Way - Sam Hill From Louisville
Actual pitch: E
Main guitar position: E
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: Vestapol



Lyrics:
Lost all my money, didn?t have a dime
Giving up this whole world, leaving it behind
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

When I was sick, down on my bed
My friends forgot me and said I was dead
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

Boys ain?t it hard when you hadn?t got a friend
Just keep on traveling they will need my help again
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

spoken:  Oh, step on it.

I?m always sweet, I ain?t never mad
Thinking about the hard luck I once have had
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

Now take me baby just as I am
Haven?t got any money, I?m in a jam
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

Told all my neighbors and all my friends
That I was a mistreater, you wouldn?t have me back again
But after all by my hard traveling, things is about coming my way

Offline frankie

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You Got To Keep Things Clean - Sam Hill From Louisville
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2017, 08:34:46 PM »
You Got To Keep Things Clean - Sam Hill From Louisville
Actual pitch: E
Main guitar position: E
Fiddle position: n/a
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: Vestapol



Lyrics:
Girl bought a mop for to mop the floor
She would mop it every morning just before she go
She's trying to keep things clean, she's trying to keep things clean
Now if you want to be respectful, babe, you have to keep things clean

Store-bought powder and this old, false hair
If you ain't clean, you can't get nowhere
You have to keep things clean, you have to keep things clean
Now if you want to be respectful, you'll have to keep things clean

Late last night she gave out a []
Baby, I believe you're gonna let things spoil
You don't keep 'em clean, you don't keep 'em clean
And if you want to be respectful, baby, you have to keep things clean

[] [] [] toilet soap
[] [] [] slam the door
She's going to get things clean, she's going to get things clean
Now if you want to be respectful, babe, you have to keep things clean

spoken:  Oh, step on it.

Early this morning and late last night
She kept on worryin' me but things wasn't right
She don't keep 'em clean, she don't keep 'em clean
Now if you want to be respectful, baby, you'll have to keep things clean

She wanted me to stay with her in her home
But I went to her house, then I [met Armstrong]
You have to keep things clean, you have to keep things clean
Now if you want to be respectful, baby, you have to keep things clean

Armstrong travels each and everywhere
Go to your house then you will find him there
You don't keep things clean, you don't keep things clean
Now if you want to be respectful, baby, you'll have to keep things clean

Offline banjochris

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Re: In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2017, 11:46:28 PM »
I went through these, Frank and got what I could:


Your Friends Gonna Use It Too - Part 1

the second guitar on this tune sounds really weird, almost like a guitar-banjo

3.1 FLOUR and BARREL both correct


Ha-Ha Blues

missing bit I think is supposed to be basically the same as the last verse,
Oh, look man, you don?t go your way,
but she obviously doesn?t mean the ?don?t? and just slurs the rest of the line


School Girl Blues

1.1 ME is right

2.1 and 2.2 I JUMPED ON YOUR CARRIAGE, daddy and I SHOOK your line (best I could come with; I?m not at all convinced of carriage, it sounds more like ?Gary? to me)
2.3 JOB is right


It Ain?t No Good - Part 2

1.1 I just hear ?a? not ?a sweet?


It?s Hot Like That

3.1 TOLD is right

5.2 DON?T YOU MAY BURN OUT


Blue Heaven Blues

3.1 DRIV is right
5.4 TROUSERS is right
6.3 sounds like CHIN, still doesn?t make sense


It Is So Good - Part 2
1.1 WHERE THEY MAKE THINGS GAY is the best I could get out of this line



The Northern Starvers Are Returning Home - Charlie McCoy

4.1 and 4.2 THE SOUTH WAS LEFT ALONE

5.1 and 5.2 THEY HAVEN?T LEFT THERE LONG

6.1 and 6.2 I think they?re supposed to just sing ?Goodbye? but one of them says ?I?ll say goodbye to?


Blue Sky Blues - Mississippi Blacksnakes

2.3 And then IN MY ABSENCE baby
Bo pronounces it ab-a-sence, and it?s much easier to hear if you slow the song down to the correct pitch or thereabouts

That little line at the end of the verses has the same melody as the response in Leadbelly?s ?Don?t You Love Your Daddy No More??


It's All Over Now - Mississippi Blacksnakes

2.1 sounds like TREAD to me

4.1 MOSS sounds right



Family Disturbance (Family Troubles) - Mississippi Blacksnakes
1.3 THEN is right



Five Pound Axe - Mississippi Blacksnakes
2.4 sounds like EVEN to me but I don?t think that?s right

3.3 I suspect should be YOU?S instead of USE



It Still Ain't No Good (New It Ain't No Good) - Mississippi Blacksnakes
should reconcile with the newer transcription



You Got To Keep Things Clean - Sam Hill From Louisville

3.1 SHE GAVE OUT OF OIL (weird use of ?gave out? with a preposition)

4.1 ?LONG CAME A MAN WITH SOME toilet soap
4.2 SHE BOUGHT A BOTTLE THEN SHE SLAMMED the door

6.2 MET ARMSTRONG is right

Armstrong a reference to Arm and Hammer perhaps?


Bye Bye Baby Blues - Mississippi Blacksnakes
is one of the guitars in Vestapol - it sounds like it to me

4.3 I think SAY is right

Offline Johnm

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Re: In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2020, 06:33:32 AM »
Hi all,
I have a personnel query. Is it generally accepted that the person who had records released as "Sam Hill from Louisville" was Walter Vinson? Listening to those tracks in this thread would certainly make that seem to be the case, both in the sound of the guitar-playing, and certainly in the singing. And it seems likely that Charlie McCoy played the mandolin on the track(s) with mandolin and slide guitar in Vestapol on the two tracks where that is present. Does anyone have more information on the identity, in particular, of "Sam Hill from Louisville"? Thanks for any help.
All best,
Johnm

Offline eric

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Re: In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2020, 07:40:27 AM »
DGR says it's a pseudonym for Walter "Vincson" on Brunswick, based on Brunswick files from the session, and Charlie McCoy as prob. accompanist.
--
Eric

Offline Johnm

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Re: In the 'orbit' of the Mississippi Sheiks - lyrics
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2020, 08:02:39 AM »
Thanks, Eric!  It's nice to have that corroborated.  Now I can move forward.
All best,
Johnm

 


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