Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
Ragged But Right-Riley Puckett Lyrics
motmot:
Got power back, got sidetracked (story of my life) from Charley Patton & "High Water Everywhere" to . . . Riley Puckett and "Ragged But Right"!
Hope this isn't too far from the Weenie mission statement, but it's a fun raggy old thing with some nice bass lines.
VERSE:
F C
I come here to tell you, people, I'm ragged but right.
C F
I'm a thief and a gambler, I get drunk every night
Bflat F (down to) D
Get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
G C
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford.
F C
Big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
C F
Little baby girls play around at my feet
Bflat F (down to) D
I'm a rambling gambler and I get drunk every night,
G C F
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right.
BRIDGE
F
I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
G C
I can ride a freight train anywhere
F Bflat
If I win or lose, I don't get no blues
F C F
(?Gamblers are rollin' for me?)
(Repeat Verse)
(Instrumental over Verse chord progression)
(Repeat Verse)
****
Transcribed from "Riley Puckett, Old Time Greats Vol 1," from Old Homestead Records. Notes say this one was recorded in 1934, but don't mention who's playing the mandolin. To match recording, play with capo at 1st fret.
I'd upload it, if I had the technical knowhow . . .
uncle bud:
Hi MotMot,
I haven't heard Riley Puckett's original version, only heard Lightnin' Wells' version (it's the title track on his most recent CD). Fun tune with great lyrics.
Johnm:
Hi Tom,
Not that one need necessarily play the tune as Riley Puckett did, but he played the tune out of F. For the problematic Bflat chord, he fingers a "long A" chord, one fret higher and alternates his bass between the fourth string, third fret, and fifth string fifth fret (presumably fretted with the ring finger). Much like with the Mississippi Sheiks, you get a different sound, and quite often a really neat one, if you choose to play in flat keys out of open, rather than capoed positions.
All best,
Johnm
motmot:
Hi Johnm,
I like it out of F, too, for the very reason you mention. I don't find Bflat problematic; in fact, I like that "long A" chord that's really a Bflat, because sometimes, if the mojo is good, I can get the sixth string at the sixth fret, too.
On the CD I've got, Riley is sounding in F#, so I capoed the first fret, and played out of F, so I could sound in F# too, and try to cop a few of Riley's licks more precisely. I find them, well, distinctive.
cheers,
Tom (motmot)
uncle bud:
--- Quote from: MotMot on September 09, 2004, 08:51:08 PM ---BRIDGE
F
I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
? G ?C
I can ride a freight train anywhere
F ? Bflat
If I win or lose, I don't get no blues
F ? C ?F
(?Gamblers are rollin' for me?)
--- End quote ---
Lightnin's version, BTW, is relatively true lyrically to what you've transcribed here with minor variations. For the last line of the bridge he sings: "Just a ramblin' and rovin' for me."
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