Topic: Mississippi John Hurt Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt played his version of "Shake That Thing" out of G position in standard tuning.  The version I have is from a CD called "Revisited", and apart from knowing that the recording was made post-rediscovery and was recorded in concert, I don't know its provenance.  Here is the song:



Spoken:  I bought my babe a diamond ring

INTRO SOLO

I bought my babe, big diamond ring, come right back home, caught her shakin' that thing
Baby, shake that thing, won't you shake that thing?
Well, I'm gettin' sick and tired of tellin' you to shake that thing

SOLO

One, two, three, four, five, six, please don't leave me in this fix
Baby, shake that thing, won't you shake that thing?
Well, I'm gettin' sick and tired (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

Yes, I got something' called a wobblin' whip, I got the Elgin movement in my hip
Baby, shake that thing, won't you shake that thing?
Well, I'm gettin' sick and tired (guitar finishes line)

SOLO X 2

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Lazy Blues" was the opening cut on John Hurt's second post-rediscovery album, "Worried Blues", recorded live at the Ontario Place coffeehouse in Washington, D. C. and released on the Piedmont label.  The recording is now available on Rounder with the same title.  John Hurt played the song out of E position in standard tuning and it is deceptively tricky to play, with phrasing that I think felt natural to him but which may prove elusive for other people.  Here it is:

 

SPOKEN:  This is the Lazy Blues.

INTRO SOLO

Wake up in the morning, a towel tied 'round her head
Wake up in the morning, towel tied 'round her head
When you speak to her, she swear she almost dead

SOLO

Oh tell me, baby, what make you walk so slow?
Lord, tell me, baby, what make you walk so slow?
Says, "I feel just like I never felt before."

SOLO X 2

Wake up in the morning, a towel tied 'round her head
Wake up in the morning, towel tied 'round her head
When You speak to her, she swear she almost dead

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Moanin' The Blues" appeared for the first time on John Hurt's second album on Vanguard, "The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt".  It was recorded as a duet, with Patrick Sky seconding John Hurt.  Both guitarists were playing out of E position in standard tuning, and it is not overly difficult to pick out John Hurt's playing from the mix.  This song feels sort of like a dance number with incidental lyrics.  Here it is:



INTRO

Oh, sweet baby
Yes, just try me one more time

No, no, baby, I don't wanna go
No, no, baby
Honey, you might do me like you did before

Got a girl in Avalon, yes, she's moanin' and cryin'
Left my girl in Avalon
Left my girl in Avalon, yes, she's moanin' and cryin'

SOLO (Spoken: Here's the way she's moanin' and cryin'.)

Yeah, I don't wanta go
No, no, baby
Honey, you might do me like you did before

Oh yeah
Mmm-hmm-hmm
Easy, baby, I come home to stay

Be rubbin' me, sure might drive me 'way
Be rubbin' me, baby
Mmm-hmm, sure might drive me 'way

SOLO

Sometime I do, baby, then again I don't
Sometime I do
That's all right, baby, just, give me just what I want

Yeah, she's grievin' and cryin'
Left a girl in Avalon
Yeah, she sure was grievin' and cryin'

INTERLUDE (Spoken: How did she cry in morning?)

All best,
Johnm



 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
This version of "Trouble, I've Had It All My Days" comes from the Rounder release, "Mississippi John Hurt--Legend", which was originally released on Rebel Records.  John Hurt played the song out of D position in standard tuning, in which he must have been one of the most adroit practitioners in all of the Country Blues.

 

INTRO SOLO

Well, you talk about trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble, had it all my days
Seem like trouble, gonna carry me to my grave

SOLO

What you gonna do when your baby put you down?
What I'm gonna do when my baby put me down
I'm gon' get drunk, gonna walk all over town

Lord, you talk about trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble (guitar finishes line)
Seem like trouble gonna carry me to my grave

SOLO

Baby, please don't put me down
Baby, please don't put me down
You are the sweetest girl in town

Lord, you talk about trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble, had it all my days
Seem like trouble gonna carry me to my grave

SOLO

That's my baby, man, wish you'd let her 'lone
Oh man, I wish you'd let her 'lone
Hadn't've been for you, my baby would have stayed at home

Well, you talk about trouble, I've had it all my days
Trouble (guitar finishes line)
Seem like trouble gonna carry me to my grave

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Joe Turner Blues" on his first post-rediscovery album, on Piedmont, and also at his "Last Sessions", for Vanguard.  Here are the lyrics to the Vanguard version and here is John Hurt's performance.



INTRO SOLO X 2

Joe Turner is a man I do despise
Joe Turner (guitar finishes line)
Goin' around, tryin' to take men's wives

SOLO

Joe Turner, drove him from my door
Joe Turner, drove him from my door
Hope to God that he won't come back no more

SOLO

You policeman, you'd better not let him 'round
Policeman, you'd better not let him 'round
If you do, I'm sure gon' shoot him down

Joe Turner, man I do despise
Joe Turner, man I do despise
Goin' around, tryin' to take men's wives

I left Joe Turner, standing in my door
I left Joe Turner (guitar finishes line)
He may steal my girl, all I know

SOLO

Joe Turner, I drove him from my door
I drove Joe Turner, drove him from my door
May steal my good girl, all I know

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Hop Joint" for Vanguard, on "The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt", playing it out of G position in standard tuning.  Here is his performance:



SOLO X 2

I went down to the hop joint, hop joint raising sand
Says, "Throw back your gangway, I'm looking for my man.
Oh my babe, why don't you come home."

SOLO

I got a brand new razor and a .44 gun
Gonna cut you if you stay here, gonna shoot you if you run
Oh my babe, why don't you come home

SOLO

I said, I went down to the hop joint, the hop joint raising sand
Says, "Throw back your gangway, I'm looking for that man.
Oh my babe, why don't you come home."

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight" for Vanguard, on the "Mississippi John Hurt-Today" album.  It's a great up-tempo dance number, which he played in C position, standard tuning.  Here it is:



INTRO SOLO

There's a hot times in the old town, down in town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight
There's hot times in the old town, down in town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight

SOLO

Oh, come and go with me, down in old town tonight
It's hot times in the old town tonight
Yes, come and go with me, down in old town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight

SOLO

You can rubber tire your buggy, rubber tire your hack
I'm going down to bring my baby back
It's hot times in the old town, down in town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight

SOLO

I'm going down with razor, yes, in my hand
I'm going down, looking for that man
It's hot times in the old town, down in town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight

SOLO

I said, rubber tire your buggy, rubber tire your hack
I'm going down to bring my baby back
It's hot times in the old town, down in town tonight
Hot times in the old town tonight

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Salty Dog" on his first post-rediscovery album, on Piedmont, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning.  I can't recall him playing another raggy song with a circle of fifths chord progression.  I had forgotten how much scat singing and humming he did on this rendition, and it's very winning.



INTRO

Hmm-hmm-mmm
Hmm-mm-mm

Dee-dah-di-lah-dah, deedle-dah-dah
Dah
Dee-dah-di-lah-dah, dat-dah-dah

Dee-Dah, you salty dog!
Hey, hey, hey, you salty dog

Says, the big fish, little fish swimmin' in the water
Come back here, man, give me my quarter!

Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm
Hmm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm

Says, God made a woman, he made her mighty funny
The lips on the mouth just as sweet as any honey
Hey, hey, hey, you salty dog

Says, the scaredest I ever was in my life
Uncle Bud like to caught me kissin' his wife
Hey, hey, you salty dog

Hmm-mm-hmm-mm
Mmmmmm
Hmm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm

Says, you blue-eyed, you blue-gum, you speckle-foot ape
Your doggone foot ain't got no shape
Hmm-hmm-hmm, you salty dog

You salty dog
Dee-dah, dah-lah-dah-dum

All best,
Johnm

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Funky Butt" for his "Last Sessions" album on Vanguard.  He played it out of C position in standard tuning, and it is his version of "Buddy Bolden's Blues", which Jelly Roll Morton sang, and Dave Van Ronk turned into the instrumental, "St. Louis Tickle".  Here is John Hurt's "Funky Butt":



INTRO SOLO

I thought I heard some boys say
(Guitar answers)
Funky butt, stinky butt, take it away
(Guitar answers)
'Cause I don't like it nohow

SOLO

You see that girl with the red dress on
(Guitar answers)
She got funky butt, stinky butt, sure as you're born
(Guitar answers)
'Cause I don't like it nohow

SOLO

I thought I heard some boys say
(Guitar answers)
(Guitar leads) take it away
(Guitar answers)
(Guitar leads) take it away
'Cause I don't like it nohow

I . . . Buddy Bolden shout
(Guitar answers)
"Open the window, let the funk go out."
(Guitar answers)
'Cause I don't like it nohow

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Nobody Cares For Me" on "Worried Blues", his second Piedmont album.  It is a waltz that he accompanied out of D position in standard tuning, and the program of "Worried Blues" was really unusual in that it included three waltzes.

 

INTRO SOLO

REFRAIN: Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me
Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me

SOLO

'Twas a one bright and moonlight night, the moon shining bright
When you and I made love
The one I true, I'll say unto you
I moan like a turtledove

REFRAIN: Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me
Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me

SOLO

I'm coming home, no more to roam
Darling, I'm coming home
Coming home, no more to roam
Darling, I'm coming home

REFRAIN: Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me
Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me

SOLO

One bright and moonlight night, the moon shining bright
When you and I made love
You love one, I true, I'll say unto you
I moan like a turtledove

REFRAIN: Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me
Lonesome is I, I wished I could die
Nobody cares for me

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Coffee Blues" on the Rebel album that later became "Mississippi John Hurt-Legend" on Rounder.  The song is an 8-bar blues played out of A position in standard tuning.  This version launches right in with music and lacks a spoken intro like some of his other recorded versions.

 

INTRO SOLO

I've got to go to Memphis, from there to Leland
I want to see my babe, 'bout a lovin' spoonful

'Bout a lovin' spoonful (guitar finishes line)
Well, I've just got to have my lovin' spoonful

SOLO

Good morning, baby, how you do this morning?
Well, please, ma'am, make me, just a lovin' (guitar finishes line)

Just a lovin' spoonful (guitar finishes line)
Well, I've just got to have my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

You can bring me whiskey, you can bring me tea
Nothing satisfy me, man, but my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

But my lovin' spoonful (guitar finishes line)
Well, I've just got to have my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

My baby packed her suitcase and she went away
I couldn't let her stay, for my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

For my lovin' spoonful (guitar finishes line)
Well, I just had to have my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

Oh, the preacher in the pulpit, jumpin' up and down
He laid his Bible down, for the lovin' spoon-- (Spoken: Ain't Maxwell House all right?)

(Guitar starts refrain)
He just had to have that lovin' (guitar finishes line

SOLO 

Good morning, baby, how you do this morning?
Well, please, ma'am, make me, just a lovin' spoon--

I'll kill the policeman, knock down the sheriff
It's all about my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

My lovin' spoonful (guitar finishes line)
Well, I've just got to have my lovin' (guitar finishes line)

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded an epic version of "Cow Hooking Blues" for the Library of Congress, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning, tuned quite low.



INTRO SOLO

Woke up this morning, just about the break of day
Woke up this morning
I hugged my pillow where my baby used to lay

The girl I love, give me the blues and gone
The girl I love
The girl I love, give me the blues and gone

SOLO

Went to the river, river's running up and down
Went to the river
Had the blues so bad, started to jump in and drown

Had the blues so bad, walked out to the barn
Had the blues so bad
That old cow, she hooked me, with her great long horn

SOLO

Lord, she hurt my heart, mighta heard me cryin'
She hurt my heart
(Guitar finishes verse)

Baby, baby, please don't put me down
Baby
Please, baby, let me change your mind

SOLO

Edited 1/6/19 by Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "Keep On Knocking", an 8-bar blues in A position, standard tuning, on "The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt", on Vanguard.  I don't think I know of any other 8-bar blues with the internal instrumental responses built into each line the way John Hurt did them here.  Here is "Keep On Knocking":



INTRO SOLO

Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)
Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)

Keep on knockin' and you can't come in (guitar finishes line)
Keep on knockin' and you can't come in (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

Oh Lord, baby, you're satisfied? (guitar finishes line)
Tell me, baby, you're satisfied (guitar finishes line)

One more time (guitar), one more time, I'll (guitar finishes line)
One more time, I'll be satisfied (guitar finishes line)

Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)
Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

Doorbell ringin' and you can't come in (guitar finishes line)
Doorbell ringin' and you can't come in (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)
Oh Lord, man, you can't come in (guitar finishes line)

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt recorded "If You Don't Want Me Baby" on "Mississippi John Hurt-Today", on Vanguard, accompanying himself out of Vestapol tuning.  It's one of his most unforgettable performances--I don't know of another song quite like it in the style.  It was interesting to hear two more versions of the song on the Library of Congress recordings, one in Spanish tuning.  John Hurt was unusual in his ability and choice to play several songs in his repertoire out of more than one playing position/tuning.  Here is "If You Don't Want Me Baby":



INTRO SOLO

Don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow
Don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow

SOLO

It was late last night, when everything was still
Well me and your baby ease out on the hill

SOLO

I tried my best to do my Father's will
I tried my best to do my Father's will

SOLO

Don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow
Don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow

SOLO

Sun goin' down, ain't this a lonesome place?
The sun goin' down, ain't this a lonesome place?

So lonesome here, can't see my baby's face
It's so lonesome here, can't see in my baby's face

SOLO

You don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow
Don't want me, baby, got to have me anyhow

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
There is a wonderful recording of John Hurt performing "Make Me A Pallet On The Floor" on "Mississippi John Hurt-Revisited".  John Hurt recorded the same song in 1928 under the title "Ain't No Telling'".

 

SPOKEN:  This is "Make Me A Pallet On The Floor".

INTRO SOLO

Make me down, pallet on your floor
Make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me a pallet, down, soft and low
Make me a pallet on your floor

SOLO

Up the country, where there cold sleet and snow
I'm goin' up the country, where there cold sleet and snow
I'm goin' up the country, where the cold sleet and snow
No tellin' how much further I may go

Just make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me a pallet, down, soft and low
Make me a pallet on your floor

SOLO

Don't you let my good girl catch you here
Please don't let my good girl catch you here
Yes, she might shoot you, liable to cut you and stab you, too
No tellin' what she might do

Just make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me a pallet, down, soft and low
Make me a pallet on your floor

Make it, close behind the door
Make it, baby, close behind the door
Make it, sweet baby, close behind the door
Make it, where nobody'll never go

Just make me down (guitar finishes line)
(Guitar finishes refrain)

Make me down, pallet on your floor
Make me down (guitar finishes line)
Make me pallet, down, soft and low
Make me a pallet on your floor

All best,
Johnm