Topic: Rich Trice Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Rich Trice recorded "Lazy Bug Blues" at a session in New York on October 22, 1946, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning. The record was released as being by "Little Boy Fuller". I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed word in verse one and anything else I have wrong. I believe that in the later years of his life Rich Trice became a preacher and would only perform religious songs. Thanks to Blues Vintage for creating the video for the Weenie Campbell YouTube channel. Here is "Lazy Bug Blues":



INTRO SOLO

I'm a lazy tappin' bug, mama, lazy bug you ever seen
I'm a lazy tappin' bug, the laziest bug you ever seen
All the women crazy 'bout me 'cause I'm so doggone mean

When you get low-down and lazy and the women turn thei' back on you
When you get low-down and lazy and the women turn thei' back on you
Well they make me so mad, 'cause I can't roll jelly like I used to do

I done got so old 'til the strength gone outa my bone
I done got so lazy 'til the strength gone outa my bone
I done got so lazy 'til I can't carry my homeworks on

SOLO (Spoken: Play it then!)

Say when you get old and feeble and you ain't got a dime
When you get old and feeble and sure ain't got a dime
Say and your woman don't love you, just have to go down and cry

CODA

Edited 4/15 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm



 

[banjochris]

I think it is tappin' and I think he's talking about a click beetle.
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris. I have heard of click beetles but didn't think of them in this context. It makes sense and fits the sound.

[Blues Vintage]

2.3 Well (it) -they- (makes) make me so mad, 'cause I can't roll jelly like I used to do

3.3 homeworks instead of homework


Just double checked, I think Document Records has the wrong date (Sept. 25, 1947)

Fancourt & McGrath and Wirz have October 22, 1946. Which is what I had listed for the video.


Edited to add; JSP has October 23, 1946. I trust the october 22 date more because of those two sources.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I re-listened and made the corrections you suggested, including the session date.

[Lignite]

I got to meet Richard Trice in the 1990s. He was living in a nursing home in Durham, N.C. and he was the nicest man. Like his brother Willie, he was a double above the knee amputee due to diabetes. He was not a preacher but had given up playing blues for religious reasons. He would still talk about the blues, however and I learned much from him about his own life as well as facts about Blind Boy Fuller who he knew and played with. This past year I acquired an original 78 recording of Lazy Bug Blues by Little Boy Fuller on the Savoy label from German blues hound and friend Axel Kustner. It sure made my day!

[Blues Vintage]

Do you know if Rich also played guitar on "Let Her Go God Bless Her" and "Come On In Here Mama" (backup for Willie)?
He is listed but I'm not too sure if I hear 2 guitars.

[Lignite]

I think it is just Willie playing guitar on those tracks then Rich backed himself on Come On Baby and Trembling Bed Springs.

[Blues Vintage]

Yeah, I think so too.

I do know they were recorded together in the 70s by Peter Lowry (never issued)
I do have some unreleased stuff by Willie Trice.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the additional information on Rich Trice, Lightnin'. It's really great that you were able to meet and spend time with so many of the older players from your part of the world.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
According to the session notes included in the JSP set, "Blind Boy Fuller, Vol. 2", Rich Trice recorded "Down-Hearted Man" at a session in New York City on September 25, 1947. He accompanied himself out of A position in standard tuning for the song and in his phrasing showed a tendency he shared with his brother Willie, to go both long and short with his phrases. Here is "Down-Hearted Man":



INTRO SOLO

Yes, I'm a down-hearted man, 'cause that woman treats me so low-down
Well I'm a down-hearted man 'cause, that woman treats me so low-down
Yes, I'm gon' quit that woman, 'cause I don't want her hangin' 'round

Says I'm a hard-workin' man, yes, I try to treat that woman right
Well I'm a hard-workin' man, says I try to treat that woman right
Well, she never at home, well she lays out all night

When I get home at night, I can't find that woman at home
Say when I get home at night I, can't find that woman at home
Yes, you know I need some lovin', but that mistreated woman's always gone (Spoken: Aw, pshaw!)

SOLO

Say the reason I love that woman, because she can strut her stuff
Yes, the reason I love that woman, 'cause she can strut her stuff
Well, I can't quit that woman, just until I get enough

CODA

All best,
Johnm

 

[Blues Vintage]

3.3 but that mistreated woman's always gone

Mistreatin' woman would fit better but not too sure which of the two I'm hearing.

[Johnm]

I agree, Blues Vintage, that "mistreating" would make more sense in the context, but the sound is "mistreated", so I'm going to leave it as is. Perhaps Rich Trice mis-spoke.