Hi all,
The Kentucky Ramblers recorded "Ginseng Blues" in 1930. I don't know the personnel on the recording, apart from Larry Hensley, who played the mandolin in the group, I believe. The structure and phrasing of this song is discussed in the "Vocal Phrasing: The Long and the Short of It" thread. I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passages. Here is the song:
INTRO MANDOLIN SOLO
Ain't a-gonna dig no ginseng, well, I ain't a-gonna hunt no squirrel, ain't-a gonna do a doggone thing but love my dear sweet mama
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm a-lovin' you, mama, I'm quittin' you all the time
YODELED REFRAIN
My home ain't here, it's down in Caroline, I got three chillens down in Georgia, but they sho' ain't mine, sweet mama
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm a-lovin' you, mama, I'm quittin' you all the time
YODELED REFRAIN
I got a girl in Georgia, one in Dixie, too, if you treat me mean, sweet mama, I'll turn my back on you, good baby
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm a-lovin' you, mama, I'm quittin' you all the time
YODELED REFRAIN
Well, I ain't a-gonna work on no tipple, ain't a-gonna load no coal, put my head out the window, watch the drivers roll, sweet mama
REFRAIN: You can't read my mind
When you think I'm a-lovin' you, mama, I'm quittin' you all the time
YODELED REFRAIN
Edited 7/19 to pick up correction from banjochris
All best,
Johnm
EDITED TO ADD: Larry Hensley was a member of Walker's Corbin Ramblers, not the Kentucky Ramblers.
