Topic: Stump Johnson Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I've been listening recently to the Yazoo compilation "Twenty First St. Stomp--The Piano Blues of St. Louis", one of the discs from Yazoo's superlatively strong set of piano blues releases, put together by the late Francis Wilford-Smith.  This track by James "Stump" Johnson caught my ear.  He accompanied himself on piano for the cut, on which he was joined by Joe C. Stone, who on this track sounded neither like Jaydee Short, whom he has been surmised to be, nor the Joe Stone who recorded "It's Hard Time" and Back Door Blues".  Stump's piano playing is serviceable, but his singing is really nice, and the melody he puts his lyrics to is the same one that Charlie Patton used for "High Sheriff Blues", one of the prettiest blues melodies, I think. 
Stump has three tracks on the CD, and they all have exceptional lyrics.  For reasons that are not clear to me, St. Louis blues of the period quite often seemed to have lyrics that were a noticeable cut above what was coming out of Chicago at the same time.  Perhaps it was just a function of the individuals who happened to live there.  In any event, these lyrics are very fine.  And I can understand Stump's concern with his lard being thoughtlessly made available to others without his prior consent.  Here is "Don't Give My Lard Away":



You may know, all my clothes in pawn
You may know that all my clothes in pawn
For the shape I'm in, babe, I can't do you no harm

I was listening to the tune of a saxophone 'cross the way
I was listening to the tune of a saxophone 'cross the way
Where Gutbucket Tillie showed her drawers 'til day

Joint we are in, babe, smell like a Kentucky mine
This joint that we're in, babe, smell like a Kentucky mine
We haven't had off our shoes, but we're havin' a stinkin' good time

Pull up your dress, babe, let your short man see
Pull up your dress, babe, let your short man see
Your bloomers is hangin', babe, sure is worryin' me

Please, my babe, don't give my lard away
Please, my baby, don't give my lard away
I'm a sick man, now, but I swear I'll be well someday

All best,
Johnm

[dj]

The lending of lard was a problem that was apparently not confined to St. Louis.  In 1926 the Dixieland Jug Blowers, a Louisville band, recorded Don't Give All My Lard Away.  It's a totally different song, and the lyrics aren't half as good as Johnson's.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Stump Johnson was joined by Baby Jay on cornet for "Kind Babe Blues".  Stump sings from a tough position on this one--no power, which really makes for the blues.  Here is "Kind Babe Blues":



I've been as nice and kind as I intend to be
I've been as nice and kind as I intend to be
You won't find nobody else, babe, gon' be this sweet like me

I'm leaving you now, babe, and your worryin' won't make me blue
I'm leaving you now, babe, and your worryin' won't make me blue
'Cause I found somebody else, babe, can love me like you do

I left my Mother, babe, why can't I leave you?
I left my Mother, babe, why can't I leave you?
You've caused me to do things my Mother would not do

Ahh, treat me mean, baby, I'll do anything you want me to do
Treat me mean, babe, I'll do anything you want me to do
Someday you'll need me to laugh and talk with you

Ohhhhhh, babe, you don't know my mind
Ohhhhh, babe, no, you don't know my mind
I'm laughin', baby, but I'm laughin' just to keep from cryin'

All best,
Johnm

[Norfolk Slim]

What fantastic lyrics on that first one!

[dj]

What fantastic lyrics on that second one.  That fourth verse, the way the fairly common first two lines set up a really unexpected third line:

   Ahh, treat me mean, baby, I'll do anything you want me to do
   Treat me mean, babe, I'll do anything you want me to do
   Someday you'll need me to laugh and talk with you

Is an all time great.

Thanks for starting this thread, John.  Stump Johnson is someone I've somehow never heard.

[Gumbo]

Love it! 
Don't Give My Lard Away

[Johnm]

Thanks for putting up that link, Gumbo.  It's nice to put Stump's performance in the ears of folks who don't have access to the recording.  It would never have occurred to me that someone would have put his songs up on youtube.com--there's so much stuff available there now.
All best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

Well thank you for making me curious, John.  There are two more track s posted. "Bound to Look like a Monkey" and "The Duck's Yas Yas Yas"
I wouldn't have thought they were up either but luckily they showed up when I googled Stump Johnson