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I ain't no bottle stopper, ain't no police copper, I ain't no cradle rocker, you know I ain't the baby's papa - Funny Papa Smith, Hoppin' Toad Frog

Author Topic: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics  (Read 3348 times)

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Offline banjochris

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #15 on: January 12, 2021, 05:20:38 PM »
I agree with you on all that, and he's not the best enunciator either, which doesn't help a bit!

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2021, 01:05:32 PM »
Hi all,
Walter Coleman's "Smack That Thing" is a chorus blues of the "Tight Like That" model, for which the lead guitarist chose to play out of E position in standard tuning, with the second guitarist providing bass lines working out of E position in standard tuning. More and more, I'm thinking that it's likely that Coleman was playing the lead guitar parts on these duo tracks, mostly because the bass lines on the songs are so syncopated that I think they would be more difficult to sing to while playing than the lead guitar parts. I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passages and anything else I have wrong. Here is "Smack That Thing":



INTRO SOLO

Now I wake up in the mornin', girl's feelin' sad, "You know I want somethin' I ain't never had."
REFRAIN: You wanta smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

I went to my gal's house, other day, and I didn't go to stay, I got to smackin' that thing and I stayed all day
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

Now it's a-roll down your window shade and close up your blind, let's keep the next-door neighbors from hearin' you whine
REFRAIN: You wanta smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

SOLO

I got a brass bed, mama, shine like the mornin' star, I went to rock you in it, go and bounce you like a Cadillac car
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

A-run here, sweet mama, I'm gonna get you told, you ain't the onliest woman in the world strut your jellyroll
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

The first time I met you, standin' in my back door, I told you a sign of that trick wasn't walkin' no more
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

Now, the girls don't like me 'cause I'm young and wild, I can't help it, girls, I'm my mama's baby child
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

Now you Green Cabin girls, you needn't flirt, you've got flyspecks on your underskirt
REFRAIN: You want smack that thing, you wanta smack that thing,
You wanta smack that thing, mama, I ain't got a thing to give 'way.

SOLO

Edited 1/13 to pick up corrections from dj
Edited 1/13 to pick up corrections from banjochris
Edited 1/14 to pick up correction from Harry

All best,
Johnm

     
« Last Edit: January 14, 2021, 09:50:32 AM by Johnm »

Offline dj

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2021, 01:29:30 PM »
4.1:  I went to rock you in it, gon' bounce you like a Cadillac car

8.1:  "green cabin girls" is correct.  The Green Cabins were a section of jukes and houses of prostitution in Cincinnati (see Steven Tracey, Going to Cincinnati, p. 69).   

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2021, 01:37:25 PM »
Thanks very much for the help, dj, I think that gets me over the hump. He enunciated "Green Cabin" perfectly clearly but I didn't know the meaning in this context. Thanks for the clearing that up, and I will make the changes.
All best,
Johnm

Offline banjochris

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2021, 05:28:05 PM »
One suggestion, John –

5.1 A-RUN HERE, sweet mama, I'm gonna get you told, you ain't the onliest woman in the world STRUT YOUR jellyroll

Some nice guitar playing on this one!

Chris

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2021, 05:59:08 PM »
Thanks, Chris, those put the icing on the cake. Yes, I like all of these duets from this session, and I think the seconding guitarist is great--those syncopated bass runs really give the time a jolt!

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #21 on: January 14, 2021, 09:43:48 AM »
1.1 "You know I want somethin' that I ain't never had."

6.1 I told you a sign that of that trick wasn't walkin' no more

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2021, 09:49:45 AM »
Thank for the suggestions. He doesn't sing "that" in the first line where you suggested it. I'll make the other correction, thanks.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #23 on: January 21, 2021, 09:27:57 AM »
Hi all,
Walter Coleman's version of "Mama, Let Me Lay It On You" opened this thread, but the transcription of the lyrics was never completed, so I thought I'd give it a shot now. It was recorded at the same session as "I'm Going To Cincinnati", "Smack That Thing" and Greyhound Blues", and like all of them is a duet with Walter Coleman playing along with an unknown guitarist, and both guitarist playing in G position in standard tuning. I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed place in the lyrics. I don't recall hearing another blues singer use the word "piling" the way Walter Coleman uses it in this song's lyrics. Here is "Mama, Let Me Lay It On You":



INTRO SOLO

A-mama, let me lay it on you, a-mama, let me lay it on you
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

When I'm goin' upstairs, to turn your lamp down low
And if your bed breaks down, see me pilin' on the floor

Now it's mama, let me lay it on you, ooo-hoo, mama, let me lay it on you, uh-huh
Did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

I'm gonna buy you a diamond ring, a-baby, 'til you shake that thing
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

Now, it's mama, let me lay it on you, a-mama, let me lay it on you
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

I'm gonna buy you a brand new bed, so you can send it to your kidman's head
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

Now it's, a-mama, let me lay it on you, a-mama, let me lay it on you
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

It's boys, you ever wake up, icy cold in hand?
Feel for your midnight rider, pilin' with another woman's man

Now it's, a-baby, let me lay it on you, ooo-hoo, mama, let me lay it on you, ooo-hoo
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

Now it's six bit's ain't a dollar, a-mama, six months ain't long
Any woman can get a man nowadays, since the prison ain't been out long

Now it's, a-mama, let me lay it on you, a-mama, let me lay it on you
I did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

It's mama, pull off your dress, and put on your nightgown
I got a funny feelin', baby, in my back, mama, won't you pile it down?

Now it's a-mama, let me lay it on you, a-mama, let me lay it on you, ooo-hoo
Did everything in this whole round world, mama, let me lay it on you

SOLO (Spoken: Aw, play it like you're back in George Street! Come on, stomp that thing!)

Edited 1/21 to pick up correction from banjochris

All best,
Johnm





 


« Last Edit: January 21, 2021, 03:55:10 PM by Johnm »

Offline banjochris

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #24 on: January 21, 2021, 09:41:32 AM »
That's a bit of a rough one, John. I think it might be "since the prison ain't been out long."

I'm still on the fence if it's "did" or "give" in the chorus line; I keep hearing it differently.
Chris

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #25 on: January 21, 2021, 09:52:07 AM »
"prison ain't been out long" sounds right to me, Chris, thanks! I will make the change. I do think it is "did" in the refrains--it especially sounds like "did" on the back end of the word.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #26 on: January 26, 2021, 12:31:46 PM »
Hi all,
The last Walter Coleman song to have been released (though not on a 78) is "Carry Your Good Stuff Home", recorded at a session in Chicago on June 3, 1936. For the song, Walter Coleman is accompanied by a pianist playing in D, possibly Jesse James, according to D,G & R, and his own guitar, played in C position standard tuning, as well as an expert unnamed jug player. I do think the pianist sounds like he could very well be Jesse James--the last solo, in particular, is a killer. The song was first issued on a Paul Oliver-curated disc, "The Story of the Blues", and it is another "Tight Like That" cover. Here is "Carry Your Good Stuff Home":



INTRO SOLO

Now you come to my house, mama, want to go to bed and stay all night, say ask some 'bout that good stuff, you wanta fuss and fight
REFRAIN: It's carry your good stuff home, it's carry your good stuff home
It's carry your good stuff home, mama, you don't want me to have it all night long

I ain't gon' put no gun on you, mama, and no razor, too, you don't want me have any of that good stuff, carry it back home, too
REFRAIN: It's carry your good stuff home, it's carry your good stuff home
It's carry your good stuff home, mama, you don't want me to have it all night long

Now, I'm goin' away, little mama, cryin' it won't be long, I'm sorry, mama, I can't get at your good stuff along
REFRAIN: It's carry your good stuff home, it's carry your good stuff home
It's carry your good stuff back home, mama, you don't want me to have it all night long

PIANO SOLO

Now, it's I've got a brownskin, boys, she's seven foot tall, the movement of her hips would make the President squall
REFRAIN: It's carry your good stuff home, it's carry your good stuff home
It's carry your good stuff back home, mama, you don't want me to have it all night long

Now you can shoot your dice, mama, you can shake, rattle and roll, she got something, good boys, make you leave your wife and your home
REFRAIN: It's carry your good stuff home, it's carry your good stuff home
It's carry your good stuff back home, mama, you don't want me to have it all night long

PIANO SOLO

Edited 1/26 to pick up corrections from banjochris and Johnm

All best,
Johnm
 
« Last Edit: January 26, 2021, 01:46:20 PM by Johnm »

Offline banjochris

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #27 on: January 26, 2021, 01:38:20 PM »
Couple very minor suggestions, John:

2.1 ...have THAT good stuff...

3.1 ...can't get at GOOD stuff along

5.1 ...rattle and roll, SHE GOT something good... (I don't here "but" there either)

Chris

Offline Johnm

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Re: Walter Cole/Walter Coleman Lyrics
« Reply #28 on: January 26, 2021, 01:49:28 PM »
Thanks very much for the help, Chris. When I re-listened, I realized in 2.1 he actually squeezes in:

      2.1 . . . have ANY OF that good stuff

and in 3. 1

     3.1 . . . can't get at YOUR good stuff along

I entered your corrections plus the additions I heard re-listening. Thanks!

 


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