Topic: Ma Rainey Lyrics

[banjochris]

The vocal sounds a little odd but I think it's still Ma, but she's way off mike (I assume an electrical recording, it's from 1927).

I hear:

full of is right

and this both times:
Hate to see your pappy
Get mighty happy
I mean a hellish rag, oh babe

and I think instead of Mister Rooster it's something like Mister Worcester -- addressing one of the band. I don't have my discography to hand so I'm not sure who all is there.

Cool piece!
Chris

[TenBrook]

Here's the song from youtube:

[waxwing]

Per B&GR, the director of Ma Rainey's Georgia Band on this session was Professor C.M. Russell. Hard to hear her saying "mister Russell, unless she pronounces it "Roossell". No one else identified in the session (prob. Shirley Clay, cornet; prob. Al Wynn, trombone; poss. Artie Starks, clarinet; all others unknown) seem like possibilities.

Interestingly, the vocalist is listed as "unknown male" and a note appears at the end of the session: "Matricies 20231 [Hellish Rag] and 20235 [Ice Bag Papa], on which Ma Rainey does not sing, are jazz rather than blues performances, but are listed for completeness." Also, you are correct, Chris, that it was electrically recorded as stated on the label for "Ice Bag Papa", which is the second graphic appearing at 0.04 (and also listing Prof. Russell) I do think it could be a woman singing and therefor Ma Rainey, but Dixon, Godrich and Rye seem to think otherwise. One thing that jumped out at me was the spoken aside, "Aw, play it! Play it now! Play that thing, boy!" which, if memory serves, is the exact locution used by Frankie "Half Pint" Jaxon, recorded in this studio during this period, altho I couldn't pinpoint any specific songs (possibly "You Got To Wet It"?). But this doesn't really sound like Jaxon.

Wax

[banjochris]

Thanks for the info, Wax! I agree, doesn't sound like Jaxon, and I would think we would all instantly recognize him. The vocal does sound like it could be a man, but sounds enough like Ma to make me wonder.

Interestingly, though, one bit of support for it not being Ma singing is that on "Ice Bag Papa" the label says "Ma Rainey's Georgia Band" rather than the more usual "Ma Rainey and Her Georgia Band."
Chris

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Ma Rainey recorded "Little Low Mama Blues" at a session in Chicago in December of 1926, backed by Blind Blake playing C position, standard tuning and "possibly Leroy Pickett" on violin, according to DG&R. She sure was a wonderful singer! Here is "Little Low Mama Blues":



INTRO

Mmmmm, Lawdy-Lawdy, Lawd
Mmmmm, Lawdy-Lawdy, Lawd
The man I'm lovin' treats me like a dog

I know I've been your dog, since I've been your gal
I've been your dog, since I've been your gal
I love you, pretty papa, follow you everywhere

If you don't want me, papa, why don't you tell me so?
If you don't want me, papa, why don't you tell me so?
I'm little and low, can get a man anywhere I go

I'm gonna build me a scaffold, papa, to hang myself
I'm gonna build me a scaffold, papa, to hang myself
Can't get the man I love, don't want nobody else

Ahhhh, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd, Lawd
Ahhhh, Lawdy-Lawdy, Lawd
Ahhhh, Lawd, ain't gon' sing no more

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Ma Rainey recorded "See See Rider Blues" at a session in New York City on October 18, 1924, accompanied by "Her Georgia Jazz Band" according to DG&R. The band was certainly an all-star ensemble, featuring Louis Armstrong on cornet, Charlie Green on trombone, Buster Bailey on clarinet, Fletcher Henderson on piano and Charlie Dixon on banjo. The recording would seem to make the Pop origins of the song pretty clear--certainly the opening verse sounds composed as opposed to something that arrived via oral tradition, and I suspect that the chorus was composed, as well. In the transcription I've tried to indicate her vocal phrasing with the placement of the commas. Ma Rainey's singing is so expressive and strong, as was usual for her. Here is her "See See Rider Blues": 



INTRO

VERSE: I'm so unhappy, I feel so blue, always feel so sad
I made a mistake, right from the start, oh, it seems so hard to part
Oh, but this letter, that I will write, I hope he will remember, when he receives it

CHORUS: See, see, rider, see what you done done, Lord, Lord, Lord
Made me love you, now your gal done come, you
Made me love you, now your gal done come

I'm going away, baby, won't be back 'til Fall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Going away, baby, won't be back 'til Fall, if I
Find me a good man, I, won't be back at all

I'm gonna buy me a pistol, just as long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Kill my man and catch the Cannonball, if he
Don't have me, he won't, have no gal at all

CODA

All best,
Johnm