Topic: Sweet Papa Tadpole Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Thanks to dj for noting that Sweet Papa Tadpole has been suggested in DG&R as being yet another recording monicker for Kid Cole/Walter Cole/Bob Coleman/Walter Coleman. Sweet Papa had one day only in the studio, under that name, for Vocalion, in Chicago on July 29, 1930, at a session where he was accompanied by Tampa Red and an unknown pianist. For "Weep And Moan When I'm Gone", Tampa Red was playing in Vestapol with a slide as usual. The supposition that Sweet Papa Tadpole and Kid Cole, at least, were one and the same person seems spot on, for Kid Cole's "Hey Hey Mama Blues" (https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=10188.msg95055#msg95055) shares the very same (unusual) melody as "Weep And Moan When I'm Gone", as well as some of its lyrics, though Tampa Red and his pianist, assumed to be Georgia Tom Dorsey on the attached video, give the song a much niftier harmonization. Here is "Weep And Moan When I'm Gone":



INTRO

A-don't weep and moan after me, sweet mama, baby, when I'm gone
A-don't weep, moan after me, Lordy, sweet mama, when I'm gone
A-don't weep and moan after me, sweet mama, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss your daddy, mama, rollin' in your arms

And it's rocks in the mountains, and your casket's on the sea
And it's rocks in the mountains, and your casket's on the sea
And it's rocks in the mountains, and your casket's on the sea
I ain't got nobody to love and care for me

And it's tell, me little rider, and it's what you want me to do
To tell me, little rider, and it's what you want me to do
To tell me, little rider, and it's what you want me to do
I take ounce of carbolic acid, and haul off and die for you

And I cain't get no letter, and I even can't get no news
I cain't get no letter, and I even can't get no news
I cain't get no letter and I even can't get no news
That's why I'm singin' these low-down worried blues

SOLO

And I'm goin' away, it's pretty mama, cryin' it won't be long
And I'm goin' away, and it's cryin' and it won't be long   
And I'm go-goin' away, and it's cryin' and it won't be long
Get your Bible, mama, read the days I'm gone

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sweet Papa Tadpole's "Black Spider Blues" was recorded at the same single session he did, and with the same personnel backing him, Tampa Red and possibly Georgia Tom, playing the piano in F. What an odd and fussy song! Despite Sweet Papa Tadpole telling us so, repeatedly, I have no idea what he's talking about in verses three, five and seven, and would appreciate any help in getting lyrics which match the sound but make more sense. Here is "Black Spider Blues":



INTRO

Black spider, black spider, who compose your song? I told you so
Black spider, black spider, who compose your song? I told you so
Tell 'em Sweet Papa Tadpole, sure done been here and gone. I told you so

And it's rocks in the mountain, rocks here on my head, I told you so
And it's rocks in the mountain, rocks here on my head, I told you so
I got a telegram from my father, "Come home, your she-spider's dead." I told you so

She looks at me, babe, and begins to smile, I told you so
And she looks at me, babe, and begins to smile, I told you so
Said, "I got to leave you, Tadpole, for a great long while, I told you so

And I caught the Frisco, and I went a-flyin', I told you so
And I caught the Frisco, and I went a-flyin', I told you so
Said my she-spider wasn't dead, the poor girl was slowly dyin', I told you so

And it's pray for my rider, pray for she-spiders, Joe, I told you so
And it's pray for my rider, pray for she-spiders, Joe, I told you so
I got a tip from the undertaker, she-spider won't crawl no more, I told you so

SOLO

And it's so many old days, babe, I dropped my head and cried, I told you so
And it's so many old days, I dropped my head and cried, I told you so
I didn't have no blue blues, I just wasn't satisfied, I told you so

And it's mouth to mouth, and it's hand to hand, I told you so
And it's mouth to mouth, and it's hand to hand, I told you so
Show me what married woman, nowadays gonna have an outside man, I told you so

Edited 1/4 to pick up corrections from banjochris, waxwing and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

A few suggestions, John –

3.3 ...TADPOLE FOR a great long while

4.3 SAID my she-spider WEREN'T (possibly WASN'T) dead, LORD, the poor girl...

7.3 SHOW ME WHAT MARRIED WOMAN, NOWADAYS gonna have an outside man...


5.1 is still perplexing me but it's "pray" both times: And it's pray for my right, pray for my...

Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris. I'm wondering if 5.1 and 5.2 could possibly be:

   And it's pray for my rider, pray for she-spiders, go, etc.
   And it's pray for my rider, pray for she-spiders, go, etc.

With the meaning being, "Go and pray for my rider and she-spiders in general."

It's the only way I can make any sense out of the verse. If it is "rider", he comes to a full stop between the syllables.
What do you think?
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

I think "rider" is definitely possible, with the odd pronunciation as you noted, John. I had seriously considered it but wanted to listen a few more times. I wonder if he's singing "Joe" instead of "go," addressing a hypothetical audience. "Soul" would of course make the most sense there but I don't think that's what he sings. But "go" or "Joe" either one I think is a reasonable possibility.
Chris

[Johnm]

Good catch on "Joe", Chris, I"m pretty sure you got it there. Well done! I'll make the change, and thanks.

[waxwing]

Hi Johnm,

I think you have a vestige of an earlier possibility in 7.3? I assume "nowadays" was suggested instead of "out there"? You probably would catch it when you transfer to weeniepedia.

Wax

[Johnm]

Thanks for catching that, wax, I made an inexact edit as you surmised. Fixed now--thanks!

[eric]

Is this is the place to speculate about some of these pseudonyms like Sweet Papa Tadpole?  Who decides them?  Peanut the Kidnapper is one that really deserves an answer.

[Johnm]

Hi Eric,
I think the Main Forum with a topic devoted specifically to odd recording monickers would be the place to get into that, rather than a lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Your Baby Can't Get Enough", Tampa Red is once again accompanying Sweet Papa Tadpole out of Vestapol tuning with a slide and the pianist is playing in Bb. The song is a chorus blues in which Sweet Papa Tadpole adopts a woman's persona. Here is "Your Baby Can't Get Enough":



INTRO

Oh now it's wind me up, daddy, like a Graphanola, too, when we get together, daddy, I will make your music, too
REFRAIN: Your mama can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

Oh now it's look me over, daddy, I'm seven foot tall, the movements of my body will make twelve men fall
REFRAIN: Your baby can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

I'm gonna buy me a brass bed, daddy, shine like a morning star, it's when we get down, daddy, whine like a Cadillac car
REFRAIN: Your mama can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

It's throw your arms around me, daddy, like a circle 'round the sun, now it's tell your little mama which way you want your rockin' done
REFRAIN: Your mama can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

I'm gonna love you, daddy, I'm gonna love you down deep, when I kiss you, daddy, I'm gonna put you fast asleep
REFRAIN: Your mama can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

Now I went to the doctor, daddy, and this is what he said, "Got a white-livered mama, you needs a brand new iron bed."
REFRAIN: Because I can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

Now, you love me in the mornin', daddy, you love me at night, I got a prescription from the doctor says you love me midnight
REFRAIN: Because I can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

Some men said a dollar, daddy, I said no, they got twenty dollars, daddy, move your little mama's stall
REFRAIN: Because I can't get enough, your mama can't get enough
And says the reason why I'm whinin', your little mama can't get enough

Edited 1/7 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Couple small suggestions, John – I think in 3.1 it might be WHINE like a Cadillac car, and the one I'm much more sure of – 6.1 should end
you needs a brand new IRON BED.
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris. I re-listened, and you're right on both counts. I will make the changes.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sweet Papa Tadpole's "Have You Ever Been Worried In Mind--Part 1" takes its melody from "Careless Love". Tampa Red and probably Georgia Tom on piano once again provide adroit accompaniment. There are several places I'm not sure I have the lyrics right, so if you hear something different, please let me know. Here is "Have You Ever Been Worried In Mind--Part 1":



INTRO

Oh now has you ever, been well-wearied, partner, lose your mind
Has you ever, been well-wearied, partner, lose your mind
You ever been well-wearied and down-hearted, and partner, lose your mind
It's when your hustling woman quits you, I swear she leaves, you screamin' and cryin'

You done murder, your poor rider, murder her in the wrong
You done murder, your poor rider, murder her in the wrong
You done murder, your poor rider, and you murder the poor girl in the wrong
You never miss your pigmeat mama, until she's [bending] on your right arm

Then you're motherless, and you're fatherless, friendless, whole world, too
Then you're motherless, and you're fatherless, friendless, whole world, too
And then you're motherless and you're fatherless, and you're friendless in this whole world, too
A deck of cards and a deck of dice and underworld women, ain't no friends to you

I heard the judge, when he sentenced you, the clerk he wrote it down
I heard the judge, when he sentenced you, clerk he wrote it down
I heard the judge, when he sentenced you, and poor partner, the clerk he wrote it down
I heard the jurymans read the verdict, that my buddy's Atlanta bound

I dropped my worried head in my hands, began to scream and cry
I dropped my worried head in my hands, began to scream and cry
I dropped my worried head in my hands, partner, and poor partner, began to scream and cry
I never missed my buddy until that L & N passed by

I'm gonna moan this verse, I ain't gon' moan no more
I'm gonna moan this verse, partner, ain't gon' moan no more
I'm gonna moan this verse, partner, and poor partner, I ain't gon' moan no more
I'm gonna take my buddy from Atlanta, to be back in Baltimore

Edited 1/8 to pick up correction from Lindy
Edited 1/11 to pick up corrections from waxwing, banjochris

All best,
Johnm
 

 

[lindy]

I'll take a low-confidence stab at the last line of verse three.

Maybe "a deck of cards" for the first part?

For the second part I hear "dice" instead of "dykes."

Actually, what I hear is  "a deck of cards and a deck of dice," but that makes no sense.

Lindy