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I done seen better days, but I'm putting up with these - Richard Rabbit Brown, James Alley Blues

Author Topic: Belton Sutherland Lyrics  (Read 5224 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Belton Sutherland Lyrics
« on: April 08, 2016, 05:04:14 PM »
Hi all,
Belton Sutherland was filmed by Alan Lomax, John Bishop and Worth Long on September 3, 1978 near Canton,  Mississippi.  There are just a few performances by him available, and they are all top notch.  "Blues # 2" has him playing in E position in standard tuning, right around C#, which puts him a minor third low of standard tuning.  The youtube clip of him says the piece was improvised, and it very well may have been; certain aspects of it were almost definitely improvised.  The form is Sutherland's own--one-line stanzas, some of which are repeated for further emphasis.  Here is his performance:



INTRO

Well, I feel like holl'in', don't wanta holler, Lord

I got somethin' to tell you, girl, tell it to no crowd

PLAYING A LONG TIME

I want you to love me or leave me, anything you wanta do

I want you to love me or leave me, anything you wanta do

What a strange thing happenin', someday it might happen to you

She's a brown-skin woman, dimples in her jaw

She's a brown-skin woman, dimples in her jaw

If you ever had the blues, know about how I feel

If you ever had the blues, know about how I feel

Feel just like a engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel

All best,
Johnm

 

 

« Last Edit: April 08, 2016, 05:33:54 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Belton Sutherland Lyrics
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2016, 05:28:58 PM »
Hi all,
For "Blues # 1", Belton Sutherland was working again in E position, standard tuning, at C#.  Once again, his structure is very loose.  He sure came up with some great signature licks!  The song starts out as though it is going to be an exceptionally original cover of Lemon Jefferson's "Prison Cell Blues", but then veers away.  Here is his performance:



INTRO

Tired of sleeping, low-down lonesome cell
Tired of sleeping there, low-down lonesome cell
And I wouldn't've been here, hadn't've been for Nell

Kill that old grey mule, burn down the white man's barn
Kill that old grey mule, burn down that white man's barn
I didn't mean no trouble, I didn't mean no harm

I want you to love me or leave me, girl, anything you wanta do
I want you to love me or leave me, anything you wanta do
What a strange thing happenin', someday might a-happen to you

Well you say you gonna leave me, said you're goin' away
Well, you said you're gonna leave me, pretty Maggie, said you was goin' away
I said, luck be the fortune, you'll come back home some day

I said luck beats a fortune, gonna make you come some home someday

All best,
Johnm



« Last Edit: April 10, 2016, 06:19:11 AM by Johnm »

Offline jphauser

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Re: Belton Sutherland Lyrics
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2023, 07:12:50 PM »
Hi all,
For "Blues # 1", Belton Sutherland was working again in E position, standard tuning, at C#.  Once again, his structure is very loose.  He sure came up with some great signature licks!  The song starts out as though it is going to be an exceptionally original cover of Lemon Jefferson's "Prison Cell Blues", but then veers away.  Here is his performance:



Kill that old grey mule, burn down the white man's barn
Kill that old grey mule, burn down that white man's barn
I didn't mean no trouble, I didn't mean no harm

To me, it sounds like Sutherland is singing "supper" instead of "trouble" in the third line of the second verse.  "Supper" doesn't make sense, but "trouble" does.  Is it possible that he just made a mistake?

It sounds like he's singing "trouble" in the song below which is similar to Muddy Waters's song "I Be's Troubled."






Offline Johnm

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Re: Belton Sutherland Lyrics
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2023, 02:58:48 PM »
I'm pretty sure it is "trouble".

Offline jphauser

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Re: Belton Sutherland Lyrics
« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2023, 07:43:52 PM »
Thanks for your input, John.  To me, it sounds more like "trouble" at lower volumes.  But at higher volumes, I hear an "s" instead of a "t."  My wife says she hears  a word other than "trouble," also.  She thinks that missing teeth might be the problem.  Anyways, we agree that at least at higher volumes, it sounds like "srouble."
« Last Edit: December 04, 2023, 08:04:05 PM by jphauser »

 


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