Topic: Blind Blake Lyrics

[Doug]

Thanks Bunker!

Great song, and great transcription.  I always thought the "I killed a man and that's the how and how" was "I killed a man and that's the high wind howl", and it makes a lot more sense the way you had it!  Thanks!

[Bunker Hill]

Great song, and great transcription.  I always thought the "I killed a man and that's the how and how" was "I killed a man and that's the high wind howl", and it makes a lot more sense the way you had it!  Thanks!

It wasn't that hard to do, the LP has a foldout sleeve with four pages of lyric transcription by 50s Dutch jazz and blues collector Dr. Hans H. Rookmaaker. At some point in the last four decades I must have annotated them - the original typing has almost disappeared under pencilled comments and amendments. A final listen through convinced me that despite what DR HRR thought Blake wasn't singing - "I laid him in coal, with heels in a tub". 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
It was so much fun figuring out the words to the William Moore instrumentals with commentaries that I thought I would give this one a shot.  I have always loved this performance since I first heard it; I reckon it is my favorite Blake instrumental.  His guitar playing on this is perfectly amazing, even by his standards, and if you've ever thought anyone else could beat Blake at his own style, I suggest you give this one a listen.  As if just playing it wasn't enough, he keeps up a running commentary.  It's nice to know he was human; he gets a bit tangled up in the pianist's lines at one point.  Here goes:



   Now we goin' on one of them old Seaboard stomps.  Nobody don't know how much we enjoy this dance.  They had a boy there they called Piano Charles.  He'd say, "Blake!".  I said, "What you want, boy?".  He said, "Come over here, I want to hear you, I wanta let you hear me how to, how I make this Seabord train come on down the line on the piano.".  I said, "Now I'm gonna come and hear how you do that, then.".  [Guitar imitates piano imitating train]  Now who wouldn't shake that thing?  He had a cornet player there, and when he started to playin' that cornet, it was too bad, Jim!  That's what made me lost my head!  That's all--tellin' you the truth!  Here's the way that cornet player played.  [Guitar imitates cornet]  Now they had a trombone player there, he just won't quit.  Here's the way he played his trombone.  [Guitar imitates trombone]  That's the time I had to lose my head, when he done that.  Hear the saxophone!  [Guitar imitates saxophone]  I think I'm gonna call this last number, now.

Edited 7/14 to pick up correction from Uncle Bud

All best,
Johnm 

[uncle bud]

Hi John,
I agree this is one of the great "instrumentals". The guitar is particularly clear as well, so you can really hear what Blake is doing (well, in theory!). I love the way he comes out of the section where he imitates the trombone. It always makes feel like talking right back to the stereo - "Yeah man!" Talk about "that's the time I had to lose my head". Yow.
For the line about the cornet, "it was too fast, Jim!", could it be "it was too bad, Jim"?  I'm listening on a computer right now so will have to check on better speakers. 

[Johnm]

Hi Andrew,
I always thought the line was "too bad, Jim" also, but changed my mind when listening to transcribe it.  I will re-listen.  I think "Too bad, Jim" is more in the vernacular of the time.  Hell, I'll just make the change, I like it better!
All best,
Johnm

[LoneWolf]

Does anybody have the lyrics to that Blind Blake song?

Thanks!

[Pan]

Google: http://www.hawkeyeherman.com/pdf/diddie_wa_diddie.pdf

Pan

[dingwall]

   DIDDIE WA DIDDIE
                      ----------------------
There's a great big mystery.
And it sure is worryin' me.
This diddie wa diddie, this diddie wa diddie.
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.

Met a little girl about four feet four.
Come on papa and give me some more.
Of your diddie wa diddie, your diddie wa diddie.
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.

I went out and walked around.
Somebody yelled, "Says, look who's in town.
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie, Mister Diddie Wa Diddie."
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.

Went to church, put my hat on the seat.
Lady sat on it, said, "Daddy you sure is sweet,
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie, Mister Diddie Wa Diddie."
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.

I said, "Sister, I'll soon be gone,
Just give me that thing you settin' on.
My diddie wa diddie, my diddie wa diddie."
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.

Then I got put out of church.
'Cause I talk about diddie wa diddie too much.
Mister Diddie Wa Diddie, Mister Diddie Wa Diddie.
I wish somebody would tell me what diddie wa diddie mean.
                      ----------------------

[Rivers]

Great to have you on board Dingwall! 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
With four Blake song threads in the past and others probably to come it seemed like it made sense to put them all in one place.  I've left titles of the posts as they were originally for ease in following the original transcription process on the different songs.
All best,
Johnm

[GhostRider]

Hey folks:

How many takes of Blind Blakes "Early Morning Blues" are listed in B&G? I know of at least three. Strangely, the least common is the one Grossman transcribed in this Blind Blake TAB book.

Thanks,
Alex

[Blind Arthur]

I know the three from the JSP-set, that is :

one from the accoustic ages (also on Blake?s Indigo label CD)

two he had to remade a few months later, by which time Paramount went electric (both on two diff. Biograph LPs)


I found it striking that no one seems to have reissued all three "West Coast Blues" takes done in a similar vain (1 acc., 2 electrically) before Document put them on Too Late Too Late in the late 1990ies but I digress, sorry...

[GhostRider]

Yo:

I want to finally learn this one, so I took the easy route and started with the lyrics. Pretty straightforward, except for the bit in square brackets. Hope Weenies can help.




Walkin' Across the Country

Blind Blake
1928
Standard tuning, key of C

Introduction

1) Walkin?, walkin?, talkin? to myself
Walkin?, walkin?, talkin? to myself
Wonderin? if I die, would my baby love somebody else

2) Sighin? and cryin, no broke down with the blues
Sighin? and cryin,  broke down with the blues.
My clothes all worn-out, holes all in my shoes.

3) Walkin? ?cross the country, tryin? to get a stake
Walkin? ?cross the country, tryin? to get a stake
?Cus my baby want, every cent I make.

4) Tired and hungry, I?ve been walkin? many days
I?m tired and hungry; I?ve walked so many days
Wonderin? if my baby would stop her hateful ways.

5) Walkin? ?cross the country, with my head bowed down.
Walkin? ?cross the country, with my head bowed down.
A woman can still make a man act like a clown

Thanks,
Alex


Note: edited as per below.


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[banjochris]

I think it is "with the blues" and that Blake just screws up the first line.
Chris

[Prof Scratchy]

Agree with Chris - definitely 'with the blues'...