Topic: Scrapper Blackwell Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Scrapper Blackwell accompanied himself out of D position in standard tuning for his "Springtime Blues".  Even by his very high standards, this is spectacular guitar playing.  He hits an E7 in the ninth bar of his form that gives things a nice color, and accords almost equal space to guitar solos and verses.  He plays really hard from the right hand, as was his wont, but is still immaculately clean and has a non-buzzy tone, never bottoming out.  How did he do that?  The song is a chorus blues.  Here is his performance, and unfortunately, the record it was copied from is kind of whupped:



INTRO

Come here, baby, sit down on my knee
I want to tell you how you jivin' me
REFRAIN: 'Cause I'm quitting you, babe, I'm quitting you now
I'm getting tired of your jive, you don't mean me no good nohow

SOLO

When you get your money, you have your fun
You ain't got no money when I'll send some
REFRAIN: Because I'm quitting you, baby, I'm quitting you now
I'm getting tired of your jive, you don't mean me no good nohow

SOLO

I'm getting tired of you parkin' on my white shoes
And doin' nothin' but runnin' up and down the good streets
REFRAIN: Because I'm quitting you, babe, I'm quitting you now
I'm getting tired of your jive, you don't mean me no good nohow

SOLO

It's springtime now and summer's gonna come
I've stood your jive all winter, now I've got you, love's all gone
REFRAIN: And I'm quitting you, babe, I'm quitting you now
I'm getting tired of your jive, you don't mean me no good nohow

All best,
Johnm

[Kadens]

I am working on Scrapper Blackwell?s ?Backstep blues? (1960).
I have problems hearing some of the lyrics, so please fill in.

Where I don?t have a clue, I put ?---?, otherwise, interrogation marks.

I only found the song on a compilation of songs on youtube. It is the third song (at 6:48) if the link doesn?t take you there directly:



Revised version follows:

Backyard backstep, look what you done done
Backyard backstep, look what you done done
Lord, and brought and broke my leg, and the police come

Should I fill you up, baby, when you first began?
Should I fill you up babe, lord when you first began?
But I?m afraid to pay you no mind, lord, I believe you?ll be back again

Lord, lost to me, baby, I just don?t know what to do
Lord, lost to me, babe, I just don?t know what to do
Lord, I'm alright with me - I bet I'm alright with you

Solo twice

Lord, when I get to walking ? I?m gonna break you up like wood
Lord, when I get to walking ? I?m gonna break you up like wood
I?ll have me a little fire, babe - that might do you some good

Solo once

All you girls, you want to see me here
All you girls, you wanna see me here
Come around to the front door - and I go anywhere

-
Modified 2nd of Sept 2016 with corrections from JohnM (see below)

[Johnm]

Hi Kadens,
Here is what I'm hearing on "Backyard Backstep":

   1.3 He mis-speaks at the front end of the line, sounds like he's saying, "Lord, AND BROUGHT AND broke my leg, and the POLICE come

   2.1 Should I fill you up, BABY, when you first begin?
   2.2 Should I fill you up, babe, Lord, when you first begin?
   2.3 BUT I"M AFRAID TO PAY YOU NO MIND, Lord, I believe YOU'LL be back again

   3.1 Lord, LOST TO ME, BABY, I just don't know what to do
   3.2 Lord, LOST TO ME, BABY, I just don't know what to do

   4.3 I'LL have me a little fire, babe, that might do you some good

These lyrics are pretty cryptic.  It's hard to know what the hell he's singing about.

All best,
Johnm

[Kadens]

Thanks a lot JohnM!

I have lost count of all the times I have tried to figure out especially line 1.3 - a relief to have it down.

The song is indeed cryptic and enigmatic .

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Scrapper Blackwell recorded "Bad Liquor Blues" at a session in Chicago on July 7, 1935, for which he was backed by Dot Rice, playing piano in F. Scrapper accompanied himself out of D position in standard tuning, capoed up and his playing is really stellar, one of his finest performances in D position. Here is "Bad Liquor Blues":



INTRO

Listen here, people, listen to what I have to say
Listen here, people, listen to what I have to say
If you drink bad whiskey, it will do you this-a-way

Make you lose your money, make you lose your best friend
Make you lose your money, make you lose your best friend
And when you get sober, swear you'll never get drunk again

Lay down in the evenin', wake up in the mornin', feelin' bad
Lay down in the evenin', wake up in the mornin', feelin' bad
It's just some bad liquor, partner, that you've had

Get up in the mornin', your head goin' 'round and 'round
Get up in the mornin', your head goin' 'round and 'round
Buy more bad liquor, stand and drink it down

Better stop that drinkin', before it goes to your head
Better stop that drinkin', before it goes to your head
Wake up some mornin', find your own self dead

CODA

Edited 7/24 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

New piano player to me.

4.3 suggestion;

Buy more bad liquor

[Blues Vintage]

Even if he misspeaks in that 1.3 of "Back Step Blues" it sounds to me like;

Lord, and burned and then broke my leg, and the police come

[Johnm]

Thanks for the fix on "Bad Liquor Blues", Blues Vintage, I have made that change. On "Backstep Blues", I agree with "burned" rather than "bought" and will make that change, but don't hear "and then" at all. What he says has a closed "m" sound. I'll change it to "burned and" in Weeniepedia.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Scrapper Blackwell recorded "Morning Mail Blues" at a session in St. Louis on February 21, 1934, accompanied by piano only, which DG&R has attributed as being probably played by Scrapper himself. There is no obvious reason to think otherwise and the fact that he accompanied Brooks Berry on piano for several cuts would seem to make the attribution all the more likely. Some awkward transitions into the V chord also make self-accompaniment seem likely. Here is "Morning Mail Blues":



INTRO

I've got a letter, and it come in this morning's mail
I've got a letter, and it come in this morning's mail
I can't see my baby, well, she's all locked up in jail

Baby, baby, what you want poor me to do?
Baby, baby, what you want poor me to do?
Beg, steal and borrow just to get along with you

SOLO

I'm gonna leave in the mornin', I'm gonna catch the first train out
I'm gonna leave in the mornin', I'm gonna catch the first train out
I'm going where you at, just to see what it's all about

I'm gonna ask the jailer, let me see your smilin' face
I'm gonna ask the jailer, let me see your smilin' face
Deep down in my heart, babe, I've got a lovin' place

SOLO

When I pay your fine, well, I ain't gon' leave you alone
When I pay your fine, well, I ain't gonna leave you alone
Babe, I'm gon' take you, I'm gon' bring you on back home

Baby, baby, what's the matter now?
Baby, baby, what's the matter now?
Tryin' to quit your little daddy but you really don't know how

SOLO

CODA

Edited11/20/24 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Scrapper Blackwell recorded "Blues That Made Me Cry" at the same session that he recorded "Morning Mail Blues", and as with that song he is accompanied by a solo piano on it, probably played by himself. Like "Morning Mail Blues" the song was played in D, and it shares the same rhythmic feel, tempo and many accompaniment phrases with that song. Scrapper was a wonderful singer, I think. Here is "Blues That Made Me Cry":



INTRO

Blues made me happy, then again they made me cry
Blues made me happy, then again they made me cry
Look like here, lately, well, I can't be satisfied

Mmmmmmmmm, Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Mmmmmmmmm, Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Look like everybody, treats me like a dog

SOLO

I got up this mornin', blues was in my bed
I got up this mornin', blues was in my bed
I went to eat my breakfast, blues was in my bread

Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyy, blues stays with me always
Mmmmmmmmmm, blues stays with me always
I'll be so glad when these blues are away to stay

SOLO

And blues got to runnin', and they stopped 'round my front door
And blues got to runnin', and they stopped 'round my front door
I'll be so glad if I don't be worried here no more

I can't go nowhere, I ain't got no decent clothes
I can't go nowhere, I ain't got no decent clothes
And the rent man, every mornin', knockin' on my front door

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Morning Mail Blues


Verse 1

(I) -I've- got a letter,

Verse 4

(Keep that) -deep down- in my heart

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Blues Vintage. I've made those changes.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Scrapper Blackwell recorded "Wayback Blues at a session in Chicago on July 8, 1935, accompanying himself on guitar out of A position in standard tuning and joined by the pianist Dot Rice, whom he recorded several titles with after Leroy Carr's death. Here is "Wayback Blues":



INTRO

Just sittin' here thinkin', just four years ago, today
Just sittin' here thinkin', just four years ago, today
If I make up my mind, I won't be treated this-a way

See the sun is shinin', out across the deep blue sea
See that sun is shinin', out across the deep blue sea
And I'm hopin' someday, she'll come back home to me

Now I'm lonesome, don't know what to do
Now I'm lonesome, don't know what to do
Lord, it's awful, to have these wayback blues

Did you ever sit a-wonderin', about your old used-to-be?
Did you ever sit a-wonderin', 'bout your old used-to-be?
I'd feel whole lot better, if she was here with me

Now I'm worried, don't know what to do
Now I'm worried, don't know what to do
I guess it's the reason, why I've got them wayback blues

CODA

Edited 11/22/24 to pick up corrections from David Kaatz and banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[David Kaatz]

Wayback Blues, v2.1 and 2.2 sounds to me like See that sun is shinin'...

Dave

[Johnm]

Hi Dave,
I thought it was "that" in 2.2 in particular, but in neither of those lines does he sing the concluding "t". I think he sang "the" both times, but with an uncharacteristic vowel sound.