Topic: Louise Johnson Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Louise Johnson - On The Wall

August 1930 in Grafton, WI

Louise Johnson - Vocals, Piano
Son House and/or Willie Brown - Encouragement


From Wikipedia
After traveling to Grafton, Wisconsin, she (Louise Johnson) partook in a recording session arranged by record producer Art Laibly for Paramount Records with Son House, Willie Brown, and her romantic partner Charley Patton. At the session, Johnson recorded four sides, including an unreleased alternate take. Cripple Clarence Lofton claimed he accompanied her on piano for her songs, but House disagreed, insisting Johnson herself provided the instrumentals. Blues writer Steve Cheseborough in his book Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues commented on the rarity: "This concept was so unfamiliar to scholars and fans that for years they tried to determine which male pianist had backed Johnson on her records". Despite her small stature, Johnson sang in a lusty voice and some of her material was of the dirty blues variety. Her best-known song is "On the Wall", a sexually explicit tune showcasing Johnson's piano arrangement loosely based on "Cow Cow Blues". Returning to Mississippi, Johnson was also a part of a "love triangle" with Patton and House, apparently wooing House on the trip home. Patton referred to the turn of events in his song, "Joe Kirby Blues".





Well I'm goin' to Memphis gonna stop at Jim Canan's
I'm gonna show you womens how to treat a man
I said I'm goin' to Memphis stop at Jim Canan's
I'll show them women honey how to treat a man

I said now you ain't good lookin' and you don't dress fine
That kind treatment make me 'fer you 'most any old time
Say you ain't good lookin' you don't dress so fine
And that kind treatment make me 'fer you 'most any time

Well I'm goin' to Memphis stop at Church's Hall
Gonna show you women how to cock it on the wall
I'm goin' to Memphis stop at Church's Hall
I'm goin' to show them womens honey how to cock it on the wall

Now you can snap it you can break it you can hang it on the wall
Throw it out the window see if you catch it 'fore it fall
I mean you can snap it you can break it hang it on the fakin' wall
Go and throw it out the window womens and you catch it 'fore it falls

Well I'm gon' leave here

[Johnm]

Thanks for posting that, Harry.  We should have had Louise Johnson here long ago.  What is the source of the italicized section at the beginning of your post? 

In the first verse, second line, I think she sings:
   I'm gonna show YOU womens how to treat a man

I think the front end of the tagline in the last full verse is:
   GO AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW, WOMENS, and you catch it 'fore it falls

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John, I caught one too (most any old time instead of almost).

Source is wikipedia, allmusic has a similar story. They both probably have the wrong date of this legendary recording session (May 28, 1930).
According to Stefan Wirz (whom I trust more) it was August 1930.

[eric]

FWIW, DG&R go with the May 28, 1930 date, although they also say no files survive, so I'm not sure what the source of the date is.

[Blues Vintage]

Further research suggest that Louise probably sang "Jim Canan's" in the first verse.


http://www.mississippibluestravellers.com/reverend-robert-wilkins-old-jim-canans/

[banjochris]

A couple of suggestions, Harry –

2.2 That KIND TREATMENT MAKE ME 'FER (as in prefer) you most any old time.
2.4 (same with an AND at the beginning)


4.3 I think she says FAKIN' wall (Furry Lewis and Papa Charlie Jackson use this euphemism too).

Chris

[Johnm]

Wow, Chris, way to hear!

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris.

[Blues Vintage]

Louise Johnson - All Night Long Blues

From the same session. 

August 1930 is the correct date according to Paramount expert Alex Van Der Tuuk.





I woke up this morning blues all ‘round my bed
I woke up this morning blues all ‘round my bed
I never had no good man I mean to ease my achin’ head

Well cried the whole night long
Well cried the whole night long
Well I swear ‘fore God the man I love is really gone

Well I'm going away swear the time ain't long
Well I'm going away babe and I’ll swear the time ain't long
If you don't believe I'm leavin’ daddy count them days I'm gone

You done caused me to weep baby and I swear you caused me to moan
You done caused me to weep baby and I swear done caused me to moan
Well you know by that rider you ain’t gon’ be here long

Well what evil have I done
Well what evil have I done
Well it must be something my man have heard before he gone

Lord I'm going get drunk and I'm gon’ walk the streets all night
Well I'm going get drunk I'm gonna walk the streets all night
'Cause the man that I'm lovin' I swear he sure don't treat me right

[Blues Vintage]

Interview with Son House, Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 4, 1964 (David Evans).

Son House: Yeah. Me, Charley Patton, Willie Brown — no, there was four of us. And another girl named Louise Johnson, she played piano. 
David Evans: By herself? 
SH: By herself
DE: Did she sing?
SH: She singed and played. On about one or two of her songs, me and Charley, we commented a little bit with the guitar while she played the piano.
DE: Were these recorded?
SH: Yeah, she was recording, yes.
DE: Oh, with you and Charley in the background.



An alternative take of All Night Long Blues.