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Play. - Gus Cannon, Bring It With You When You Come

Author Topic: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics  (Read 575 times)

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Offline Blues Vintage

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Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« on: July 07, 2021, 06:10:13 AM »
I Had A Dream


Discovered this obscure bluesman. Could use some help with the lyrics.


Lazy Bill Lucas – Vocals, Piano
Louis Myers - Guitar
Elga Edmonds - Drums

October 29, 1953
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in Ab





PIANO INTRO

I had a dream I was sleeping, found myself way down below
I had a dream I was sleeping, found myself way down below
I couldn’t get to heaven, you know, the place I had to go

The devil had me cornered, stuck me with his old pitchforks
The devil had me cornered, stuck me with his old pitchforks
He put me in an oven, thought he had me for roast pork  (Spoken: Play it boy)

GUITAR SOLO

Them hounds started to chase me, man, I was a runnin’ fool
Them hounds started to chase me, man, I was a runnin’ fool
My ankles caught on fire, I couldn’t keep my puppies cool

I saw a thousand devils, with long tails and sharp horns
I saw a thousand devils, with long tails and sharp horns
You know, every one of them devils, tried to step on my corns
« Last Edit: July 07, 2021, 02:08:21 PM by Harry »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2021, 06:23:14 AM »
Hi Harry,
That's a neat song. I never heard it before. I think the end of 2.3 is
   thought he had me for ROAST PORK

I think the last verse is:

   I saw a thousand devils, with no HORNED tail and sharp HORNS
   I saw a thousand devils, with no HORNED tail and sharp HORNS
   You know, every one of them devils, tried to step on my CORNS

It sounds like Lazy Bill had some foot problems.

All best,
Johnm
   

Offline dj

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2021, 06:28:33 AM »
The devil had me cornered, stuck me with his old pitchfork
The devil had me cornered, stuck me with his old pitchfork
He put me in an oven, thought he had me for roast pork

I saw a thousand devils, with long tails and sharp horns
I saw a thousand devils, with long tails and sharp horns
You know every one of them devils, tried to step on my corns

"gun" isn't right in the last line of the third verse, but I can't hear it well enough to correct it now.

Offline Thomas8

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2021, 07:06:41 AM »
Lazy Bill Lucas was very much an anomaly in that his "home key/position" on the piano was actually G# though he played in other keys. This song is played in G# position. He recorded a self titled album in the seventies produced by Jeff Todd Titon which I would recommend immensely. I love his singing and playing he's got a real old soul approach to him. There's a song from the same session as above "She Got me Walkin'" where he name drops his pals Snooky Pryor and Homesick James into the lyrics.

He started off playing guitar in the forties before learning the piano. There's a couple of songs on the album mentioned "Coal Black Mare" and "Greyhound Bus blues" which shows him to be a very capable guitar player.

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2021, 09:10:50 AM »
Thanks John, dj and Thomas.

I have to agree with dj on the last verse.
I was unsure about "Gun". I thought I heard "coat" at one point, I'll have to keep listening.

The song is perfectly pitched in G#/Ab indeed which made me think he actually played in that key at first.
He really plays so fluently (also 'cause the key of G is so common among blues pianists) I figured it had to be G.
Thanks for correcting me on that, Thomas.



Lazy Bill Lucas - Discography

https://www.wirz.de/music/lucas.htm

Offline Johnm

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2021, 09:47:28 AM »
Hi Harry,
I think in verse three it is STARTED rather than "start".
All best,
Johnm

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2021, 10:27:47 AM »
I agree and made that change. I had that in my first draft.

Lucas sings "My HANDS caught on fire" on a 1974 LP. But I don't hear that at all on this version.
There is a alternate take of the 1953 recording but I can't find it.

Offline dj

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2021, 01:25:59 PM »
Quote
There is a alternate take of the 1953 recording but I can't find it.

The alternate version is on Weiner World CD WNRCD 5106, Down Home Blues Chicago, Volume 2.

On the Chance single it sounds like "My hands done caught on fire".  On the alternate take he just sings "My hands caught on fire".


Offline banjochris

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2021, 01:58:21 PM »
Pretty sure it's
My ANKLES caught on fire

he's talking about his feet for the last two verses.

Cool song!

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Lazy Bill Lucas Lyrics
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2021, 02:14:47 PM »
Yes, you got it, Chris. That's some excellent hearing as always.
Thanks a lot.

 


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