Topic: Blind Willie McTell lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Willie McTell recorded "On The Cooling Board" for Atlantic, and in the LP era it was released on the "Atlanta 12-String" album. He played the song out of E position, and as was his practice at that time, tuned quite low. This strikes me as a spectacularly strong cut in every way, as powerful as anything Willie McTell ever recorded. I'm not at all sure I have the tail end of 3.1 correct and would very much appreciate correction/corroboration.  Here is "On The Cooling Board":



INTRO

Undertaker, undertaker, please drive slow, takin' the one I really love, ain't gon' bring her back no more
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive up to his door?

Undertaker, undertaker, don't you drive so fast. takin' the one I really love and seem like every minute will be my last
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his sugar on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse back up to his door?

I walked in, people, I did everything I could, one out of a million that meant me any good
REFRAIN: So don't a man feel bad when his baby all on a coolin' board?
Don't a man feel weary when that hearse backs up to his door?

When I walked up to her bedside, breath was getting low, she looked at me and said, "Daddy, I can't love you no more."
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive to his door?

My heart struck sorrow, tears come rollin' 'round, watched the pallbearer let my baby down
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive up to his door?

Now look-a-here, newspaper man, don't print it so sad, swear to God I love her, she's the sweetest woman I ever had
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive up to his door? (Spoken: Yes, play it low and lonesome!)

BREAK

Said I walked up when they was throwin' dirt in poor Ella's face, "Go on and get out, find somebody else on Earth to take her place."
REFRAIN: But don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
Don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive to his door?

Says I realized I'll never see her smilin' face again, swear to God I love her, the poor girl has been my friend
REFRAIN: Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?
So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive up to his door?

CODA

Edited 7/20 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm     

[Blues Vintage]

1.2 Don't a man feel bad when his baby on the coolin' board?

3.1 I walked in, people, I did everything I could
3.1 one out of a million that meant me any good
3.2 So don't a man feel bad when his baby all on a coolin' board?

McTell sang "she's one out of a million that meant me any good" on the 1935 version

7.1 Go on and get out, find, buddy, someone on Earth to take her place."
Go on and get out, find, somebody else on Earth to take her place."
7.3 So don't a man feel weary when that hearse drive to his door?

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage. I have incorporated all of the changes you suggested.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Willie McTell's "Blues Around Midnight" also appears on the "Atlanta Twelve-String" album. He played the song out of C position in standard tuning. It is a formal one-off, or at least I've never encountered another song that shares its form. Here is "Blues Around Midnight":



INTRO

I get the blues, 'round about midnight, early with the rising sun
Begin to think about my little angel, and all the good the poor girl done
You know my heart beats like a hammer, and my eyes get overloaded with tears
Only been gone twenty-four hours although it seem like a thousand years
Shoulda loved her more, but realize I didn't treat her right
You know I shoulda loved her more, but realize I didn't treat her right
You take a woman like that, she need lovin' every day and night (Spoken: Yeah)

So now the blues bearin' down on me, brought 'em all on myself
When I should've been lovin' my baby, I was out lovin' somebody else
So it's mighty hard pill to swallow, want all you boys to know
While we better mind what we are sowin', 'cause we got to reap what we sow
Don't never dog your woman when you know you're doin' wrong yourself
Don't you never dog your woman when you know you're doin' wrong yourself
She get hell on her mind, and go wild about somebody else

River runs into the ocean, ocean runs into the sea
If I don't find that little angel, well, somebody got to bury me
'Cause I swear I did love her, better than I did myself
You know I loved with my woman, better than I did myself
Now it's breakin' my heart, to know she got somebody else (Spoken: Play it low and lonesome now, boy!)

SOLO (Spoken: It's hard, boy, but it's fair)

Edited 7/8 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm
   

[Blues Vintage]

Some suggestions,


2.7 She get hell on her mind, and go wild about somebody else

3.4 You know I loved my woman, better than I did myself

I hear a quick "with my woman". Sounds like he wanted to sing "I'm in love with my woman".


Those last spoken bits sound like;

Play it low and lonesome now, boy

It's hard work boy, but it's fair

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I re-listened and agree with all of your suggestions, so I have made the changes.

[onewent]

I don't think this tune is included in this lyrics thread, McTell's version of Thomas A. Dorsey's Hide Me In Thy Bosom.  Willie's tuned way down to about A on the E-strings, and plays it out of the 'C' position.

Hide Me In Thy Bosom - Blind Willie McTell - Hide My In Thy Bosom/It's My Desire, released 1949.

Father hear me prayin'
Hear these words I keep sayin’
Mark my soul with water from on high
Well a world of sin will find me  you know
Evil thoughts will just bind me
Savior if you leave me I will die

You hide me in thy bosom
'Til the storm of life is over  Oh
Rock me in the cradle of your love .. cradle of your love
You just feed, 'til I want no more
Take me to that blessed home above

Make my burden lighter   Make my journey brighter
Help me to do good  wherever I can
Now let that spirit thrill me
While the holy presence just fill me
Hold me in the hollow of thy hand

You… hide me in thy bosom
'Til the storm of life is over  Ahhh
Rock me in the cradle of your love
You just feed me, feed me, feed me Lordy, 'til I want no more
Take me to that blessed home above

Maybe I am maintainin’     go on uncomplainin’
But before this time another year
My life   may oversake me   Death may overtake me
Stand with me I’ll ever need you near

You .. just hide me in thy bosom
'Til the storm of life is over
Rock me in the cradle of your love
You just feed me, feed me, feed me Lordy, 'til I want no more
Take me to that blessed home above

You hide me in thy bosom
'Til the storm of life is over
Rock me in the cradle of your love
You just feed me,  feed me Lordy   'til I want no more
Take me to that blessed home above

[Blues Vintage]

Dark Night Blues


Blind Willie McTell - Vocals, Guitar

Atlanta, Georgia
October 17, 1928

C Position





INTRO

I got the dark night blues, I’m feeling awful bad
I got the dark night blues, mama, I’m feeling awful bad
That’s the worst old feeling, that a good man has ever had

I followed my brown, from the depot to the train
I followed my fair brown, from the depot to the train
And the blues came down, like dark night showers of rain

I drink so much whiskey, I’ll stagger when I’m sleep
Drink so much whiskey, I’ll stagger when I’m sleep
My brains is dark and cloudy, my mind’s gone to my feet

I got the blues so bad, I can feel them in the dark
I got the blues so bad, I can feel them in the dark
And one dark and dreary morning, baby, when you broke my heart

INTERLUDE  (Ah, play it, Mr. McTell, just worryin’ me, just killing me)

I got a fair brown in Atlanta, got one in Macon too
Got a fair brown in Atlanta, I got one in Macon too
I got one in Statesboro, give me them old dark night blues

Everything I told you, went and told your outside man
Everything I told you, mama, you went and told your outside man
But I gon’ tell you something, your good man can’t stand

Riding the B&P Special, mama, and I’m leaving this town
Riding the B&P Special, baby, and I’m leaving this town
Say you didn't want me, I‘m gon’ quit hanging around

OUTRO

[banjochris]

I think it might be B&P Special for Brewton and Pineora Railroad, which got bought out when McTell was pretty young, but it ran from Brewton to Register, GA, which is about 9 miles from Statesboro.

Also in the interlude, I think the last word is "me" instead of "it" –
Chris

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris, I made the changes.