Hi all, I recently heard this song (it's really more of a recitation) for the first time on the Yazoo CD, "Shake Your Wicked Knees". It immediately struck me as being a very believable interaction between Pine Top Smith (PTS), who is playing piano at a rent party, and his biggest fan, (PBF), who is a bit of a trial. It is all spoken word, though when Pine Top launches into the body of what he has to say, it is a separate song within the context of the whole. The cut opens with Pine Top playing a Blues, and here is "I'm Sober Now":
Pine Top's Biggest Fan: Oh, play that thing, Mr. Piano Man! Oh, whip that thing all night. Say, lady, lady, bring me some of those chit'lin's over there, will you? Put a little of that slaw on them.
PBF, affecting a woman's voice: Play it, Mr. Piano Man!
PBF: Say, say, say, move on there, what do you think this is here?! Move on, move on. What do you think here, dancing on a dime here? Yes, whup that thing, boy! Play it 'til it sweats, now. Ah ha. (Pine Top plays a beautiful Pop turn-around) Say, Pine Top, we don't want to hear that, what do you think this is? We don't want to hear that sentimental stuff!
Pine Top: Yeah, that's what you been singin' 'round here the whole night long. You don't want to hear that sentimental stuff.
PBF: Oh, play those Blues for me, that's all I want!
PT: Yeah, and hollerin' "Play the Blues!" Y'all must think I'm a camel here, dontcha? You ain't bought the first drink at night. So I'm gonna get all of you told.
Now, I don't mind playin' anytime that y'all can make me drunk, But Mr. Pine Top is sober now Now I been playin' the Blues 'round here for you the whole night long And y'all ain't bought the first jug somehow Now it's gettin' wintertime and I have to bide I need a little corn whiskey to kinda keep me warm inside So as I don't mind playin' any time that y'all can make me drunk But Mr. Pine Top is sober now
I don't mind playin' anytime that y'all can make me drunk But Mr. Pine Top is sober now I say I been playin' the piano 'round here the whole night long And you ain't bought the first drink, somehow Now, if the house catch on fire and there ain't no water 'round Landlady, throw that gallon jug out the window, let the shack boin [sic] on down 'Cause I don't mind playin' anytime that y'all can get me drunk But Mr. Pinetop is sober now
PT: Now, just to show you I can play the Blues, I'm gonna strike 'em again for you.
PBF: Hey, hey! Now you're playin' for me, Mr. Pine Top! Oh, just play that thing all night long. Say, landlady, bring Mr. Pine Top just as much as he wants to drink, I'll pay for it. Give him the whole jug, I don't mind it. Play that thing now, boy! Ah folks, that's tight like that now! Oh, whip that thing, man, whip it 'til it sweats, Mr. Pine Top! Now you're playin' for me, why, that's the way I'm built! Ah ha.
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 02, 2020, 05:14:51 PM by Johnm »
It immediately struck me as being a very believable interaction between Pine Top Smith (PTS), who is playing piano at a rent party, and his biggest fan, (PBF), who is a bit of a trial.
In one of the interviews conducted with Mayo Williams (can't recall which) he laid claim to being the other particpant. Am I correct in assuming the term PBF has been used as an identifier of the voices because I don't believe it was so designated in the ledgers or on the 78.
Apologies for appearing obtuse in this matter, I'm genuinely intrigued to know.
Hi Bunker Hill, I was just abbreviating PBF for Pine Top's Biggest Fan. I certainly don't know who played the part, but he did a great job. All best, Johnm
Clarence "Pine Top" Smith recorded "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie" for Vocalion in Chicago on December 29, 1928. The world almost didn't get to hear Smith, as he was killed by a stray bullet while playing at a dance less than three months later, on March 15th, 1929.
The record is notable for being the first appearance of the term "boogie woogie" on record, and for being one of the first appearances of what would become known as a boogie woogie bass. Lots of pianists (and a few guitar players) have recorded versions of "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie" through the years, but very few have copied Pine Top's words. Here they are. If anyone has any additions or corrections, I'd be happy to receive them.
I've transcribed the words from both takes. They're pretty much the same, but there are two points of interest. 1) In take A, Pine Top calls the song "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie", but in take B he calls it "Pine Top Trouble", an interesting name given that the lyrics are a set of dance instructions and the word "trouble" is never used. (Though Pine Top recorded a "Pine Top Trouble" earlier in December which was never issued). 2) In take A, Pine Top shouts "Hold it" or "Hold yourself" over a trill , then shouts "Stop" and plays a descending melodic line. the two together are quite distinctive. But on take B, Though Pine Top says "when I say 'Stop'...", but never actually says stop, though the "Hold it", trill, and descending melodic line are still there. This would seem to be such a distinctive part of the piece that the difference, and the fact that the difference is consistent throughout the piece, is surprising. Here is "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie, Take A":
"Pine Top's Boogie Woogie" (Take A)
(Instrumental)
I want all of you all to know this is Pine Top's Boogie Woogie I want everybody to dance 'em just like I tell you And when I say "Hold yourself" I want all of you to get ready to stop And when I've said "Stop", don't move And when I say "Get it", I want all of you all to do a boogie woogie Hold it now Stop Boogie woogie That's what I'm talkin' 'bout
(Instrumental)
Now when I say "Hold yourself" this time, I want all of you to get ready to stop When I've said "Stop", don't move a peg When I say "Get it", everybody mess around Hold yourself now Stop Mess around
(Instrumental)
That's what I'm talkin' 'bout
Say little girl, you, standin' there with the red dress on Back right up here at this piano where Mr. Pine Top is That's right, face the audience Now when I tell you to hold yourself, you get ready to stop, you hear? And when I've said "Stop", don't you move a peg And when I say "Get it", I want you to shake that thing Hold yourself now Stop Shake that thing That's what I'm talkin' 'bout
Now I'm gon' pick this piano
(Instrumental)
"Pine Top's Boogie Woogie" (Take B) Here is "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie, Take B":
(Instrumental)
Now listen here all of you, this is my Pine Top Trouble I want everybody to dance 'em just like I tell you And when I say "Hold yourself" everybody get ready to stop And when I've said "Stop", don't move a peg And when I say "Get it", everybody do a boogie woogie Hold yourself now Boogie woogie Now That's what I'm talkin' 'bout
(Instrumental)
Now when I say "Hold yourself" this time, y'all get ready to stop And when I've said "Stop", don't move When I says "Get it", everybody mess around Hold yourself Mess around Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout
(Instrumental)
Say little girl, you, standin' there with the red dress on You come right up here where Mr. Pine Top is Now face the audience Now when I tell you to hold yourself, you get ready to stop And don't move a peg And when I say "Get it", I want you to shake that thing Hold yourself now Shake that thing That's what I'm talkin' about
« Last Edit: July 02, 2020, 05:18:06 PM by Johnm »
Thanks very much for posting your transcriptions, dj. I've only heard Take 1 of "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie", and it is sensational. Good work on getting "don't move a peg". I never was able to figure that passage out before. People interested in more lyrics from Pine Top Smith can find his "I'm Sober Now" elsewhere in the Country Blues Lyrics board, at: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=60&topic=2208.0 . All best, Johnm
It's funny how different people have trouble with different phrases in a song. For me, "don't move a peg" has always been crystal clear. It's "face the audience" that took me hours of listening to hear. That's the great thing about having a group of people to help with transcriptions.
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie is one of those seminal tracks that shows up in the most unusual places. Covered by endless piano players, it also shows up in versions by Clifton Chenier, by various swing outfits in the 1940's, and there's even a version by Willie Nelson. I seem to remember a guitar only version by Snooks Eaglin too?
I seem to remember a guitar only version by Snooks Eaglin too?
I've a version of him doing it on the third vol. of I Blueskvarter Chicago 1964 but feel sure I have another rendition on something I've owned far longer than that CD.
Later edit: Silly me it's on the 1971 Snooks Legacy of the Blues LP...little grey cells ain't what they were.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2008, 04:56:14 AM by Bunker Hill »
Almost nine years after Pine Top Smith recorded "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie", Pinetop Burks recorded his version, retitled "Shake The Shack", on October 25, 1937 in San Antonio. Julian Yarrow's notes to DOCD-5232, "San Antonio Blues 1937", mention no biographical details concerning Burks, and I assume none are known. Burks plays piano and is accompanied on this track by unknown guitar and washboard players, referred to on the record as "Slim" and "Son". It's a rocking version of the tune, with the washboard and guitar (strummed with a flatpick) really pushing the rhythm. Lyrically, Burks starts out sticking fairly close to Pine Top Smith, but he soon diverges from that model and makes the song his own. All words are spoken or sung by Pinetop Burks unless otherwise noted. The last line is sung in harmony. I'm not sure of the bracketed phrases, and would welcome any suggestions or corrections.
"Shake The Shack"
Slim, what you and Son gon' do? Slim: We're just standin' here lookin' at you Let's shake the shack Son: [Why there be a law t'do that]
I want all you all to do just like I say When I say "Stop", I mean stop 'n' when I say "Get it", I mean shake the shack Hold yourself, now stop Shake the shack That's what I'm talkin' about
(Instrumental)
Son: Why you standin there, boy? [He gon' hear th'song]
(Instrumental)
Son: Go up there like I like it now
Stick your right foot out Take your right foot in Shake yourself and then you begin Shake the shack
(Instrumental)
Stick your left foot out Take your left foot in The way you shake it this time it's a low down sin Shake the shack
(Instrumental)
The Law's on the corner lookin' 'round We'd better shake the shack until it fall down Let's shake the shack
Son: [Why that'll be a Law nohow]
You all better get your hats and coats 'cause we ain't goin' hit another note Son or Slim: That I know Shake the shack Son or Slim: Shake the shack Shake the shack Son or Slim: Shake the shack
All: 'cause we ain't gon' be here partner when the Law's come back
Pinetop's Boogie Woogie is one of those seminal tracks that shows up in the most unusual places. Covered by endless piano players, it also shows up in versions by Clifton Chenier, by various swing outfits in the 1940's, and there's even a version by Willie Nelson. I seem to remember a guitar only version by Snooks Eaglin too?
And of course a guitar-only version by Willie McTell for his Atlantic sessions, on the Atlanta Twelve-String record.
Hi, this song is fascinating me too. I think your lyrics transcription is pretty fine, but hearing at them with my reliable "Transcribe!" at 25% speed, even if English is not my mother tongue, I guess I found out some little differences. I'll bracketed down here the guessed difference in the verses:
PT: Yeah, and hollerin' "Play the Blues!" Y'all must think I'm a camel (PT seems to add also "'round" before "here")here, dontcha? ...
...I need a little corn whiskey to kinda keep me warm inside So as (well, I cleary hear "'Cause" instead of "So as", just like in the last verses of the song) I don't mind playin' any time that y'all can make me drunk..
I don't mind playin' anytime that y'all can make me drunk But Mr. Pine Top is sober now I say I (I can hear PT adding the verb "Have", actually "'ve", before "been") been playin' the piano 'round here the whole night long And you ain't bought the first drink, somehow Now, if the house catch on fire and there ain't no water 'round Landlady, throw that gallon jug out the window, let the shack boin on down....(Ok, I'm sure you Johnn appreciated what the hell Pt want to mean, but "transcribe!" make me quite hear PT really saying "burn". At normal speed seems exactly something like "boin", but slowing down I can hear the "r" not the "i". ) I'm done with my two cents. Bye.