Topic: Walter Roland Lyrics

[uncle bud]

Come On Down is not your typical Walter Roland tune, but I like it. It sounds like a song I should be able to find elsewhere, i.e. perhaps traditional or perhaps based on a pop source, but haven't had any luck yet. And damned if I can get the last line of the lyric. Any opinions?



Come On Down - Walter Roland

...be a jubilee in Nashville [town]*
Honey dear, listen hear
What a grand time it's gonna be
Say you can dance with your honey with a pocket full of money
Let's go to 'Manda Lee's

It's come on down, come on down
Gonna be a jubilee in Nashville town
Honey dear, listen hear
Holler out the window and tell Miss Corinda to
Come on to (what for), barbecue
What a grand time it's gonna be
Say you can dance with your honey, boys, if you ain't got no money
Let's go to 'Manda Lee's

It's come on down, come on down
Gonna be a jubilee in Nashville town
Honey dear, listen hear
What a grand time it's gonna be
Say you can dance with your honey with a pocket full of money
Let's go to 'Manda Lee's

It's come on down, come on down
Gonna be a jubilee in Nashville town
Honey dear, listen hear
Holler out the window and tell Miss Corinda to
Come on to (what for), barbecue
What a grand time it's gonna be
You can dance with your honey with your pockets full of money
Let's go to 'Manda Lee's

* recording starts as they're playing and there's a skip in the 78

[dj]

It sounds like a song I should be able to find elsewhere

I know what you mean Uncle Bud.  But maybe, like Leroy Carr, Walter Roland just had a fair hand for writing a pop song.

If I may suggest, I'd transcribe MANDA LEE as 'MANDA LEE, as Manda is almost certainly a contraction of Amanda.   

[uncle bud]

Thanks, dj. I'll go with 'MANDA LEE as you suggest.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Roland's "No Good Biddie" has him working much the same territory, instrumentally, as he did on "Overall Blues" which was recently in the "Miller's Breakdown" thread.  Once again, he is playing out of C position in standard tuning, capoed up, and his backing guitarist, Sonny Scott, sounds to be working out of F position in standard tuning, tuned low.  The lyrics have him apparently chastising a woman he attempted to set up in business.  His attitude softens as the song goes along, thankfully.  Here is the performance:



I took you down to camps, baby, you couldn't make a dime
I take you down to camps, baby, you couldn't make a dime
You keep me worried, baby, all the time

I put you in a house, baby, way last Fall
I put you in a house, baby, way last Fall
And you let a man stay there, baby, for nothin' at all

SOLO (Spoken:  Play it.  Play it!)

I don't know what it is that makes me love you so
I don't know what it is that makes me love you so
When I'm where you at, I don't want to go

I come home this mornin' and you was out and gone
I come home this mornin', you was out and gone
You left a note on my table, say, "Papa, I got your waters on."

SOLO (Spoken:  Play it, Man!  You don't have nothin' but a no good biddie nohow.)

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "T Model Blues", Walter Roland, an ace pianist, once again chose to accompany himself on guitar, working out of E position in standard tuning.  It is one of his only guitar performances I've found thus far in which he played by himself, without Sonny Scott seconding him.  He is long in his phrasing in an odd way in the third bar of the first two lines of his first couple of verses.  I am not at all sure I have the bent bracketed section in the last verse right and would very much appreciate some help with it.  Here is the track:



INTRO

Says it's mmmm, baby, mmmm, baby, oooo
Says it's mmm, baby, mmm, baby, oooo
Say, you know you do not love me, like I say I love you

Say, you know these here women, sure do treat me mean
Oooo-oooo, these here women, sure do treat me mean
You know, I asked one for a drink of water, she give me gasoline

Says, mmmm-mm-mm, baby, you won't do nothin' you say
Says, mmmmm, baby, you won't do nothin' you say
You know, you told me you loved me, but what about that man, I seed with you with the other day?

SOLO

These here women what call theirself a Cadillac, ought to be a T Model Ford
Say, you know these women what call theirself a Cadillac, ought to be a T Model Ford
You know, they got their shape all right, but they can't carry no heavy load

Say, you know I'm gonna sing this here verse now, ain't gon' sing no more
Say, you know I'm gon' sing this here verse now, ain't gon' sing no more
'Cause you know I'm got to go home and get ove' my old lady 'cause she won't come back no more

Edited 12/21 to pick up corrections from Banjochris and Harry
Edited 12/23 to pick up correction from dj

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Say, you know I'm gonna sing this here verse now, ain't gon' sing no more
Say, you know I'm gon' sing this here verse now, ain't gon' sing no more
'Cause you know I've got to go home and [keep on] my old lady 'cause she won't come back no more

It sounds like "get on" or "get over on" to me, John, for what that's worth. Not sure either makes a lot of sense.
Chris

[Johnm]

It's funny, Chris, I originally had "get on", but in multiple re-listenings, it really sounds more like "keep", especially the ending of the word, which seems a pretty clear "p" sound to me.  I think I'll stick with it.

[banjochris]

Sounds good, I was hearing it different ways myself, none of which seemed terribly satisfactory to me!
Chris

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Roland backed himself on guitar out of C position in standard tuning for his performance of "Red Cross Blues, No. 2".  What's interesting is that on his recording of "Red Cross Blues", he accompanied himself on piano.  Here is his performance of the song:



INTRO

Say, you know I had a dream last night that I hadn't ever dreamt before
I dreamt about the head clerk down in the Red Cross Store
REFRAIN:  And I told him, "No, Great Lord, says, girl, I can't go.
Says, I can not go to Hill's, but I can go to the Red Cross Store."

Said, you know that woman I got now, you know, she won't treat me right
Every time I go home now, she want to fuss and fight
REFRAIN:  And I tell her, "No, Great Lord, I can't go.
Says, you know I can not go to Hill's, but I can take you to that Red Cross Store."

Said, you know they give you somethin' to eat at the Red Cross, you have to go get it 'fore 11:00
They done moved over to Seventeenth Street, to 1307
REFRAIN:  And I told 'em, "No, Great Lord, says, girl, I can't go.
Says, you know I can not go to Hill's, but I can go to that Red Cross Store."

Says, I done told you once now, says, I'm sure gon' tell you twice
Says, I don't want you keep up with me about the Red Cross rice
REFRAIN:  And I told her, "No, Great Lord, girl, I can't go.
Say, you know I can not go to Hill's, but I can take you to that Red Cross Store."

Say, you know I'm gon' sing this here verse now, and I'm soon ain't gon' sing no more
'Cause my wife and children is hungry, and I expect I'm gonna have to go
REFRAIN:  And holler, "Oh, Great Lord, I'm gon' have to go.
Say, you know I just well as to go home to get my croker sack, go up yonder to that Red Cross Store."

But, you know there is one thing is certain, is that all these people see
The Red Cross don't give you everything you want, they'll give something you need
REFRAIN:  And I told 'em, "No, Great Lord, says, I can't go.
Says, you know I can not go to Hill's, I've got to go to the Red Cross Store."

All best,
Johnm   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Man, Man, Man", Walter Roland played out of C position in standard tuning, capoed up, while Sonny Scott seconded him out of F position in standard tuning.  The song is a kind of cover of "Mister Man Blues", a duet by Papa Charlie Jackson and Ida Cox that had been recorded several years earlier.  Sonny Scott really shines on this one, in his response lines, shown in parentheses.  Here is the song:



INTRO SOLO

Says, I tried to love you, woman, but you would not treat me good (Aw, man, man, man, man, man)
Says, I tried to love you, woman, but you would not treat me good (It's darn man, man, man)
'Cause you treat me worser, anybody in my neighborhood (Oh, man, man, man)

Says, I'm gonna get a gun (Yeah!), better live good to me (Ain't that a mess?)
Says, I'm gonna get a gun, better live good to me (Aw, man, man, man)
'Cause you know, these here women, they won't-a let me be (Oh, man, man, man)

Said, mmmmmmmm, baby, mmmmmm, won't you treat me nice?
Mmmmmm, baby, baby, won't you treat me nice? (Aw, man, man, man)
I says, I'm gonna ast you, please, to be my wife (Oh, man, man, man)

You know, it was early this mornin', baby, 'bout a-four o'clock (Mister man, man, man, man, man)
Says, it's early this mornin', baby, 'bout four o'clock (It's darn man, man, man)
You know, my good girl done somethin', I declare to God it sure wouldn't stop (Aw, man, man, man)

But sure will sing this here verse, ain't gonna sing no more (Aw, man, man, man, man, man)
Then gon' sing this verse (Gonna sing that thing, man!), ain't gon' sing no more (Aw, man, man, man)
Say, you know if you'll be mine (uh-huh), I'll let these here other girls go (Aw, man, man, man)

Says, take me back now, baby, (Yes!) 'clare now that-a I'll be good
Says, take me back now, baby, 'clare, says, that I'll be good (Aw, man, man, man, man, man)
Says, I'll treat you better than anybody in your neighborhood (Oh, man, man, man)

All best,
Johnm
 

[Blues Vintage]

Walter Roland - Big Mama

I think this is a 10 bar blues with a lyric structure usually found in a 16 bar blues. It could also belong in the "Blues Forms and Vocal Phrasing" thread.


New York August 2, 1934





Hollerin’ hey big mama
Hollerin’ hey big mama
Hollerin’ hey big mama
Hollerin’ hey big mama take your big legs offa me

She got some great big legs she got some whopping thighs
She got some great big legs whopping thighs
She got some great big legs whopping thighs
And every time she leave me you know it makes me cry

Every time she call me you know she makes me mad
Every time she call me you it makes me mad
Every time she call me you it makes me mad
But I ain’t never told her about that man she had

You know she makes me mad when she calls my name
She makes me awful mad when she calls my name
She makes me awful mad when she calls my name
But you know I ain’t never told her she could not shake that thing

[Johnm]

That's a good one, Harry!  It has the same structure (and some of the lyrics) as Memphis Minnie's "Frisco Train" or "Frisco Bound", I can't remember the title.  In the second verse, rather than "walking size", it is "whopping thighs".
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Cold Blooded Murder


Walter Roland - Vocals,  Piano
Josh White - Guitar

New York City, New York
March 18, 1935

Piano In Bb





You’s a cold blooded murder when you want me out your way
You’s a cold blooded murder when you want me out your way
That’s alright  baby you will need my help someday

And you say you gonna put me Lord in my lonesome grave
And you say you gonna put me Lord in my lonesome grave
And you know you’ll be sorry cause once I have been your slave

You’s a cold blooded murder when you know that your chance is good
You’s a cold blooded murder when you know that your chance is good
But that’s alright baby I’ll be the same way if I could

Give me the money baby I’ll catch the train and go
You don’t have to kill me  because you don’t want me no more
I said gimme the money baby and I’ll catch the train and go
And you don’t have to kill me just because you don’t want me no more

Right now baby I’m sleeping by myself
And if you don’t want me I don’t want nobody else
I said right now baby sleeping by myself
And if you don’t want me Lord I don’t want nobody else

[dj]

Sorry to be almost 4 years too late in commenting on the T Model Blues transcription, but I really think the last line of the last verse is:

'Cause you know I've got to go home and git o'er my old lady 'cause she won't come back no more

The phonetics are a little crushed because Roland is packing so many syllables into the line, but I think what I have best fits both the phonics and the sense of that line.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the suggestion, dj, I agree now that "keep" is not right. I think "git on", has the right consonant sound at the front end of the verb and the right vowel sound in the middle. At the tail end, it sounds almost like "gig". I'm going to listen a bit more.

[Johnm]

Hi dj,
I re-listened some more to the tagline of the last verse of "T Model Blues", and I'm hearing "get on" at the place that has been in question. Banjochris suggested that very lyric immediately after I posted the transcription in 2017.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

I caught 2 more,

3.3 I seed with you with the other day

5.3 'Cause you know I've I'm got to go home

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Harry. I made the changes.

[dj]

John,

Sorry to keep harping on T Model Blues, but I think the "n" you're hearing is an artifact of closing one's mouth to transition from the long "o" of a shortened "over" to the "m" of "my" that follows it.  Try it yourself - just say "git o' my" a few times really fast and see if the "n" sound doesn't sort of creep in there. 

If Roland is really saying "get on my old lady 'cause she won't come back no more", how do you interpret that?  If she's gone and not coming back, how will he "get on" her?  It just makes more sense to be saying he's got to get over her.

Anyway, you hear what you hear.  No hard feelings if we don't agree.

[Johnm]

Hi dj,
I re-listened again, and I agree with your interpretation of the lyric and have made the change. I finally heard the "v" in "over", and didn't hear an "n" sound in there, and your interpretation also made the most sense, as you noted. Thanks for hanging in there! I really think it's right now.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

45 Pistol Blues
 

Walter Roland - Vocals,  Piano
Josh White - Guitar

March 18, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in C





I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my thirty five
Lord I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my forty five
Because you know ain't many men goes there and comes back alive

They will shoot you and cut you Lord they will knock you down
Lord they’ll shoot you and cut you Lord they will knock you down
And you can ask anybody ain't that the baddest place in town

Mens carry thirty eights womens carr’ razors too
Mens carry thirty eights womens carr’ their razors too
And you know you better not start nothin’ do they'll make away with you

Says I ain't going to Third Alley no more unless I change my mind
Ain't going to Third Alley no more Lord ‘less I change my mind
Cause you know I done got shot once over there Lord and stopped three or four times

Says you know I’m gonna leave Lord my forty-five most too long
Lord my forty-five most too big
Cause you know when I carry that gun Lord I can’t keep it hid

[Blues Vintage]

Early in the Morning No. 2


Walter Roland – Vocals, Piano

New York City, New York
July 31, 1934

Piano In F





Says me and my good girl we had a falling out
And I bet you mens can tell me what it's all about
We fell out early in the morning baby about the break of day
And I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

I says go get your hat baby let's go in the woods
If you can't go now please ma'am tell me when you could
She say I go early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turn over and hug the pillow where my baby used to lay

You know I got me a woman now they call her Ann Kate
I told her to come to my house tonight about half past eight
She said she'd be there early in the morning baby about the break  of day
Then I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

You know a girl get twelve years old she thinks she's grown
You never can catch that kind a girl at home
Unless you go there early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

I'm gonna sing this verse now ain't gon’ sing no more
I wanna see my good girl and I think I'll better go
Before it get early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turn over and hug the pillow where my baby used to lay

[Johnm]

Thanks for posting those Walter Roland songs, Harry. I think I have the last verse of "45 Pistol Blues":

   Says you know I’m gonna leave, Lord, my forty-five most too long
   Lord, my forty-five most too big
   'Cause you know when I carry that gun, Lord, I can’t keep it hid

I think he wanted to take a smaller gun which would be easier to conceal.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

A couple of minor suggestions for 45 Pistol Blues:

1.2:  Lord I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my forty five.

I think Roland pronounces the second syllable of "Alley", it's just quieter, almost like a sigh.

3.3:  And you know you better not start nothin’, do they'll make away with you

I think a comma is appropriate to separate the two phrases.  It helps a reader to understand that "do" really stands for "if you do".

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John and dj.
I don't use commas in my transcriptions. I play some of the songs I'm transcribing. Commas just distract me when I'm playing.
John double checks every song when he enters them into Weeniepedia and adds commas etc.

[banjochris]

One other suggestion, in 4.3 of 45 Pistol:

Cause you know I done got shot once over there Lord AND STOPPED three or four times

Chris

[Johnm]

You are sure enough right about that line, Chris. I'll make the change in Weeniepedia. Thanks!

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris.

[Blues Vintage]

Club Meeting Blues


Another winner from the randomandrare channel.

Walter Roland - Vocals,  Piano
Josh White - Guitar

March 14, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in F





My wife done joined a club, I know she done something wrong
Says my wife done joined a club, I know she done done something wrong
Because two nights a week, that club meeting got to be carried on

Some say she was with Mr. Jack last night, some say she was with Mr. Lee
Some say she was with Mr. Jack last night, some say she was with Mr. Lee
I don’t give a doggone who she’s with, she better bring it home to me

I ain’t gon’ get me a woman, Lord, that will not join that band
I’m gon’ get a woman, Lord, that will not join that band
Because if I catch her messin’ around, she gon’ have hell on her hands

Boys, if you want a good woman, don’t let her join no club
Lord, if you want a good woman, don’t her her join no club
Because she’s just making ‘rangments, to meet that one she love

You can always tell, when it’s something goin’ on wrong
Always tell, something goin’ on wrong
She’ll say a club meeting had late, and Mr. so-and-so brought me home

[Blues Vintage]

Bad Dream Blues


Thomas, if I remember correctly you once mentioned Roland played in the key of A. Can you confirm this?


Walter Roland – Vocals, Piano

March 5, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in A





INTRO

Last night I had a dream, Lord, and it was all about you
Last night I had a dream, Lord, and it was all about you
Then you know says you done left me, Lord, what is it I’m goin’  to do

Says, I dreamed that I fought you, Lord, and I blacked your eye
Hmmm, I fought you, Lord, and I blacked your eye
You know says I would cut your throat, Lord, but you’re too good to die

SOLO

Says, you don’t know, woman how much that I cares for you
Says, woman you don’t know, how much that I cares for you
But you know I’m still wonderin’, hope that dreams don’t come true

I says, baby be careful, Lord, ‘bout the things you do
Hey-hey, Lord, ‘bout the things you do
‘Cause you know the first thing you know, Lord, I’m gon’ make away with you

[banjochris]

"What is I'm goin'" sounds right to me, Harry. I would suggest "fought" rather than "found" in the second verse despite his odd pronunciation, though.
Chris

[Thomas8]

Hi Harry, yes on record Walter Roland played in the keys of A, Bb, C, Eb, F and G.
That tracks definitely in A.

[Johnm]

Hi Harry and Chris,
I think in that tagline to to the first verse, Walter Roland sings:
   (what is IT I'm goin' to do)
He squeezes in the "it" really quickly, but you can hear him come to a full stop on the "t" sound at the end of it an instant before he sings "I'm".
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris, Thomas and John.

[waxwing]

Hi Harry and Chris,
I think in that tagline to to the first verse, Walter Roland sings:
   (what is IT I'm goin' to do)
He squeezes in the "it" really quickly, but you can hear him come to a full stop on the "t" sound at the end of it an instant before he sings "I'm".
All best,
Johnm

I agree, Johnm, and wouldst point out, it is a common Shakespearean contraction.