Leroy Carr – Vocals, Piano Scrapper Blackwell – Guitar Josh White – Guitar
December 17, 1934 New York City – New York
Piano in F#
I'm gonna get me a brand new pistol with a long shiny barrel I'm gonna get me a shiny pistol with a long shiny barrel I'm gonna ramble this town over until I find my girl
I'm gonna to go to the station and try to find her there I'm gonna to go to the station and try to find her there And if the Lord has not got her she's in this world somewhere
She left me with a head full of trouble and a head full of misery She left me with a head full of trouble and a head full of misery And now she's got me crying baby please come back home to me
My mother told me don't you weep don't you moan My mother told me don't you weep don't you moan ‘Cause son there'll be women here when you dead and gone
When I get through rambling and looking this whole world through When I get through rambling and looking this whole world through I won't be dead with trouble you know I died to lose
The blues come fallin', they fall like drops of rain The blues come fallin', they fall like drops of rain I've got to spend my Christmas locked up in jail again
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain! Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!
Oh Santa, Santa, Santa, come here to me in jail Oh Santa, Santa, Santa, come here to me in jail Bring me a Christmas present, someone to go my bail
Jail on Christmas day, again ain't that a pain! Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!
This food here, Santa, it ain't fit to eat This food here. Santa, it ain't fit to eat Won't you come and bring me a plate of turkey meat?
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain! Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!
The jailhouse blues have got me, they've got the best of me The jailhouse blues have got me, they've got the best of me My baby doesn't love me, I got no Christmas tree
In jail on Christmas day again, ain't that a pain! Oh baby, baby, baby, ain't that a pain!
« Last Edit: December 21, 2020, 10:39:31 AM by Johnm »
Leroy Carr – Vocals, Piano Scrapper Blackwell – Guitar
December 17, 1934 New York City – New York
Piano in Ab
PIANO INTRO
If somebody finds me, when I'm dead and gone If somebody finds me, when I'm dead and gone Say, I did self murder, I died with my boots on
Took me a Smith and Wesson, and blew out my brains Took me a Smith and Wesson, and blew out my brains I didn't take no poison, I couldn't stand the strain
No, I ain't no coward, and I'll tell you why No, I ain't no coward, and I'll tell you why I was just tired of livin’, but wasn't afraid to die
Take me to the graveyard, put me in the ground Take me to the graveyard, put me in the ground Please write on my tombstone, “My woman threw me down”
In my farewell letter, someone's sure to find In my farewell letter, someone's sure to find Goodbye old cold world, I'm glad I left you behind
Leroy Carr – Vocals, Piano Scrapper Blackwell – Guitar
December 14, 1934 New York City – New York
Piano in Eb
INTRO
Big Four blowed this mornin’, at the break of day Big Four blowed this mornin’, at the break of day And it sounds so lonesome, ‘cause it taken my baby ‘way
Big Four, Big Four, won't you please turn your train around Big Four, Big Four, won't you please turn your train around ‘Cause here I sit all down and out, with my head hung down
I've tried to be as good to that woman, as one man could be I've tried to be as good to that woman, as one man could be And I mean it's a shame, the way she went and left poor me
GUITAR SOLO
Yes, I'm down and out, ain't got no money to ride no train Yes, I'm down and out, ain't got no money to ride no train But I'm gonna find my good gal, and bring her back home again
Please, Mr. Brakesman, won't you let a poor man ride your blind? Please, Mr. Brakesman, won't you let a poor man ride your blind? I'm just trying to make it, back to that gal who is worryin’ my mind
OUTRO
« Last Edit: January 14, 2023, 12:32:16 PM by Blues Vintage »
Thanks for posting that, Blues Vintage. I was just thinking the other day that I should transcribe some more Leroy Carr lyrics, and you beat me to it. I know that DG&R say that both Scrapper and Josh White are playing guitar on this track, but I'm darned if I can hear two guitars, and the one I can hear is certainly Scrapper. Josh is usually much more active and forward on the tracks on which he accompanied Leroy Carr.
I thought I heard Blackwell only too and double checked all sources (DG&R, Wirz, Document). White is listed everywhere indeed. Included White 'cause maybe he did some subdued strumming in the background. But I'm gonna delete White on the personnel, hopefully the editors of the 5th edition are watching.
I only hear Blackwell. I’ve noticed on a JSP collection where Josh White is playing with Carr and Blackwell, the attributions don’t always match what it sounds like (to me).