Topic: Bob Coleman Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bob Coleman was a Cincinnati musician who recorded three titles under that name, playing with the Cincinnati Jug Band on two of the three titles. It has been suggested that Bob Coleman, Kid Cole, Walter Cole and Walter Coleman were all the same person, and certainly vocally, at least, that would seem to be a plausible assumption. For "Tear It Down", recorded for Paramount in Chicago in January of 1929 he was joined by a jug player and a seconding vocalist, who sang the response lines on the chorus. Coleman (if it was Coleman playing the guitar) accompanied himself out of A position in standard tuning. Musically, this song is very much like the Leadbelly song, "Keep Your Hands Off Her". The vocal response lines are shown in parentheses. Whoever the jug player was, he's abut my favorite jug player ever, so melodious. EDITED TO ADD: I just discovered that I already transcribed this song in 2015, when it was feature in the Miller's Breakdown thread. I'll leave this post up to re-acquaint folks with the tune. I love this tune! Here is "Tear It Down":



INTRO SOLO

REFRAIN: I'm gon' tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (a-bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
Now if I catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
Mam' I'm gonna tear 'im down

Now they bake them biscuits nice and brown
You know by that you got another high brown
I've got a brown, she's a-little and low
She's a todalo shaker anywhere she go
Now 'f I catch another mule kickin' in my stall
I'm a-gon tear 'im down

REFRAIN: I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
Now if I catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
Mam' I'm gonna tear 'im down

Now if you drink your whiskey and have your fun
Just run like hell when the police come

REFRAIN: I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
Now if I catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
Mam' I'm gonna tear 'im down

SOLO X 2

I had my girl, her name was 'Lise
Every time I slapped her she would holler, "Police!"
Cooked them biscuits, nice and brown
Think she's a-workin' when she's turnin' around
Catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
'm gonna tear it down, I'm

REFRAIN: I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (a-bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
Now if I catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
Mam' I'm gonna tear 'im down

Told my girl, the week before last
That the gait she's carryin' me is 'most too fast
I went to the river, take my rockin' chair
The blues overtake me rock away a-from here
Catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
I'm gonna tear it down

REFRAIN: I'm gonna tear 'im down (slats)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (a-bed slats and all)
I'm gonna tear 'im down (bed slats and all)
Now if I catch another mule, kickin' in my stall
I'm a-gonna tear 'im down

SOLO

All best,
Johnm









 

[MarkC]

John -

This song also sounds like William Moore’s “Ragtime Millionaire.”

[dj]

It has been suggested that Bob Coleman, Kid Cole, Walter Cole and Walter Coleman were all the same person...

In his book Going to Cincinnati, Steven Tracy suggests that Sweet Papa Tadpole, who recorded 6 songs accompanied by Tampa Red and an unknown pianist for Vocalion in Chicago on July 29 1930, may also be another pseudonym for Cole/Coleman.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the additional information, dj, I will check out the Sweet Papa Tadpole titles, too. And good catch on "Ragtime Millionaire", MarkC ! Another song that is similar to "Tear It Down" and "Ragtime Millionaire" is the Brownie McGhee song, "Come On, If You're Coming", though it goes to a III7 chord in the last four bars, which neither of the other songs ever do.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The one remaining untranscribed song that Bob Coleman recorded under that name is the oddly-titled "Cincinnati Underworld Woman", which was recorded at the same session as "Tear It Down". Does the word "underworld" occur in any other old blues lyrics? If it does, I certainly can think of where it does. Coleman was the only singer on this tune, (though the jug player is on this track, too) and accompanied himself out of C position in standard tuning. There's a section in the tagline of the fifth verse in bent brackets that I don't think I have right, and I'd very much appreciate help with that. Here is "Cincinnati Underworld Woman":



INTRO

And it's ohhhhh, I ain't gonna do it no more
And it's ohhhhh, I ain't gonna do it no more
The first time I was at your house, mama, throwed me from your door

And it's rattlesnake, honey, what makes you talk so long?
And it's rattlesnake, honey, what makes you talk so long?
I ain't had no lovin', since my little rattler been gone

It takes a rockin' chair to rock, mama, a rubber ball to roll
It takes a rockin' chair to rock, mama, and a rubber ball to roll
It takes a Cincinnati underworld, woman to satisfy my soul

And it's ohhhhh, I ain't gonna do it no more
And it's ohhhhh, I ain't gonna do it no more
The last time I was at your house, mama, made my backbone sore

And I'm goin' to, the river, take my boat and float
And I'm goin' to, the river and take my boat and float
And if my underworld mama quits me, I'm goin' to cut my throat

And it's ohhhhh, (Spoken: I ain't gonna do it no more)
And it's ohhhhh, (Spoken: I ain't gonna do it no more)
The last time I drank your whiskey, mama, made my belly sore

SOLO X 2

CODA

Edited 1/1 to pick up corrections from Harry

All best,
Johnm






 

[dj]

I think you've got the fifth verse right, John. 

[Johnm]

Thanks for checking that, dj. I'll remove the bent brackets, and put it up in Weeniepedia.
All best,
John

[Blues Vintage]

Still got something to nag about in 2021.


"Tear It Down"

2.5 Now 'f I catch another mule kickin' in my stall

4.2 Just Let's run like hell when the police come


"Cincinnati Underworld Woman"

3.1 It takes a rockin' chair to rock, mama, and a rubber ball to roll
3.2 It takes a rockin' chair to rock, mama, and a rubber ball to roll

5.1 And I'm goin' to, the river and take my boat and float
5.1 And I'm goin' to, the river and take my boat and float

[Johnm]

Thanks for the suggestions, Harry. In "Tear It Down", in the previous transcription that I did, which was already up in Weeniepedia, the two corrections you suggested are already in that transcription. In "Cincinnati Underworld Woman"
in 3.1 and 3.2 I hear "mama" in both lines, but I hear no "and" in the first line. In 5.1, I hear no "and", but in 5.2 I do hear a very quick "and". I've made those corrections.
All best,
Johnm