Topic: Bo Carter Lyrics

[mr mando]

Mr Mando -- one small correction from memory on All Around Man, in the last verse, I believe it's BORE your hole instead of blow!
Chris

Banjo Chris, I think you're right. I modified my post accordingly.

[mr mando]

There's another one I found tidying up my hard drive. For me, that's one of the most hilarious pieces in Bo Carter's repertoire, as it is a cover version of "it hurts me too" which musically seems to copy the somber mood of the original, but the lyrics work in the opposite direction. I remember there were a couple of spots that I wasn't completely sure of, but don't remember which ones.



Ants in My Pants

It makes no difference everywhere you go
I got something want you to know
I got ants in my pants baby for you

Every time I come and feel your arm
It makes my feeling just get all wrong
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

It is tomorrow it?s certainly late
I want you baby give me a date
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

You?re a red hot mama meat shakes on the bones
Think about your lovin? baby when you?re gone
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

Solo

Every time meet you on the street
A funny feeling my head down to my feet
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

Put your arms around me baby like you should
I?m tellin? you baby your lovin? is good
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

I? m gonna hug you baby good and tight
Now love me baby like you done last night
Cause I got ants in my pants baby for you

[Johnm]

In answer to your query, Annette, I would say, all of them!
All best,
Johnm

[frankie]

Here's another one from my hard-drive:

perfect for a discussion of bo carter lyrics!

[banjochris]

Was listening to "Your Biscuits Are Big Enough for Me" in the car this morning, and it occurred to me that the phrase "flat batter cakes" as we have transcribed could be instead "flat PATTY cake" -- take a listen and see what you think.
Chris

[craigmulcahy]

Hey guys, any input on this much appreciated. Struggling at some spots towards the end. Really getting a kick out of this song at the moment.



Bo Carter - Shoo That Chicken

(Boy I'm gonna tell ya a little somethin' 'bout this old chicken)

Yeh, Shoo that chicken off your lead
He gonna spoil up ya shortnin' bread
All I want is my lovin' at night

Hey, Little woman layin' back in her bed,
He'll crack her thing like shortnin' bread
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)
(Yeah!)

Now, Little woman you needn't look so rough
I'm gonna give you {nine more bucks??}
All I want is my lovin' at night

Now, little woman don't get {hop} in mind
I an't gonna let you spend another dime
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)

Now, Little woman don't look so low
I may give you one more buffalo
All I want is my lovin' at night

Now, Little woman don't look so high
Must remember you got to die
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)
(Yeah!)

I give ya {??} liquor I give you pork chops
{??}
All I want is my lovin' at night

And I drink this whiskey {??} straight up
{??}
All I want is my lovin' at night

[banjochris]

Shoo That Chicken is a great one, Craig. Try these:

1.1 OFF YOUR LID (shortening bread being made in a skillet)

2.2 HEELS CRACKED OPEN LIKE SHORTNIN' BREAD

3.2 I AIN'T GOIN' TO GIVE YOU NAR' ANOTHER BUCK (NARY, in other words)

4.1 HIGH UP IN MIND
4.2 NAR' ANOTHER DIME

7.1 I GIVE YOU BEEFSTEAKS AND I GIVE YOU PORK CHOPS
7.2 I MADE YOUR LIPS GO BLEEP BLEEP BLOP

8.1 AND I TURNED THIS WHISKEY BOTTLE STRAIGHT UP
8.2 I MADE YOUR THROAT GO GOO GOO GOW

7.2 and 8.2 you can spell however you want. They're variations on an old traditional racist verse. Uncle Dave Macon sang, for instance:
A big honey biscuit and a mutton chop
Make a n----r lip go flippety flop.

[craigmulcahy]

Chris,

Those last few verses are awesome. Thanks for the corrections and filling in the blanks. This is what we have:

Bo Carter - Shoo That Chicken

(Boy I'm gonna tell ya a little somethin' 'bout this old chicken)

Yeh, Shoo that chicken off your lid
He gonna spoil up ya shortnin' bread
All I want is my lovin' at night

Hey, Little woman layin' back in her bed,
Heels cracked open like shortnin' bread
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)
(Yeah!)

Now, Little woman you needn't look so rough
I'm gonna give you nar' another buck
All I want is my lovin' at night

Now, little woman don't get high up in mind
I an't gonna let you spend nar' another dime
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)

Now, Little woman don't look so low
I may give you one more buffalo
All I want is my lovin' at night

Now, Little woman don't look so high
Must remember you got to die
All I want is my lovin' at night

(Get on that thing boy)
(Yeah!)

I give you beefsteaks and I give you pork chops
I made your lips go bleep bleep blop
All I want is my lovin' at night

And I turned this whiskey bottle straight up
I made your throat go goo goo gow
All I want is my lovin' at night

[craigmulcahy]

Hey guys.

I'd like some help on this one. There are a few spots in the verses I'm not getting and I've maybe got a couple of lines slightly wrong. Great song. On such a Bo kick right now. Can't stop playing and listening and working out what's going on. Also any thoughts on what this song is about? I've got an idea but I'd like to hear some other opinions.

Who Broke The Latch?

Now, who broke that latch? I don't know
Who broke that latch on my front door
I'm gonna find out before I go
Who broke that latch on my front door

I'm gonna find out before I go
Who broke that latch on my door, Oh baby
Who broke that latch on my door

Now, Uncle Tom, jelly rollin' king
Hump in his back come from shakin' that thing
Old aunt Dinah she's long an' tall
Then she can shake it like a cannon ball

I'm gonna find out before I go
Who broke that latch on my door, Oh baby
Who broke that latch on my door

Says I woke up this mornin', half past twelve
You know the cold wind was givin' me hell
I woke up this mornin' bout half past four
Door flew open the wind begin to blow

I'm gonna find out before I go
Who broke that latch on my door, Oh baby
Who broke that latch on my door

Now, come along boys and look me in the eyes
Don't come here with none of your big lies
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
'Nother old so and so done hushed his fuss

I'm gonna find out before I go
Who broke that latch on my door, Oh baby
Who broke that latch on my door


Cheers!
Craig

Edited 17th April with corrections.

[banjochris]

suggestions:

2.1 You have it right
2.2 HUMP IN HIS BACK COME from shakin' that thing
2.3 DINAH
2.4 THEN she can shake?

3.2 cold WIND was givin' me hell
3.4 open THE wind begin to blow

4.2 Don't COME HERE WITH NONE OF your big lies
4.4 'NOTHER OLD so and so done hushed HIS FUSS

I think the song's about someone being at Bo's house while he's gone.
Chris

[craigmulcahy]

Cheers Chris!

Craig

[craigmulcahy]

Hello Weenie folks,

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks or offer up corrections/opinions.




Times is tight like that - Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1 1928 to 4 June 1931

Listen here people, little song composed
Times is hard and everybody knows

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

If you come to my house, just come across the field
If you don't bring the flour bring the meat and meal

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

I worked all summer and I worked all the fall
Got to take my christmas in my overhauls

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Ten cent cotton and twenty cent meat
How in the world can a poor man eat.

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Listen here man I wanna tell you the fact
Don't' bring some money, says, don't ya come back

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Listen here daddy, don't mean to rob and steal
takes a little money, said, to roll this wheel

When I was up and had plenty money
You was hugging an' a kissing' an' callin' me honey

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Now because I ain't got a dollar in my hand
Wanna do your cooking' for another man

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Listen here baby give me one more chance
I'll bring ya some money if have to pawn my pants

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

Listen here, baby, times is so tough
I'm grieved the old woman got to sell this stuff

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

I ain't working cos times is tough
men ain't got no money, said, to buy your stuff.

Ohhh baby, times is tight like that.

[uncle bud]

Hi Craig,

Here's some suggestions:

If you come to my house just come across the field
If you don't bring the plough bring the mead and meal??

If you come to my house, just come across the field
If you don't bring the FLOUR bring the MEAT and meal

This is interesting. I hadn't noticed that verse before, but it is obviously a version of the infamous "bolted meal" verse from Geeshie Wiley's Last Kind Words. I can't remember if that had been mentioned in the Last Kind Words thread - will have to take a look. Last Kind Words was recorded March 1930, Times Is Tight Like That in December 1930. While it's conceivable that Bo and Walter got it from Geeshie, or perhaps vice versa, it's much more likely to my mind, given the variation in the lyric, that it was a traditional or floating verse or coming from another common source.

I worked all summer and I worked all the fall
Got to take my pistol to get overhauled??

Got to take my PISTOLS AND OVERHAULS??

Ten cent cotton and twenty cent meal
How in the world can a poor man eat.

Ten cent cotton and twenty cent MEAT

Listen here man I wanna tell you the fact
Don't' bring some money then don't ya come back

Don't bring some money, SAYS, don't ya come back

Listen here daddy don't you rob and steal,??
Take a little??

Listen here daddy, don't MEAN TO rob and steal
TAKES a little MONEY, SAID, TO ROLL THIS WHEEL

Listen here baby give me one more chance
I'll bring some money if have to pawn my ?.??

I'll bring YOU some money if I have to pawn my PANTS

One of the great lines of the blues.  Bo sings YOU quickly as YA.

Listen here baby trying' to look so tough
?woman?.stuff?

Listen here, baby, TIMES IS so tough
I'M GRIEVED THE OLD WOMAN GOT TO SELL THIS STUFF

I ain't working cos times is tough
Ain't got no money to buy your stuff.

MEN ain't got no money, SAID, TO BUY YOUR STUFF

[uncle bud]

I went and checked the Last Kind Words thread and this verse from Times Is Tight Like That was not cited.

[craigmulcahy]

Thanks Uncle Bud, that's great. Thanks for the help. Still not sure about the 'Got to take my PISTOLS AND OVERHAULS' line but that's ok.

Cheers!