WeenieCampbell.com
Country Blues => Country Blues Lyrics => Topic started by: Oscar Wolf on January 11, 2012, 12:22:12 PM
-
Folks, I'm havin troubles with those lyrics from "Worrying Blues" from Ed Macon and Tampa Joe: Macon Ed+Tampa Joe - Worrying Blues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OwkSdrVXwg#)
This is what I got:
Worrying Blues
I went down on the corner with my, raise? in my hand, to kill that woman about, lovin another man
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I 've done packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I'm so sad & lonely, lost & refused ?
Can't have no loving but still have the blues?
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I 've done packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I went to my baby knock on, the backdoor
And she says she can't, use me no more
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've done packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
(spoken part) help!
?????help???? woman got the tub, sister got the liquor, and brother got the jug...
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
i 've done packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I walk..???? al busted??? cold??? (that one is a bit hard for my ear)
tryin to find a home?
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
i 've done packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee."
Thanks!
-
Some possible suggestions:
I 've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee (without "done")
3.1 I went to my baby, knocked on HER backdoor
(spoken part) The woman I've got [worries ev'rybody's mind?]. Keeps me worried all the time, boy.
4.1 [Daddy's got the rifle(?], mama's got the tub, sister got the liquor, and brother got the jug...
5.1 Our waterpipes are busted, water running cold, Mama's in the basement, trying to find the hole...
Hopefully the natives will chime in and take it from here. :)
Cheers
Pan
-
Thanks Pan!,
Here's what WE got, by the way
Worrying Blues
I went down on the corner with my, raise in my hand, to kill that woman about, lovin another man
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I'm so sad & lonely, lost & refused
Can't have no loving but still have the blues?
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I went to my baby knock on, her backdoor
And she says she can't, use me no more
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
(spoken part) The woman I've got [worries ev'rybody's mind?]. Keeps me worried all the time, boy.
Daddy's got the rifle, mama's got the tub, sister got the liquor, and brother got the jug
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
Our waterpipes are busted, water running cold, Mama's in the basement, trying to find the hole
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I 've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee."
-
Hi coco,
In the very first line, I think it is: RAZOR in my hand
And in the last chorus, I think it is:
I've packed my suitcase, BEAT IT back to Tennessee.
All best,
Johnm
-
In the spoken part it sounds like
The woman I've got 'll worry anybody's mind, keeps me worried all the time
In 4.1 it could be Daddy, but is possibly "Eddie" or "Ed has", as in Macon Ed.
EDDIE'S got the RUB BOARD... (i.e. washboard)
-
Yeah, it makes more sense now, thanks to all !!!, this is what we got by the way:
I went down on the corner with my, razor in my hand, to kill that woman about, lovin another man
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I'm so sad & lonely, lost & refused
Can't have no loving but still have the blues?
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
I went to my baby knock on, her backdoor
And she says she can't, use me no more
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
(spoken part) The woman I've got 'll worry anybody's mind, keeps me worried all the time
EDDIE'S got the RUB BOARD, mama's got the tub, sister got the liquor, and brother got the jug
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I've packed my suitcase, walk on back to tenessee"
Our waterpipes are busted, water running cold, Mama's in the basement, trying to find the hole
"You know it's worryin me, aw it's worryin me
I 've packed my suitcase, beat it back to tenessee."
-
This is a very amazing thread! Words to Mean Florida Blues - I can't decipher some of these but I bet the Weenie hive mind will be able to. Here is what I have. Thanks in advance.
Mean Florida Blues ? Peg Leg Howell & Eddie Anthony
https://youtu.be/iFpDV9wnk7U
I?ve got the mean old, lowdown Florida, blues
I?ve got the mean old, lowdown Florida, blues
And when you get them, they will thrill you through and through
How many dog in one family, go from door to door
Any dog in my family, go from door to door
I swear to the lord I, won?t be ???? no more
Fiddle
Mama told me, dad told me too
And mama told me, dad told me too
Any woman get in your face now, ain?t no friend to you
Fiddle
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a ???Henry bag??? Too???
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a ???
Gonna leave here walkin?, singing them Floridy blues
-
Hi Ale_Buster_Ponti,
"Overalls" are heavy work wear, a one-piece sort of work jump suit. In blues lyrics, the singer often asks that his jumper (another work wear item) be starched and his overalls ironed (pressed). I don't know why the singer needs such well-cared-for work clothes, but I think it is mostly because "overalls" rhymes (sort of) with "cannonball", the name of a train. Maybe, too, the singer wants to look sharp at all times, so starched and ironed jumpers and overalls are wanted for that reason. Trying to explain it makes me realize I've heard such verses many times before and never really thought about them!
All best,
Johnm
I love it when these old threads are revived... and I can see what I've missed!
FWIW, ironing work clothes was the custom in country life. My father came from a sibling group of 7, his job was to iron. Overalls and white work shorts were ironed and starched... they had cotton fields. (my fathers family was from the panhandle... around Lubbock), some cows to tend. My in-laws were from Kansas - same thing, they would iron and starch work clothes... wheat fields, cattle. This was after they washed by hand, run through a wringer and then dried on a line. I'm not sure the significance of doing all of this work. To honor their husbands and sons for going out from sun up to sun down perhaps? I mean it took 30 minutes and those work clothes were probably drenched with sweat and a vry wrinkle-y!
-
Hi Suzy -
My thoughts in caps below.
Mean Florida Blues ? Peg Leg Howell & Eddie Anthony
I?ve got the mean old, lowdown Florida blues
I?ve got the mean old, lowdown Florida blues
And when you get them, they will thrill you through and through
I BEEN A DOG in my family, DROVE from door to door
BEEN A dog in my family, DROVE from door to door
I swear to the lord I won?t be DROVE no more
Fiddle
Mama told me, DADDY told me too
And mama told me, dad told me too
Any woman GRIN in your face, SON, ain?t no friend to you
Fiddle
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a HEAVY PAIR OF SHOES
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a HEAVY PAIR OF SHOES
Gonna leave here walkin?, singing them Floridy blues
-
Isn't this a Macon Ed and Tampa Red cut? I don't think Peg Leg Howell plays on this one, does he?
All best,
Johnm
-
You are absolutely right, John, Macon Ed and Tampa Joe, Eddie Anthony was Macon Ed.
-
You are absolutely right, John, Macon Ed and Tampa Joe, Eddie Anthony was Macon Ed.
Maybe slightly off topic but, was Eddie Anthony the vocalist on this tune, or did he just play the fiddle? I've always thought that Peg was the one singing, but I've not heard enough of his stuff yet to know without a doubt.
-
I just listed to Mean Florida Blues again, and I swear there's 2 fiddles on there. My copy of Goodrich Dixon says one fiddle, but 2 fiddles on Try That Thing, recorded in the same session. Anyone else hear 2 fiddles on Mean Florida? It sounds like one fiddle is backing up the fiddle, playing the melody behind the singing, and the other fiddle is playing the responses to the sung lines. Damn I wish we had more information about Eddie Anthony!
-
Hi Suzy - I hear one fiddle, a backup guitar and another guitar playing bottleneck. The bottleneck guitar gets right up in the same space with the fiddle... pretty cool sound! I haven't listened to these sides in years.
Seriously... why see Robert Johnson everywhere when you could be seeing Eddie Anthony? Sheesh, already!
-
Can you help me with this kind of "Sittin' on the top of the world" tune?
https://youtu.be/sy5TvoGBYUI
Everything's comin' my way (Macon Ed - Tampa Joe)
I remember ?... spring?, when the bluebirds begin to sing
tell me, you wanna go(sounds like goin') away, you're goin' , away to stay
I remember ...last fall? say when you leave me? you "won't be back at ???"
now you're gone, I ain't grievin' everything's workin my way
Give you my money, and all of your clothes, then you throw away, my jelly roll
so many days, i'm sitting??? blue, just cryin' over you
after all I had-got to do I just couldn't get along with you
now you're gone, I ain't grievin' everything's workin my way
don't count'em runnin'?, holdin' up your hands, I can't get a woman, ...???? you get a man
now you're gone, I ain't grievin' everything's workin my way
solo
I don't want no woman, I ain't got no job, gonna get me a freight train, time don't ....??????
now you're gone, I ain't grievin' everything's workin my way
Thanks!!!
-
What I hear:
I remember well last spring, when the bluebirds began to sing
Tell you were going away, you're going away to stay
I remember well last fall, say when you leave you won't be back at all
Now you're gone, I ain't grieving, everything's working my way
Give you my money, and all of your clothes, then you throw away my jelly roll
So many days, I'm sitting blue, just crying over you
After all I tried to do I just couldn't get along with you
Now you're gone, I ain't grieving everything's working my way
Instrument break (cool slide stuff)
Now coming running, holding out your hand,
I can get a woman quick as you can get a man
Now you're gone, I ain't grieving everything's working my way
Instrumental break (cool slide stuff)
I don't want no woman, I ain't got no job
Gonna get me a freight train, times done got hard
Now you're gone, I ain't grieving everything's working my way
-
Thanks! you may have One Eye, but you sure have a good pair of ears!
-
Hi all,
I merged the recent thread on "Everything's Comin' My Way" into the Macon Ed/Tampa Joe Lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
Macon Ed and Tampa Joe recorded "Worrying Blues" at a session in Atlanta on March 12, 1929. Macon Ed was Eddie Anthony, who played fiddle and sang lead here and had also recorded earlier with Peg Leg Howell. The identity of Tampa Joe is not known, but Jim Hill, Peg Leg Howell and Henry Williams have all been suggested as possible performers. I think I'd vote for Henry Williams if I had to choose between those three. The spoken comments on the song sound nothing like Peg Leg Howell's spoken comments on his own cuts, and Jim Hill played mandolin on the Peg Leg Howell cuts on which he was featured. Whoever it was, including someone altogether different, Tampa Joe was playing the guitar in C position, standard tuning. I'd appreciate correction of any places in the lyrics I have wrong. Here is "Worrying Blues":
https://youtu.be/2OwkSdrVXwg
INTRO
I went down on the corner with my, razor in my hand, to kill that woman about lovin' another man
REFRAIN: You know it's worryin' me, oh, it's worry me
I'm pack my suitcase, walk on back to Tennessee
I'm so sad and lonely, lost and refused, can't have no loving but, still have the blues
REFRAIN: You know it's worryin' me, (Spoken: Worries me too, boy!) oh, it's worry me
I'm pack my suitcase, walk on back to Tennessee
I went to my baby, knocked on, her back door, and she said she can't, use me no more
REFRAIN: You know it's worryin' me, oh, it's worry me
I'm a-pack my suitcase, walk on back to Tennessee
SOLO (Spoken: Woman I got'll worry anybody's mind. Keeps me worried all the time, boy!)
Eddie's got the rubboard, Mama's got the tub, sister got the liquor and brother got the jug
REFRAIN: You know it's worryin' me, oh, it's worry me
I'm a-pack my suitcase, walk on back to Tennessee
Our water pipe's all busted, water running cold, plumber's in the basement, trying to find the hole
REFRAIN: You know it's worryin' me, oh, it's worry me (Spoken: Worrying me too, boy)
I'm a-pack my suitcase, beat it back to Tennessee
CODA
Edited 8/1 to pick up correction from banjochris
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
Macon Ed and Tampa Joe recorded "Mean Florida Blues" at a session in Atlanta on December 9, 1930. Eddie Anthony once again supplied the vocal and violin playing and Tampa Joe provided guitar back-up in C position in standard tuning. Despite DG&R not mentioning it, they were clearly joined by a third instrumentalist on the track, who by the sound of it was playing either mandolin or mandolin-banjo, and what makes it particularly unusual is that this player was using a slide on the instrument. I think earlier in this thread, the third instrument was tentatively identified as a slide guitar, but the instrument's unison courses can be heard very clearly many times in the course of the rendition, and it's melodic phrases are right on top of those of the violin, which suggests either a mandolin or mandolin-banjo, perhaps played by the mysterious Jim Hill. Whatever the case, the song has a particularly beautiful melody, one of the prettiest in the blues, and somewhat reminiscent of that of Ma Rainey's "Booze And Blues". Here is "Mean Florida Blues":
https://youtu.be/iFpDV9wnk7U
INTRO
I've got the mean ol', low-down Florida blues
I've got the mean ol', low-down Florida blues
And when you, get them, they will thrill you through and through
I've been a dog in my family, drove from door to door
Been a dog in my family, drove from door to door
And I swear to the Lord I, won't be, drove no more
SOLO
Mama told me, Daddy told me, too
Mama told me, Dad told me, too
"Every woman grin in your face, son, ain't no friend to you."
SOLO
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a heavy pair of shoes
Gonna buy me a suitcase, buy me a heavy pair of shoes
Gonna leave here, walkin', singin' them, Floridy [sic] blues
CODA
Edited 8/1 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage
All best,
Johnm
-
In 5.1 of "Worrying" I think it's the plumber rather than mama trying to find the hole.
Chris
-
Thanks for the catch, Chris, I've made the change.
-
Hi all,
The first song that Macon Ed and Tampa Joe recorded, and it was released as being by Tampa Joe and Macon Ed, was "Wringing That Thing", recorded in Atlanta on March 12, 1929. As with all their other songs I've listened to thus far, Tampa Joe is accompanying out of C position in standard tuning. Both players sing all the way through with a wonderfully loose unison. The song is of the "Tight Like That" family and the duo achieves a neat effect by staying on the I chord when they come to the fifth bar. Any help with the lyrics is appreciated. Here is "Wringing That Thing":
https://youtu.be/LBkchgFWna0
INTRO
Now listen here, folks, we don't mean no harm, don't get mad, we're gonna sing a little song about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, and it's beedle-um-bum, oh it's wringin' that thing, beedle-eye-do
Let me tell you 'bout it, about wringin' that thing
There was a little black rooster met a little brown hen, and made a date at the barn about a half past ten, about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, lum-bum, about wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum
Let me tell you 'bout it, about wringin' that thing
I had a little woman, lived by Peachtree Road, she made more money, John Henry Ford, about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum, about wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum
Let me tell you 'bout it, about wringin' that thing
And the rooster crows, the hen looked around, "The bum-bum-biddley gonna tear you down.", about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum, about wringin' that thing, bee-baa
Let me tell you 'bout it, about wringin' that thing
My mama had a little dog, name was Ball, give him a little and he wants it all, about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum, about wringin' that thing, bee-bah
Let me tell you about it, about wringin' that thing
SOLO (Spoken: Play that thing, boy! Whup it up there, Jim! Folks, I mean she could wring that thing.)
Uncle Bill came in about half past ten, key in the hole but he couldn't get in, about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, beedle-bum-bum, oh, wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum
Let me tell you about it, about wringin' that thing
Aunt Daisy and Uncle Bud, chinkypin huntin', she fell down and [ ] about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, about wringin' that thing, baah
Let me tell you about it, about wringin' that thing
SOLO: ( Spoken: Play it, boy! Whup it up there, Jim!)
If you see my gal, hurry home, had no bread since she been gone, about
REFRAIN: Wringin' that thing, beedle-um-bum, oh, wringin' that thing, beedle-uhh
Let me tell you about it, they're gonna wring that thing
SOLO (Spoken: Bee-dum, bee-dum. bee-dum, bum)
Edited 8/1 to pick up corrections from banjochris and Stuart
All best,
Johnm
-
2.1 DATE AT THE BARN
5.1 not sure I hear "just" here
Spoken in solo: FOLKS, I MEAN she could wring that thing
7.1 Aunt Daisy AND UNCLE BUD and of course they just totally fall apart at the end of that line, usually that verse ends with "hunting" again or "something"
And what an ending!
-
Hi John: Re: "Wringing That Thing"
2.1 made a date at the bottom about a half past ten
It sounds like "bottom" to me, but with two voices it's difficult to say for sure.
7.1 (Following Chris) Aunt Jane Uncle Bud, Jane's been ('huntin'?), Jane fell down...
That's about the best I can do with 7.1 using the tools at my disposal to dissect the sounds
6.1 Typo: key in the hole but he coouldn't get in
-
Thanks for the help, Chris and Stuart.
-
Some nitpicking for Mean Florida Blues,
4.3 Gon' leave here walkin' I hear a clear full gonna
-
I agree, Blues Vintage, and have made the change. Thanks.
-
7.1 (Following Chris) Aunt Jane Uncle Bud, Jane's been ('huntin'?), Jane fell down...
Stuart, dunno if you know about this and apologies for the explanation if you do, but chinkypin (or chinquapin) hunting is a pretty common lyric in old-time music especially – they're similar to a chestnut; I've never eaten one. But there are lots of tunes with that expression, probably more so in old-time than blues.
Chris
-
The same verse occurs in Peg Leg Howell and His Gang's recording of, I believe "Turkey Buzzard Blues", and the ending of that line is unintelligible there, too!
-
In "Turkey Buzzard" it's something like
Me and my gal went a-chinquapin huntin' (3x)
She fell down and I saw somethin'
;D
-
Hi Chris:
Thanks for the post. This is a case where I just didn't hear it in the recording and didn't connect the chestnut variety with the song and the lyrics. I remember hearing "Chinky Pin" as a fiddle tune, but since there were no lyrics, I didn't connect the title with Chinquapin. Every year or two when the chestnuts drop around here I have to remind my wife not to pick up horse chestnuts. I've occasionally looked beyond the NW species as there are chestnut trees in NJ and NE PA where my mother was from. It looks like the Castanea pumila doesn't range quite as far north as where I'm originally from. I did a little follow up and here are a few links, FYI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanea_pumila
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinquapin
https://tinyurl.com/2p5svvn9
I listened to "Wringing That Thing" again and also to "Turkey Buzzard" and I can faintly make out the word--But only after you and John set me on the proper path, otherwise I'd be lost.
John: Feel free to move this elsewhere if you want. IMHO, it doesn't really add anything to help with deciphering the lyrics, something you and Chris have already done. It just provides some ancillary info re: Chinquapin and its variants.
-
I don't think there's any need to move the post, Stuart, since it provides enriched context.
-
Hi all,
"Everything's Coming My Way" was recorded at the same session as "Mean Florida Blues", and by the sound of it, with the same instrumental compliment: Macon Ed on fiddle, Tampa Joe on guitar in C position, standard tuning, and an unknown third party playing slide mandolin/banjo-mandolin/tiple. The song starts out as being an offshoot of "Sitting On Top Of the World", but with a longer and more complex form. For the final two verses though, the previous form is jettisoned, and the form of "Sitting On Top Of the World" is more exactly copied. I'd be curious to know why the song was titled "Everything's Coming My Way" despite Eddie Anthony singing the title phrase as "Everything's Working My Way" from beginning to end of the rendition. Here is "Everything's Coming My Way":
https://youtu.be/sy5TvoGBYUI
INTRO
I remember, way last Spring, when the bluebird began to sing
Tell me, you were going away, you were going away and stay
I remember, way last Fall, say when you leave me, wouldn't be back at all
REFRAIN: Now you're gone, I ain't grievin', everything's workin' my way
Give you my money and all your clothes, 'til you throw away my jellyroll
So many days, I'm sittin' blue, just cryin' over you
After all I tried to do, I just couldn't, get along with you
REFRAIN: Now you're gone, I ain't grievin', everything's workin' my way
SOLO
Don't come here runnin', holding out your hand, I can get a woman, quick as you get a man
REFRAIN: Now you're gone, I ain't grievin', everything's workin' my way
SOLO
I don't want no woman, I ain't got no job, gon' get me a freight train, times done got hard
REFRAIN: Now you're gone, I ain't grievin', everything's workin' my way
CODA
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi all,
Macon Ed and Tampa Joe recorded "Tickle Britches" at the same December 9, 1930 session. Both sang on the song, and Tampa Joe was once again accompanying out of C position in standard tuning. I wish better session notes had been kept, because, for this song, I believe what had been a trio, for the tunes we've looked at thus far from this session, was augmented by the addition of a second fiddler, thus giving the ensemble two fiddles, guitar and mandolin. The raise a pretty good ruckus. The more I listen to this group in its various iterations, the more it seems likely that it was a loose agglomeration of musicians who busked. Something about their sound makes that seem possible. Here is "Tickle Britches":
https://youtu.be/T0HC9tcmRGg
INTRO SOLO
Tickle Britches is my name, Tickle Britches is my name
Tickle Britches all I say, knockin' on my door
You beat me in the kitchen, on the floor, knocked on my head 'til my nose got sore, but
That'll never happen no more, more, more, more, more, that'll never happen no more
Tickle Britches is my name, Tickle Britches is my name
Tickle Britches all I say, knockin'/rappin' on my door
I was standin' on the corner, tryin' to do right, a man said I was standin' there, talkin' to his wife, but
That'll never happen no more, more, more, more, that'll never happen no more
SOLO
Tickle Britches is my name, Tickle Britches is my name
Tickle Britches all I say, knockin' on my door
Way last Winter when the times was hard, I bought you meat, flour and plenty of lard, but
That'll never happen no more, more, more, more, that'll never happen no more
SOLO
Tickle Britches is my name, Tickle Britches is my name
Tickle Britches all I say, knockin' on my door
Toot your whistle, blow your horn, don't forget Britches got your water's on
Tickle Britches is my name, Tickle Britches is my name
Edited 8/3 to pick up corrections from Stuart and Blues Vintage
All best,
Johnm
-
Hi John: I agree--They certainly have a "loose" feel about them that suggests they played in informal settings like busking, and the looseness carried over into their recordings.
Re: "Tickle Britches" Overall the transcription looks good to me. In 2.1 I believe one of the members is singing "rappin'" instead of "knocking." It's something that would be tricky to transcribe, but I thought I should mention it.
-
Thanks for the catch, Stuart. I just put both words with a slash in between and will have an explanatory note in Weeniepedia.
-
I brought you meat, flour and plenty of lard
I think it's bought instead of brought
-
Hi, Blues Vintage, I agree and will make that change