Topic: Mott Willis Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
We had exposure to a couple of Mott Willis performances, "Bad Night Blues" and "Dresser Drawer Blues", over in the Miller's Breakdown thread that showcased his sophisticated approach to Mississippi blues guitar playing. Examining his repertoire a bit further, it has been interesting to find that he also played accompaniments right from the core of Delta blues playing. For "Pick And Shovel Blues", he utilized an accompaniment in Spanish tuning that works the same basic approach as was played by Charlie Patton in a host of his songs, Willie Brown in "Future Blues" and Tommy Johnson in "Maggie Campbell Blues". For his solo, though, Mott Willis ventures into some territory that none of those three players ever worked in, at least in their recorded performances. Here is "Pick And Shovel Blues":



You gon' do when your, troubles get like, troubles get like, get like mine?
What you goin' do, troubles get like (guitar finishes line)?
Get your pick and your shovel, ease on down the line

Hey-hey, bye and bye, baby, baby, bye, baby, bye and, bye and bye
Babe, bye, baby, bye and bye
Go now and bye and bye (guitar finishes line)

SOLO

Mmm, know my good gal, she gon' jump and, she gonna jump and, jump and shout
Know my good gal, sure gonna jump and shout
Train roll up, I come walkin' out

All best,
Johnm
   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Who Is That Yonder Coming Down The Road", Mott Willis mixed and matched, taking the basic lyric starting point, melody and vocal phrasing from Tommy Johnson's "Maggie Campbell Blues", but putting the "A down the staff" accompaniment behind his singing that was employed by Charlie Patton in "Devil Sent The Rain", Willie Brown in "Moon Going Down" and Tommy Johnson in "Big Fat Mama Blues". I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed place in the tagline to the second verse. Here is "Who Is That Yonder Coming Down The Road":



INTRO SOLO

Yeah, now, who's that yonder, comin' down the, coming down the, down the road?
Who's that yonder comin' down the road?
She's got a stockin' of dollars on, mouth chuck full of gold

Yeah now, reason I like her, she's so nice and, she's so nice and, nice and brown
Reason I like her, she's so, nice and brown
Good Lord made 'er, tell me to ease your solid down (Spoken: Yes!)

Oh now, hey-hey, baby, me whisper in your, wanta whisper in your, in your ear
Hold your head down low, gal, whisper in your ear
I've got somethin' to tell you, know you, like to hear

CODA

Edited 1/11 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and banjochris

All best,
Johnm

 

[Blues Vintage]

Tough one,

Sounds like      tell me to ease your or to eat your

[banjochris]

On "Who Is That Yonder" – I hear

1.3 She's got A stockin' of dollars AND A mouth CHUCK full of gold

(I think he may have meant "stack of dollars" and mis-sung slightly – and I don't really object to CHOCK except it really sounds like he sings CHUCK there)

2.3 I hear "tell me to ease your" and the end sounds like SUN'LL DOWN (which doesn't make sense) – I'm having trouble making sense out of the end of that.

[banjochris]

That solo on "Pick and Shovel" sounds like Willis has listened to Bo Carter some too.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much, Blues Vintage and banjochris for the help. I agree with Blues Vintage it is "tell me to ease your". I think "solid down" may be short for "solid self down". I do think it is "a stockin' of dollars on" in the earlier verse--I've seen movie scenes where a woman stored a roll of bills in the top of her stocking and retrieved one or more from that stash. I agree that it sounds more like "chuck" than "chock". I've made those changes.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Riverside Blues", Mott Willis was working out of E position in standard tuning. I suppose it's stretching a point to call this a song, since there are no sung verses and just a couple of spoken comments from him. It's so beautifully played and conceived, though, that I thought it was important to bring it to folk's attention. His bends up the neck are a bit reminiscent of Tommy Johnson's E version of "Lonesome Home Blues", but a bit more varied and perhaps less of a set piece. I'd appreciate help with the second spoken comment. Here is "Riverside Blues":



FIRST INSTRUMENTAL PASS

SECOND INSTRUMENTAL PASS (Spoken: It's a long time since I played.)

THIRD INSTRUMENTAL PASS  (Spoken: Guitar sure do sound. Gonna get used to.)

FADE

Edited 1/22 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Mott Willis played "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More" out of C position in standard tuning, as did Mance Lipscomb. Mance sang many more verses than Mott did, and Mott seems to have used the piece more for a guitar showpiece. I would appreciate help with the spoken comment from a listener (Mott's wife?). Here is Mott's version of "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More":



INTRO SOLO

Well, it ain't gonna rain, it ain't gonna snow, it ain't gonna rain no more
How the old (guitar finishes thought), ain't gonna rain no more

SOLO X 5 (Spoken: That was just that, when I let the guitar talk)

Edited 1/24 to pick up correction from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

The best I can do is offer this,


Riverside Blues

Guitar sure do sound, gonna get used to


It Ain't Gonna Rain No More

Learn me something bad when I like the guitar talk

[Johnm]

I think your fix on "Riverside Blues" is spot on, Blues Vintage, thanks, and I have made that change. I'm going to keep listening to the other one.

[banjochris]

Think the last bit of that might be "when I let the guitar talk"

[Johnm]

I agree with you, Chris. I'll make that change, thanks!