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Author Topic: William Harris Lyrics  (Read 6707 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #15 on: June 21, 2012, 10:04:36 PM »
Hi all,
For "Hot Time Blues", William Harris backed himself out of C position in standard tuning.  The song is a raggy 8-bar blues with a  | VI  |  VI  |  II  |  II  |  V   |   V   |   I   |   I   | progression.  Harris' playing on this one is somewhat reminiscent of Mance Lipscomb's playing, for he starts at a solid medium tempo, accelerates from beginning to end, and is really tearing by the time he gets to the end of the song.  His playing is very strong and he gets some especially neat syncopations towards the end of the form.  His singing is every bit as good as his playing, too.



Say, it makes no difference what mama don't allow
We gonna have a good time right anyhow
Hey, mama don't have it here

Well, come on daddy, what do you say?
Just give me a kiss that very same way
'Cause mama don't allow it, ain't gonna have it here

Well, just want to tell you this one time
Mama, blues ain't nothin' but to worry your mind
Hey, baby, won't you take me back?

Well, it's take me back, try me again
Say, I may do better than what I once have been
Hey, baby, won't you take me back?

SOLO

Well you take me back, then try me again
I may do better, what I have been
Hey, baby, won't you take me back?

Oh, come on daddy, this ain't no joke
If you've got a good cigarette, just give me a smoke
Hey, baby won't you take me back?

Take me back and try me again
Say, we'll do better than what we used to do
Hey, baby won't you take me back?

Say, it makes no difference what mama don't allow
We gonna have a good time right anyhow
Hey, baby won't you take me back?

SOLO

Well, if you don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree
Gal, stay out of my orchard, let my peaches be
Hey, won't you take me back?

SOLO X 2

Well, I tell you, buddy, this a natural fact
Whenever you quit me, I ain't gonna take you back
Hey, won't you take me back

SOLO X 3

All best,
Johnm

 
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 03:40:13 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2012, 09:31:28 PM »
Hi all,
Pan recently unearthed William Harris' recording of "Kansas City Blues" at YouTube and posted it on facebook.  It reminded me of how spectacular Harris' version of that song is.  Like Jim Jackson, Harris played it out of E position in standard tuning, but Harris took it at a considerably brisker tempo, and really drove it home.



I left up Main Street, started down Beale
Lookin' for the woman what's called Lucille, man,
REFRAIN: She done moved to Kansas City, she done moved to Kansas City
She done moved, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I tell all of you men what you mustn't do
Never love one woman like, think she love you
Call you honey, call you pie
Let things get a-loose, Lord, on the sly
REFRAIN: Then I'll move to Kansas City, I'll move to Kansas City
Then I'll move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I'm just from the country, you know I'm easy to rule
Hitch me your cart, drive me for your mule
REFRAIN: Then I'll move to Kansas City, I'll move to Kansas City
Then I'll move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

My good girl quit me, she promised me today
She'd meet me down on Beale Street at the Panama Cafe
REFRAIN: Then I'd move to Kansas City, I'd move to Kansas City
Then I'd move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I wished I was a catfish in the deep blue sea
I'd have all these women just fishin' after me
REFRAIN: Then I'll move to Kansas City, I'll move to Kansas City
Then I'll move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I feel like jumpin' from the treetop to the ground
The girl I love, Lord, she don't want me 'round
REFRAIN: Then I'll move to Kansas City, I'll move to Kansas City
Then I'll move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I tell all you men, right from this day
Never let your woman have her way
Some old day you ask her to stay
You look for her, she done gone away
REFRAIN: She done moved to Kansas City, she done moved to Kansas City
She done moved, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

I wished I was a jaybird flyin' in the air
Build my nest some of these high browns' hair
REFRAIN: Then I'd move to Kansas City, I'd move to Kansas City
Then I'd move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

All best,
Johnm


 
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 03:41:24 PM by Johnm »

Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #17 on: September 19, 2012, 02:25:49 PM »
Hi all,
William Harris recorded "Leavin' Here Blues" at a session in Richmond, Indiana on October 11, 1928.  He backed himself out of C position in standard tuning for the song, and it uses the same melody and accompaniment as his "Early Morning Blues".  He pretty much plays the song the same from beginning to end; it's hard to believe this is the same musician who did a piece as exciting as "Bull Frog Blues".  The song has a strange quality in that Harris sings essentially the same verse for his first, second and fourth verses--it's really odd that way.  The last two verses sound improvised.



I'm goin' away, mama, worry you off my mind
I'm goin' away, mama, to worry you off my mind
You keep me worried, bothered all the time

I'm leavin' here, mama, to worry you off my mind
I'm leavin' here, mama, to worry you off my mind
Say, you keep me worried,  bothered all the time

I know my woman, tell her by the clothes she wear
I know my woman, tell her by the clothes she wear
She wear two red pieces and great long curly hair

I'm goin' to leave here, mama, to worry you off my mind
I'm goin' to leave here, mama, to worry you off my mind
'Cause you keep me worried, bothered all the time

When you see me comin', mama, put your man outdoors
When you see me comin' put your man outdoors
You know I ain't no stranger, I been here before

I'm gonna get up in the morning, pack my trunk and go
I'm gonna get up in the morning, pack my trunk and go
And I won't be back here, baby, 'til you change your ways

I'm gonna leave this town, mama, and I won't get back 'til spring
I'm gonna leave this, town and I won't get back 'til spring
You treat me dirty, be home just the same

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 03:42:29 PM by Johnm »

Offline Drew.MS.Blues96

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2013, 02:47:10 PM »
Hi boys i hear Electric Chair Blues by Wiliam Harris this recording is indecipherable to me, tell me what you think...... the test is similar (equal) to 'Lectric Chair Blues by Blind Lemon Jefferson

I want to shake hands with my partner and ask him how come he's here
I want to shake hands with my partner, ask him how come he's here
I had a wreck with my family, they're gonna send me to the electric chair

I wonder why they electrocute a man at the one o'clock hour of night
 I wonder why they electrocute a man at the one o'clock hour of night
Because the current is much stronger, when the folks has turned out all the lights

I sat in the electrocutin' room, my arms folded up and cryin'
I sat in the electrocutin' room, my arms folded up and cryin'
My baby asked the question, was they gonna electrocute that man of mine?

I'm goin get me a taxi to take me away from here
I'm goin get me a taxi to take me all away from here
???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ???? to the electric chair

I feel like jumpin' in the ocean, I feel like jumpin' in the deep blue sea
I feel like jumpin' in the ocean, and like jumpin' into the deep blue sea
[But nothin' like that wrecked in my heart when they brought my]??? electrocuted daddy to me

thanks


Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2015, 01:46:33 PM »
Hi all,
We have never finished the transcription of William Harris's version of "Electric Chair Blues", and listening to the available versions of the song, it's not hard to see why--all of the versions I've heard of the record are absolutely whupped.  I found a recently posted alternate take on youtube which is slightly better condition than the version I'd heard previously.  I'll post it here, with apologies to European Weenies who may not be able to watch this video:



Here is a version that everyone should be able to watch.  Unfortunately, its sound quality is considerably worse:



As you can see, this version was attributed on the record label to Alonzo Boone.  I think conventional wisdom has it that Alonzo Boone was a pseudonym for William Harris.  I would argue that the singer may very well have been Alonzo Boone; it is certainly not the same singer as the person who sang "Bullfrog Blues" and the other songs attributed to William Harris.  Harris probably supplied the guitar accompaniment which is one of the relatively rare instances of an early Country Blues accompaniment played in dropped-D tuning.  I think I have most of the lyrics, but would appreciate corroboration/correction of the bent bracketed passages.  I put the end of the tagline to the third verse and the last two verses in quotation marks because they're in the words of the prisoner's girl friend.  In the first verse, the first two lines are sung by the girlfriend and the tagline is sung by the prisoner.

I'm gonna shake hands with my partner, ask him how come he's here
I'm gonna shake hands with my partner, ask him how come he's here
I had a wreck with my family, they gonna send me to the electric chair

Why do they electrocute a man if he just walk out, at night?
Why do they electrocute a man if he just walk out, at night?
'Cause the current is much stronger when the folks turn out all their lights

I walked in the electrocuting room with my arms fold up and cryin'
I walked in the electrocuting room with my arms fold up and cryin'
My baby, she asked the question, "When they gonna electrocute that man of mine?"

"I'm gonna catch me some taxi, take me on away from here.
I'm gonna catch me some taxi, take me on away from here.
'Cause it's the death for me to see my man to that 'lectric chair."

"I seen wrecks on the ocean, wrecks on the deep blue sea.
I seen wrecks on the ocean, wrecks on the deep blue sea.
I seen wrecks in my heart, when they brought my electrocuted daddy to me."

Edited 10/2 to pick up correction from LeftyStrat

All best,
Johnm       
« Last Edit: October 04, 2015, 02:48:56 PM by Johnm »

Offline LeftyStrat

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2015, 01:53:48 PM »
Hey John,

If i may, I'd like to offer a possible completion for the line you have in brackets there in the 2nd verse:

I've always heard:

Why do they electrocute a man at the one o'clock hour, at night?

Either got that from listening to Lemon's version (i tend to like this one better though), or a transcription I read somewhere way back when. I can't remember.

Another bit i've heard differently is in the last line:

I've seen wrecks in my heart when they brought my electrocuted daddy to me

Is it possible that i'm at least in the ballpark?  :)

Lefty

« Last Edit: October 02, 2015, 02:36:52 PM by LeftyStrat »
Stop by and give a listen! :)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #21 on: October 02, 2015, 08:06:45 PM »
Hi Lefty,
Got to admit, I don't hear "one o'clock hour" in any way.  There's a "j" sound in there followed by a "w" sound (which "one" has), but nothing that I can hear that sounds anything like "hour".  You may have gotten the "one o'clock hour" from the post immediately prior to mine.  I'll re-listen for "brought" in the last verse.  Thanks for the ideas.
All best,
Johnm
EDITED TO ADD:
In re-listening to that first problem area, it's sounding now like:
   Why do they electrocute a man if he just walk out at night?
The sound is a very close fit, but the meaning is certainly more iffy.
RE-EDITED TO ADD:
In re-listening to the tagline on the last verse, you were spot on, Lefty!  Good catch, and I will make that change.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: October 02, 2015, 08:28:20 PM by Johnm »

Offline LeftyStrat

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #22 on: October 02, 2015, 09:40:34 PM »
y'know....you could be right about that first line...now that I'm hearing it again in my head, it sounds just about right.   "The one o'clock hour at night" line may have just filled in from the image of everyone having their lights out (as mentioned in the next line) at that time, so the "current (would be) much stronger" for the chair.

I'll be first to admit though, that there are some lyrics out there that have taken me close to 20 years or so of listening to finally understand.  It just happens every now and then that I hear a certain line and think  "Ahhh..So *that's* what that line is!!"  I'd give an example, but they're probably to numerous to list :)

Glad I could be of some help with this one...or any other lyrics I can add to.   You're helping me realize that my ears may not be as bad as I think they are.

Lefty
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Offline jpeters609

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #23 on: October 11, 2017, 01:43:15 PM »
John Tefteller has announced the discovery of one of the missing William Harris 78s: "I'm A Roamin' Gambler"/"I Was Born In The Country." They're not quite the propulsive barn-stormers that we've come to know from "Bullfrog Blues" and "I'm Leaving Town," but based on these clips they should leave most of us satis-mamlish-fied:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoqRanKqJ5U&feature=youtu.be
Jeff

Offline Johnm

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Re: William Harris Lyrics
« Reply #24 on: October 11, 2021, 12:38:55 PM »
Hi all,
Banjochris just posted a video of William Harris' "Bad Treated Blues" over on the Main Forum, and I was excited to hear a William Harris cut for the first time. Harris recorded it at a session in Richmond, Indiana for Gennett on October 10, 1928, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning, capoed up. It's an 8-bar blues with a couple of unusual wrinkles, the most unusual being his resolution back to the I chord in the fourth bar, so that his first four bars go:

   |    I    |   V7   |   IV7  |    I    |

Here is "Bad Treated Blues"



That old girl of mine, keeps me worried and bothered all the time
That's the reason I's tried to, get along with you

You pawned my pistol, and you pawned my clothes
That's the reason I'm tryin' to, get along with you

You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right
You's a dirty mistreater, don't treat nobody right

Say you pawned my diamonds, and you pawned my clothes
I was tryin' to get along with that girl of mine

I'm gonna leave you, mama, and I ain't gonna say good-bye
But I'm gonna write you and tell you, reason why

I'm gonna tell you, tell you, mama, what a dago told a jew
"You don't want me, woman, what you think I want with you?"

'Cause you's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right
You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right

I'm gonna leave you, mama, and I ain't gonna say good-bye
But I'm gonna write and tell you, mama, the reason why

You's a dirty mistreater, don't treat nobody right
You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right

Say, you're long and tall, say you shaped like a cannonball
You're long and tall and you shaped like a cannonball

But you's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right
You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right

Say, you're dirty, you're dirty, say you're dirty mistreater, yeah
You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right

I give you, all my money, and yet you pawned my clothes
You's a dirty mistreater, you don't treat nobody right

All best,
Johnm





 


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