At the M&F Grocery and Market the aisles are so big that two shopping carts can pass each other and never bump into each other. And everything in the store has a price on it. You don't have to worry about what it costs because the price is right there on it - Early Wright, obituary to the DJ, WROX Clarksdale
Will Batts recorded Country Woman in August 1933 for Vocalion, probably with Jack Kelly and Dan Sane on guitars. They were playing out of Spanish tuning, and discussion of the musical accompaniment can be found here.
I have some trouble spots in the lyrics. Line 3 of the first verse is not clear to me. The first option I include is from a transcription on the internet, though I am not sure I buy it. The 2nd option is my guess. Other spots in square brackets as well. Any help appreciated!
Country Woman Blues - Will Batts Spanish tuning
I've got two women in the country, I've got two women stays in town (yeah, boy) I've got two women in the country, I've got two women stays in town Reason I can fiddle it so careful, 'cause nar' don't dog me around
Say, you may be brownskin woman, great God, your hair long as my arm (all right, sing it) Say, you may be brownskin woman, great God, your hair long as my arm (yeah) Can't do the bedspring poker, you sure done lost your home
(Well, play it, boy!)
[Know] the short-haired woman waitin' for to carry your troubles on Make you think through the daytime, trouble you all night long (Why?) She make you think you right, when you know darn well you wrong (yeah, boy)
I don't want no jealous-hearted women, great God, makin' up my bed I don't want no jealous-hearted women, great God, makin' up my bed Man, she put somethin' in your mattress, make you wish you was dead
« Last Edit: July 18, 2020, 10:03:42 PM by Johnm »
Uncle bud, I think the phrase in 1.3 is, "Reason I consider it so careful". The only reason I know that is because Frank Basile pointed it out to me--I wasn't hearing it either. I think Frank Stokes used the line in one of his songs with fiddle. All best, Johnm
UB -- I'm hearing "fiddle" in 1.3 and "nar' none" for the other bit in brackets. I think he means he can get away with having four women because none of them bother him about it. Chris
I'm with Chris on the last line of the first verse:
"Reason I can FIDDLE it so careful 'cause NE'ER NONE dog me around"
Also, I'd transcribe the first line of verse three as:
"KNOW THE short-haired woman waitin' for to carry your troubles on", with the phrase understood to be "You know the short-haired woman...", but the "you" left out in this case.
Sorry for the delay in responding, things have been kind of hectic. I got a chance to go back and listen some more with all the suggestions in mind. For the line in question, I am hearing
Reason I can FIDDLE it so careful 'cause NAR' DON'T dog me 'round
Or should that be NE'ER, as in neither? I am pretty sure I am hearing a D sound in DON'T rather than an N sound for NONE. I really hear the F sound in FIDDLE, and indeed the rest of the word as well.
Johnm mentioned Frank Stokes using this line somewhere and I was able to track it down after much listening to Papa Frank himself. Never a bad thing. The (very similar) line occurs in "Downtown Blues (Take 2)" and was transcribed in the Frank Stokes lyrics thread as "Reason, I can feel it so careful, 'cause nar' one don't thrown me down". I think Stokes is singing "FIDDLE IT" as well in his version. Worth noting he sings "DON'T throw me down".
The meaning Chris proposes sounds reasonable to me, though I guess we won't know for sure without seeing other examples of this expression/sentiment. I wonder though whether "fiddle it" -- if that is correct, as I think it is -- comes as well quite literally from the the fact that Batts was a fiddler, who of course played on a number of Stokes' recordings. It doesn't make sense chronologically, since as far as recording dates go, Stokes and Sane recorded Downtown Blues in February 1928 while Batts, Sane and Jacky Kelly (prob.) recorded Country Woman in August 1933. But there's nothing to say this verse doesn't pre-date both of those recordings and is just a verse that this gang of musicians would use, possibly originating with Batts. Pure speculation!
Edited to add: Forgot to deal with verse 3. I'm considering dj's suggestion that it begins "KNOW, the short-haired woman...". I'm still waffling, but it makes some sense. This verse also appears in a Frank Stokes song: Mistreatin' Blues. In that song, it sounds like it could be "ANOTHER short-haired woman" but Stokes regularly adds the syllable ah/a/uh in front of many words for rhythmic effect, and this could instead be a case of that habit. So the line there would be "AH KNOW THE short-haired woman waitin' to carry your troubles on." Dunno.
Also forgot to address the question of I've/I'm. I hear what you're saying, fellas, though I think it is more I'mve, or I'm've, but for simplicity's sake I am leaving it as I've.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2012, 09:48:08 AM by uncle bud »
Reason I can FIDDLE it so careful 'cause NAR' DON'T dog me 'round
Or should that be NE'ER, as in neither? I am pretty sure I am hearing a D sound in DON'T rather than an N sound for NONE. I really hear the F sound in FIDDLE, and indeed the rest of the word as well.
Johnm mentioned Frank Stokes using this line somewhere and I was able to track it down after much listening to Papa Frank himself. Never a bad thing. The (very similar) line occurs in "Downtown Blues (Take 2)" and was transcribed in the Frank Stokes lyrics thread as "Reason, I can feel it so careful, 'cause nar' one don't thrown me down".
might nary be the intended word - would that have been a common usage? It means (or meant once upon a time) not any, never, as in nary a sound.
I'm having a rough time making this out, any help much appreciated! Here's what I have: President Blues ? Jack Kelly & South Memphis Jug Band (Will Batts, fiddle)
I?m walking round in Memphis, I?m telling ?.. didn?t have a dime
Don?t people go to see Roosevelt, I would have gone up ?..?
He woke up one morning, ?? He begin to thinking about his poor people, and he begin to feel sad
Fiddle
If I had four or five dollars, that would make everything all right If I don?t see no dinner, I?ll see you for a kiss goodnight
I believe I believe, President he?s all right I believe I believe, President he?s all right He kept me from going, out there to have a big fight.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2020, 10:05:04 PM by Johnm »
Love the fiddle part on this! Would appreciate help with lyrics.
I had a little dog his name pour soul ?..But he Run to the door He done done it, he done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy really got your water on
Now the cat told the water (otter?) swimming around Thought he had?. but he ?..went down He done done it, he done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy really got your water on
Now ?.baby crossed the roof Couldn?t do a thing but wiggle and (then?) shoot She done done it, she done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy really got your water on
Now two little boys, lay in the bed One turned over what d?you reckon he said He done done it, (he) done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy really got your water on
I red Good potatoes at the bottom of the till He done done it, done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy got your water on
Now, Two little boys, lay in the bed, One turned over what d'you Reckon HE said He done done it, he done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy got your water on
Now the 4 legged rooster told the 9 headed hen Meet me down here cause you know we ain?t no kin He done done it, done done it, Now you High powered mama , daddy got your water on