One of the few Bracey tracks yet to be pored over in this thread is Stranger Blues, recorded in February 1928. I've been working on it a little tonight, and swiftly realised I'd have to figure out the lyrics for myself...
This one has a vocal by Rosie Mae Moore which is done few favours by the recording. If you can get over the shrillness of the sound that has been captured though, I think she puts in a really good performance. My (JSP) cd suggests that Bracey is on guitar and no one else is involved- but Moore does an aside in the intro "oh play it Mr Charley long time" which makes me wonder. That said, the guitar patterns are fairly typical bracey. Any clues on this would be welcome.
The lyrics, once you take the trouble to decipher them, are great- and typically braceyesque, being pretty maudlin and harsh in places.
I get the following, more or less, but am missing one key word in the second verse. The best I've managed is "stallion" which seems to be a little contemporary.
And I'll feel tomorrow, like I feel today And I'll feel tomorrow, like I feel today before I stand to be mistreated girl Ill take morphine and die
Now my ? got something, i's a brand new thing to me Now my ? got something girl, 's a brand new thing to me I just want to tell you it sure sounds(?) good to me
Im a poor old stranger boys, and I just rode in your town Im a poor old stranger girls I, just rode in your town Lord I just came here to ease my troublin' mind
Lord I'm so heartbroken but I cannot cry at all Lord I'm so heartbroken girl I cannot cry at all But if I find my man girls, I'm gonna nail him to the wall
Im a poor old stranger, and I just rode in your town Im a poor old stranger girl, and I just rode in your town Lord if I find my man, I'm gonna nail him to the wall
« Last Edit: July 08, 2020, 10:05:47 AM by Johnm »
Personally I believe it is Charlie McCoy who on that same date recorded "Ha Ha Blues", "School Girl Blues" and "Staggerin? Blues" with Rosie Mae Moore and she encourages him just the same ("Oh play it, Mister Charlie"); in one verse of Staggerin? , after a long great solo by him, she sings "I love you, Mister Charlie, honey, God knows I do". I?ve always loved that bit
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You canīt trust your baby when the ice man comes hanging around
Definitely McCoy playing on "Stranger Blues," both aurally and in B&GR. The aside at the beginning is "Oh play it Mr. Charlie, long time and a heap of it."
1.1 and 1.2 the missing word is "daddy's" and it should be "it's" a brand new thing to me 1.3 I think that word is "stays"
3.1 should be "girls" instead of boys, I think and in this verse and the last should be "rolled" into town instead of "rode." Chris
Mad Dog Blues - Mary Butler (Rosie Mae Moore) Actual pitch: G (f) Main guitar position: G Fiddle position: n/a Mandolin position: n/a Second guitar position: n/a
Lyrics: Read my search warrant lady, I'm just looking for my man Read my search warrant lady, I'm just looking for my man I got my razor in my bosom and my pistol in my hand
I'm just like a mad dog, I snaps at everything I meet I'm just like a mad dog, I snaps at everything I meet But if I find my man, he sure is going to be my meat
I'm going to cut him with my razor, I'm going to use my pistol too I'm going to cut him with my razor, I'm going to use my pistol too Now they can call the undertaker to put your last clean shirt on you
I'm going to kill my man then I'm going to kill myself I'm going to kill my man then I'm going to kill myself I'd rather we both to be dead : than to see him with someone else
« Last Edit: July 20, 2020, 05:56:37 PM by Johnm »
Staggering Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore Actual pitch: B-flat Main guitar position: G Fiddle position: n/a Mandolin position: n/a Second guitar position: n/a
Lyrics: cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk 'cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk 'cause I'm goin' away to leave you, I'm comin' back no more
Can you tell me pretty papa, where did you stay last night? spoken: Where did you stay? Tell me pretty papa, where did you stay last night? He said "It's none of your business, mama, so I treat you right."
'cause you see me staggerin', baby don't you think I'm drunk spoken: You know I ain't drunk. 'cause you see me staggerin', daddy don't you think I'm drunk I got my eye on the shotgun, the other one is on your trunk
spoken: Oh, play it Mr. Charlie.
Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do But the day you try to quit me, rider, that's the day you die
Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do Well, I love you, Mr. Charlie, honey, God knows I do But the day you try to quit me, Charlie, that's the day you die
« Last Edit: July 20, 2020, 05:57:28 PM by Johnm »
Ha-Ha Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore Actual pitch: B-flat Main guitar position: G Fiddle position: n/a Mandolin position: n/a Second guitar position: n/a
Lyrics: Gee, I'm feelin' kinda lonesome Gee, I'm feelin' kinda blue My daddy quit me, lord, I don't know what to do
He fooled me right from the start Since he left he broke my heart But let me tell you, I surely do feel blue
This morning I received a note This was the answer I wrote
Now old man don't sing no blues to me I'm just as good as any girl can be You even told me right to my face That you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways I'm goin' on back to my baby again
So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
Now look man, don't [you turn away] Sick and tired of your dirty ways 'cause you even told me right to my face That you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways I'm goin' on back to my baby again
So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
Oh, look man, you may go your way I'm sick and tired of your dirty ways 'cause you even told me right to my face That you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your lowdown ways I'm goin' on back to my baby again
So come and tell me and you can't bluff, papa Tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
« Last Edit: July 20, 2020, 05:57:59 PM by Johnm »
School Girl Blues - Charlie McCoy with Rosie Mae Moore Actual pitch: B-flat Main guitar position: G Fiddle position: n/a Mandolin position: n/a Second guitar position: n/a
Lyrics: Now tell [me] little daddy what you got on your worried mind Now tell me little daddy what you got on your worried mind Tell your little mama your troubles, swear I'll tell you mine
I'll [] on your carriage, daddy and I'll [check] your line I'll [] on your carriage, daddy and I'll [check] your line I just stopped to tell you another man is got your [job]
It's hard to love a man when you know you really love And it's hard to love a man, girls, when you know you really love Lord, I can't quit him and I sure can't let him alone
Early one morning, girls, on my way to school Early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, that brownskin man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, that brownskin man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule
« Last Edit: July 20, 2020, 05:58:27 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Rosie Mae Moore had one recording session, in Memphis on February 3, 1928, that yielded four titles that were released, on all of which she was accompanied by Charlie McCoy on guitar. For "Ha Ha Blues", Charlie McCoy played the song as a somewhat mystifying one-chorder, out of G position in standard tuning. The song is essentially the same number that Pink Anderson and Simmie Dooley recorded as "Gonna Tip Out Tonight". I'd very much appreciate help with any of the blank spots or other places that I have wrong. Here is "Ha Ha Blues":
INTRO
Gee, I'm feelin', kinda lonesome, gee, I'm feelin', kinda blue My daddy quit me, Lord, I don't know what to do He fooled me right from the sta-hart, since he left, he's broke my heart But let me tell you, I sure, did, do feel blue
This morning I received a note. this was the answer I wrote:
Go on, old man, don't sing those blues to me. I'm just as blue as any girl can be You even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways, I'm goin' on back to my baby again So, come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
SOLO
Go on, old man, and you, go your way, sick and tired of your dirty ways Said you even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your dirty ways, I'm goin' on back to my babe again So, right on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
SOLO
Go on, old man you may go your way, I'm sick and tired of your dirty ways Said you even told me, right to my face, that you had another woman to shimmy in my place I'm gettin' tired of your low-down ways, I'm goin' on back to my baby again So, come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha I mean, I'm gonna ha-ha-ha
Edited 7/27 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and banjochris
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 27, 2023, 03:56:26 PM by Johnm »
The missing bit is similar to what Pink and Sammie sing, but the beginning is different. I think she's singing:
Come on in, don't mean you can't bluff, papa, I'm tippin' out tonight...
I think the second time it sounds more like
Right on in...
confident of the "you can't bluff" part, which of course Pink and Sammie rhyme with "strut my stuff." And there is an "I'm" each time after "papa" but it's a bit hard to hear.
Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage and Chris. I wasn't particularly close on some of those lines and might not ever have gotten them, no matter how much listening I did. Thanks!
Hi all, Rosie Mae Moore recorded "School Girl Blues" at the same session as "Ha-Ha Blues", and Charlie McCoy once again accompanied her in G position, standard tuning. I'd appreciate help with any blank places or places I've gotten the lyrics wrong. Verse two I'm barely hearing at all. Here is "School Girl Blues":
INTRO SOLO
Now, tell me, little daddy, what you've got on your worried mind Now, tell me, little daddy, what you've got on your worried mind Tell your little mama your trouble, swear I'll tell you mine
Hearts of stone you're carryin', daddy, and I shook your love Hearts of stone you're carryin', daddy, and I shook your love I just come to tell you, another man is got your job
SOLO
You're hard, love a man when you know you really love And it's hard to love a man, girls, when you know you really love Lord, I can't quit him and I sure can't, let him alone
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, that brown-skinned man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule
INTERLUDE
Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, early one morning, girls, on my way to school Lord, that brown-skinned man caused me not to obey my poor mother's rule
Edited 7/28 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 28, 2023, 09:08:48 AM by Johnm »
Hearts of stone you're carryin' daddy and I shook your love Hearts of stone you're carryin' daddy and I shook your love I just goin'-come- to tell you, another man is got your job
(And it's)-ain't it- hard to love a man, girls,
Lord, I can't quit him and I (don't care,)-sure can't- let him alone
« Last Edit: July 28, 2023, 08:42:29 AM by Blues Vintage »
Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I re-listened several times and made all of the suggested changes except "ain't it" for "and it's", where I can clearly hear the "s" at the end of "it's", and the vowel sound is better for "and" than "ain't". That verse two deciphering was great hearing!
Hi all, Rosie Mae Moore and Charlie McCoy recorded "Stranger Blues" at their one four-song session, with Charlie McCoy accompanying her out of G position in standard tuning, as he did on the three other songs. Perhaps not surprisingly, Charlie McCoy re-treads his accompaniment and soloing ideas from the other songs in the session. I'm not sure I have the ending of the first two lines of the next-to-last verse and would appreciate correction/corroboration there. Here is "Stranger Blues":
INTRO (Spoken, Rosie Mae Moore: Oh, play it, Mister Charlie, a long time and a heap of it!)
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today Before I stand to be mistreated, girl, and I'll take morphine and die
Lord, my daddy's got something is a, brand new thing to me Lord, my daddy's got something, girls, it's a brand new thing to me I just want to tell you it sure stings good to me
I'm a poor old stranger, girls, and I just rolled in your town I'm a poor old stranger, girls, I just roll in your town Lord, I just come here to ease my trouble in mind
SOLO
Lord, I'm so heartbroken, girls, I can not cry at all Lord, I'm so heartbroken, girls, I can not cry at all But if I finds my man, girls, I'm a-nail him to the wall
SOLO
I'm a poor old stranger and I, just rolled in your town Lord, I'm poor old stranger, girls, and I, just rolled in your town Lord, I, find my man I'm gonna nail him to the wall
CODA
Edited 7/30 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 30, 2023, 11:17:39 AM by Johnm »