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...
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
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
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:02:31 PM by Johnm »
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
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:08:54 PM by Johnm »
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:09:33 PM by Johnm »
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:25:57 PM by Johnm »
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:26:42 PM by Johnm »
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:32:56 PM by Johnm »
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
« Last Edit: July 14, 2020, 06:32:10 PM by Johnm »
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
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