Topic: Mississippi John Hurt Lyrics

[Gumbo]

good point, Rivers - it's the 1928 i transcribed - i should have added the date ...

[Rivers]

The version on the Genes / Blues Vault Memorial Anthology has the same line too. What on, or possibly under, earth is a money mole?

Searching on 'mississippi john hurt dirty business lyrics' comes up with some variations, some more plausible than others. 

[Johnm]

Hi guys,
There's a thread on this earlier somewhere on the site.  It's a money molder, the conclusion was reached, though it's not enunciated that clearly.  Some of the old plantations and farms had their own stores and their own scrip that was used to pay for items in the store, so that it was a closed economic system (and they wouldn't have to pay the workers in money that would be negotiable anywhere else).  A money molder is what was used to make the scrip.  Having one would allow you to coin your own money, or at least that's the conclusion that was reached, and it makes a lot of sense.
All best,
Johnm

[Rivers]

I was coming around to that conclusion, thanks for the further detail and corroborating material there.

Here's the aforementioned thread courtesy of searching on 'pensacola': http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4932.msg37633#msg37633

[Gumbo]

Hi guys,
There's a thread on this earlier somewhere on the site.  It's a money molder, the conclusion was reached, though it's not enunciated that clearly.  Some of the old plantations and farms had their own stores and their own scrip that was used to pay for items in the store, so that it was a closed economic system (and they wouldn't have to pay the workers in money that would be negotiable anywhere else).  A money molder is what was used to make the scrip.  Having one would allow you to coin your own money, or at least that's the conclusion that was reached, and it makes a lot of sense.
All best,
Johnm

That's fascinating! And I believe i can hear the 'd' in there too.

here's the old thread
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=4932.15

it was the second google hit for 'money molder'

[Rivers]

Fascinating indeed. You could think of the plantation money system as being equivalent to a country issuing its own currency, for spending in its own company store.
The analogy peters out at that point though, since you can exchange dollars or pounds or whatever for another currency and spend in other company stores. Those folks couldn't do that, I had no clue.

[banjochris]

Re: Big Leg -- how unusual is it for both the first two lines of a blues to start on the IV chord? He only does it in the sung parts, but it isn't that common, I don't think.
Chris

Chris:

Willie Mae by BB Broonzy and Risin' River Blues by George Carter are the same. Maybe we should start a new thread to compile other tunes with this feature, as it is a form I like a lot.

Alex

Not a bad idea. Bo Carter's "Country Fool" is another one, which makes sense, since it has a similar harmonic structure to "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor," which does the same thing for its first two lines.

[lindy]

JohnM recently posted the lyrics from the version of Frankie found on Harry Smith's anthology (a different thread), and I'd like to post the lyrics as I transcribed them from a Rounder CD entitled "Mississippi John Hurt - Legend." According to the notes for this CD, the source of this version is a recording made by Tom Hoskins in Washington D.C. in either 1963 or 1964.

There are several reasons why I like this version. All of the verses are sung in the order that makes sense story-wise, and he doesn't skip a couple of verses as he did during the 1963 Library of Congress sessions. Also, the overall tempo of the song is much slower, with lots of neat little slides and repeating licks that make for fun listening.

Frankie

Frankie was a good girl, everybody knows.
She paid one hundred dollar for Albert a suit of clothes.
He?s her man, and he did her wrong.

Frankie went down to the corner saloon, she ordered a glass of beer.
She asked the barroom keeper, ?Has my lovin? Albert been here??
?He?s been here, but he?s gone again.?

?Ain?t gonna tell you no story, Frankie I ain?t gonna tell you no lie.?
Says Albert passed ?bout an hour ago with a girl they call Alice Frye.
He?s your man, and he?s doing you wrong.

Frankie went down to the corner saloon, didn?t go to be gone long.
She peeked through the keyhole in the door, spied Albert in Alice?s arms.
?He?s my man, and he?s doing me wrong.?

Frankie called Albert, Albert says ?I don?t care.?
?If you don?t come to the woman you love, gonna haul you out of here.
You?s my man, and you?s doing me wrong.?

Frankie shot Albert, shot him three or four times.
Says ?Stand back out the smoke of my gun, let me see this Albert dyin?.
He?s my man, and he did me wrong.?

Frankie and the judge walked out on the stand, walked out side-by-side.
The judge says to Frankie, ?You?re gonna be justified
For killing the man, and he did you wrong.?

Dark was the night, cold was on the ground.
The last word I heard Frankie say, ?Done laid old Albert down.
He?s my man, and he did me wrong.?

Frankie was a good girl, everybody knows.
She paid one hundred dollar for Albert a suit of clothes.
He?s her man, and he did her wrong.

Lindy

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt's recording of "Boys You're Welcome" first appeared on his "Last Sessions" album on Vanguard.  He played the song out of Spanish tuning without a slide.  The song has the feel of a children's song, and I would assume without knowing for sure that it was one of John Hurt's own songs.  The guitar concludes the final refrain.



   Oh, it's my heart
   Is that-a-way
   Just as welcome, boys,
   As the flowers in May

   REFRAIN:  Oh boys, you's welcome
   I said, you're welcome
   You're welcome, boys
   Yes, you's welcome

   Just a little bit of sausage
   And a little eggs
   Yes, it will fill
   Hollow leg

   REFRAIN:  Oh boys, you's welcome
   I said, you're welcome
   You're welcome, boys
   Yes, you's welcome

   Just a little bit of coffee
   And a little milk
   It will go down
   Smooth as silk

   REFRAIN:  Ooo boys, you's welcome
   I said, you're welcome
   You're welcome, boys
   Yes, you's welcome

   Just a little bit of
   And a little bread
   Well, you might as well
   Go back to bed

   REFRAIN:  Ooo boys, you's welcome
   I said, you're welcome
   You're welcome, boys
   Yes, you's a-welcome

   You's welcome, boys
   Oh yes, you're welcome
   You's welcome, boys
   Yes, you're welcome
 
   Oh, it's my heart
   Is a-that-a-way
   Just as welcome, boys
   As the flowers in May

   Oh boys, you's welcome

All best,
Johnm
   
   
   

[banjochris]

Hi all,
John Hurt's recording of "Boys You're Welcome" first appeared on his "Last Sessions" album on Vanguard.  He played the song out of Spanish tuning without a slide.  The song has the feel of a children's song, and I would assume without knowing for sure that it was one of John Hurt's own songs.  The guitar concludes the final refrain.

Definitely one of his own songs. He tells the story behind the song on the album "Country Blues Live" and I believe it's told in the bio as well.
Chris

[Gumbo]

Ain't No Tellin' recorded December 1928 for Okeh
not sure about the spoken interjection after the third verse



Don't you let my good girl catch you here
Don't you let my good girl catch you here
she might shoot you, may cut you n stab you too
ain't no tellin what she might do

I'm up the country where the cold sleet and snow
I'm up the country where the cold sleet and snow
ain't no tellin how much further i may go

eat my breakfast here my dinner in Tennessee
eat my breakfast here my dinner in Tennessee
eat my breakfast here my dinner in Tennessee
i told you i's comin baby won't you look for me

hey hey ??

the way i'm sleeping my back and shoulders tired
the way i'm sleeping, baby, my back and shoulders tired
the way i'm sleeping my back and shoulders tired
gonna turn over try it on this side

Don't you let my good girl catch you here
....
she might shoot you, may cut you n stab you too
ain't no tellin what she might do

edited to pick up corrections from banjochris

[banjochris]

In "Ain't No Tellin'," one correction -- he says cut you and STAB you, pronouncing stab something like "staub." I've heard other folks do this too although my brain isn't coming up with who at the moment.

The spoken interjection sounds to me something like "Hey, hey, such super-ly playing," I would assume meaning "superb" -- maybe someone else has an idea.
Chris

[Gumbo]

In "Ain't No Tellin'," one correction -- he says cut you and STAB you, pronouncing stab something like "staub."

damn ... there goes my S&M /torture theory ... 'cut and starve' brought up strange and disturbing scenarios!

i shall edit the text post haste

[Pan]

In "Ain't No Tellin'," one correction -- he says cut you and STAB you, pronouncing stab something like "staub."

Thank you Banjochris! I've always wondered about that line too.

Cheers

Pan

[Johnm]

I think "staub" is the French pronunciation, Chris.
All best,
Johnm