Topic: Leroy Carr Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Shinin’ Pistol


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

[blueshome]

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!

[Blues Vintage]

Suicide Blues


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

[Blues Vintage]

Big Four Blues (16416-1)


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

[Johnm]

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.

[Blues Vintage]

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.

[MarkC]

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).

Maybe White played the train whistle.

[Blues Vintage]

Maybe White played the train whistle.

White is listed as a guitar player but who knows.