I'm a stranger here, just come in on this train. I'm a stranger here, come in on this train. I want some responsible young man, tell me that woman's name - J. T. Adams with Shirley Griffith, "Blind Lemon's Blues"
Again I'm turning to your collective help. I'm trying to figure out what Spark Plug Smith is singing in his "In a shanty in old shanty town", with not much succes. Here's what I've got.
Only a shanty, in old shanty town. The roofing is slanting, touch on the ground. That old tumbled down shack, down by that railroad track. Like a millionaire's mansion, it?s calling me back.
I?d give up a million, if I were a king. More than a palace, it?s my ev?rything. When there's a queen waiting there, with a silvery crown, in a shanty in old shanty town.
Here's the video (with supposedly the only known picture of the man):
The chord changes are pretty basic cycle of 5ths ragtimey stuff in C. In the intro he plays an F# triad, instead of the F#dim7 that seem to appear on the rest of the song.
Thank you for your help!
Cheers
Pan
Edited to add: not knowing the song I didn't realize that there are plenty of versions made, and I found some lyrics too!
Edited again according to the corrections kindly made by uncle bud.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2012, 07:04:43 PM by Pan »
It was a pop hit in the early 30s and Spark Plug Smith no doubt was trying to capitalize on that. He also does a parody of Blue Heaven. Here's what I have:
ONLY A shanty in old shanty town. The roofing is SLANTING, touch on the ground. That old tumbled down shack down by that railroad track. Like a millionaire's mansion, it?s calling me back.
I?d give up a million, if I were a king. More than a palace, it?s my ev?rything. WHEN THERE'S a queen waiting there with a silvery crown, in a shanty in old shanty town.
I think he sings SLANTING though the original lyric is SLANTY as you have it.
Fun version.
« Last Edit: October 22, 2012, 06:59:18 PM by uncle bud »
Pan - as do I! I had to look it up to confirm the era.
CF thanks for the link to Big Bill's version. Nice one, as you might expect from the master. I haven't explored these recordings you also mentioned in the Lomax thread. Looks like I have some listening to do.
Since I was listening to it after Shanty Town, here's the parody of My Blue Heaven, called "New Blue Heaven (My Little Blue Heaven)". Some lines still missing:
Me and my old lady that's name was Sadie Don't get along so well That's why you hear me yell
Neighbors are squabblin' 'bout the way me and my wife keeps arguing And [how we/I went to shelter?? home every night]
Last Saturday night, while things were quiet I had a big fight in my blue heaven
I turned to the right, then I turned out my light Oh how we did fight in my blue heaven
And then a rolling pin struck me under my chin, then a brick or two When I awoke my jaw was broke and both eyes were blue
Just Molly and me My mother-in-law she make three They whupped the devil out of my In my blue heaven
I turned to the right, then I turned out my light Oh how we did fight in my blue heaven
And then a rolling pin struck me under my chin, then a brick or two When I awoke my jaw was broke and both eyes were blue
Just Molly and me My mother-in-law she makes three They whupped the devil out of my In my blue heaven
edited to pick up corrections from dj and John Lee.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2012, 06:20:35 PM by uncle bud »
Thanks everybody for the additional information and versions! Great versions by BBB and BM! Since the tune apparently is already covered to death, my possibly butchering it won't do much harm anymore!
Thanks dj and John Lee. I will listen to the "shelter" line some more for New Blue Heaven. Making other changes, not sure why I typed "my" and not "me". dj, I currently hear "THAT's name was Sadie" as you suggest, but later her name is Molly. Hmm.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2012, 06:21:59 PM by uncle bud »
I think the missing lines are; "Clock's on the mantle, the lamp's on the shelf" "My clock stopped ticking, my lamp it went out" "My shirt collar's dirty, my socks ain't clean" "Why should you worry 'fore you go"
2.1 PLEASE, breeze that blowed my gal away 2.3 THAT SUNDAY morning 2.4 You can't always sing THROUGH the trees 2.5 And when I woke up this morning she was gone, AH, BUT GEEZ,
3.3 JUST hear my plea 3.4 HEAR me, beggin' from my knees 3.5 Please blow back, SWEET evening breeze
I hope this helps. And I'll add the performance to the list of songs played in F position. This is a neat find, Roi! All best, Johnm
This is an old pop tune written in 1919 as Breeze (Blow my Baby Back To Me). It was recorded by many jazz and country artists over the years and is somewhat of a standard. Artists who recorded it include The Shannon Four, Riley Puckett, Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy, Cowboy Copas and Jim Reeves. I've never heard the Spark Plug Smith version before and I really like it. Here are the original lyrics if they can help you any;
Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) Geier, Werner/Hunter, Rodney/Conquest, L . 1919
It's an ill wind that blows nobody good Blows nobody good they say It's an ill wind that blows nobody good But it blew my gal away
Breeze, you blew my gal away I've had the blues all day Since early dawn, early dawn You come a whisperin' through the trees Little breeze When I woke up this morning she was gone, she was gone Breeze, you blew her from my side She was my blushing bride Oh, hear my plea, hear my plea Hear me begging you upon my knees Blow her back sweet evening breeze Blow my baby back to me
Hi all, Spark Plug Smith accompanied himself out of C position in standard tuning for his recording of "Vampire Women". The song begins with an unusual two-stanza intro, followed by a segue into the chorus, at which point it becomes a common raggy progression. Spark Plug Smith had a kind of mild, sedate delivery which was really droll, especially considering his subject matter. Here is his performance:
Now, vampire women, they've taken the day Causing all these married men to go astray You can see them standing, each and every day Waiting for some vamp to come their way
She'll ast him for five, he'll give her ten Says, "If that ain't enough, mama, call around again." Now, he'll go stone crazy and he'll go stone wild Go home and mistreat his wife and his child
Now, married men, that's not right Go home and treat your own wife right
For if you dress your wife like you do the women in the street Believe me, you'll have a vampire, too Running around here, messin' with every single woman you meet That will never do Says, you wake up some of these mornings, she'll be feeling bad She'll give you the biggest black eye that you've ever had Just dress your wife like do the women in the street B'lieve me, you'll have a vampire, too, I mean, B'lieve me you'll have a vampire, too
SOLO
I said, dress your wife like you do the women in the street Believe you'll have a vampire, too Now, runnin' around here messin' with every single woman you meet That will never do Now, you wake up some of these mornings, another mule in your stall Vampire women gon' be the cause, it all Dress your wife like you do the women in the street Believe you'll have a vampire, too
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 17, 2016, 06:34:20 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, I realize it's a long while since the song has been posted to, but I think what Spark Plug Smith sings for the mystery line in "New Blue Heaven" is: In our little shelter home, every night with "our" pronounced "oura". Here are the lyrics for "New Blue Heaven" with a couple of other minor changes.
INTRO
Me and my old lady, that's name was Sadie Don't get along so well, that's why you hear me yell
Neighbors are squabbling 'Bout the way me and my wife keeps arguing In our little shelter home, every night
Last Saturday night, while things were quiet I had a big fight in my blue heaven I've turned to the right, then I turned out my light Oh, how we did fight in my blue heaven I mean, a rolling pin struck me under my chin, then a brick or two When I awoke my jaw was broke and both eyes were blue Just Molly and me, my mother-in-law, she made three They whupped the devil out of me in my blue heaven
SCAT SOLO
GUITAR SOLO
I turned to the right, then I turned out my light Oh, how we did fight in my blue heaven I mean, a rolling pin struck me under my chin, then a brick or two When I awoke my jaw was broke and both eyes were blue Just Molly and me, my mother-in-law, she made three They whupped the devil out of me, in my blue heaven All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 17, 2016, 12:49:56 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, For "Deserted Man Blues", Spark Plug Smith chose to accompany himself out of E position in standard tuning. The way he opens the song and his later solo are reminiscent of Luke Jordan's "Church Bell Blues". Smith has a lot of nifty touches in his playing, and his time is so straight-up-and-down. He goes a bit awry on his outro. Here is his performance:
INTRO
My wife left me, what in the world am I to do? My wife done left me, what in the world am I to do? I wouldn't hate it so bad, but she left me feeling blue
When she left me this morning, the peacock was crowing for day She left me this morning, the peacock was crowing for day She put me on a pallet, 'cause I had nowhere to stay
When your good girl leave you, what in the world for you to do? When your good girl leaves you, what in the world is for you to do? Then you go to your other one, and she will leave you, too
SOLO
The reason I know, I had it on my hands The reason I know, I had it on my hands And my best girl left me, just for another man
I ain't gon' worry, ain't gon' even get mad I ain't gonna worry, I ain't gon' even get mad 'Cause, for it's my own fault, that I lost the best pal I had
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: February 11, 2017, 02:33:08 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Spark Plug Smith accompanied himself out of A position in standard tuning on his version of "Motherless Boy". His intro is really unusual, but once he starts singing he returns to more familiar territory, with his somewhat sedate and very straight-up-and-down time. The last verse communicates an odd reason for gratitude. Here is the song, with apologies if it is not viewable for non-U.S. weenies:
INTRO
My Mama left me, before I was a man My Mother left me, before I was a man And she left me in the world, just living from hand to hand
Say, when your mother leaves you, you have no friends at all When your mama leaves you, you have no friends at all No one to pity you, when you have your downfall
Mmmm, something really worries me Mmmm, something really worries me It may be my troubles, I don't know what it can be
They taken my mother, they laid her in a tomb They taken my mother, they laid her in a tomb Ever since that day I've been wondering what will be my doom
Mmmm, I ain't gon' worry no more Mmmm, I ain't gonna worry no more Have all of my friends telling me, "Please leave from my door."
But the Lord have been good to me since He taken her away But the Lord have been good to me since He taken her away He's caused me to live from day to day