Topic: Freezone Lyrics

[Bricktown Bob]

COMPLETE FREEZONE LYRICS
Yeah, this is gonna be a long thread.  Is it possible that "Freezone" is a name like "Cat Iron"?  Here is "Indian Squaw Blues":



Indian Squaw Blues
Freezone
recorded 6 June 1929, Richmond, Indiana

I woke up this morning, had the blues all round my bed
I woke up this morning, baby, had the blues all round my bed
I didn't have my brownskin mama for to hold my aching head.

Hey, baby, your folks ain't no good
Well I love my pretty baby, but your folks ain't no good
Cause they get so drunk and evil, raise Cain all over the neighborhood.

I'm gon' buy me a mansion, I'm gon' live all by myself
I'm gon' buy me a mansion, I'm gon' live all by myself
I don't mean my brownskin mama, I don't mean nobody else.

I'm gon' buy me a mansion, I'm gon' live on Dago's Hill
I'm gon' buy me a mansion, I'm gon' live on Dago's Hill
(Where) I can get my whiskey, honey, and carry it right from the still

He-e-e-e-y, ain't gon' sing no more
Hey, pretty baby, ain't gonna sing no more
Change my way of living, sure ain't going there no more.

Going back to Oklahoma, I'm gon' marry me an Indian squaw
I'm going back to Oklahoma, I'm gon' marry me an Indian squaw
Gonna let the big chief Indian, honey, be my daddy-in-law.

Voice is getting tired and my fingers getting sore
Now my voice is getting tired and my fingers getting sore
I'm gon' sing this verse round (, brown), and I ain't gon' sing no more.

If anybody should ask you, baby, who composed this song
Anybody should ask you, baby, who composed this song
Tell 'em tha man's name was Freezone, but he done been here and gone.

instrumental chorus

Going up on the mountain, look down in the deep blue sea
I'm going up on the mountain, look down in the deep blue sea
If I don't find my baby, somebody's got to bury me.

4/27/08: incorporated suggestions from dj, dingwall, Johnm

[dj]

I think the last line of the fourth verse is "I can get my whiskey and liquor right from the still" (no "So" at the start fo the line).

[dingwall]

At a glance, I think you have transcribed Freezone according to your own rules, and I hesitate to offer anything in my own style, in case it is thought that I am taking the Mickey.   Again at a glance (a quick listen), the bracketed phrase is 'raise Cain'.   If you want, I'll check it all out, but would have to 'correct' the INGs and similar things for my own peace of mind ? it would otherwise look as if I agreed that that was a correct transcription.   

[dj]

I think you're right, dingwall, "raise Cain" it is.  Brilliant!  I listened to that over and over and just couldn't come up with the correct words, but now that you point them out they're perfectly clear.

[Bricktown Bob]

Thanks, dj.  Thanks, dingwall.  I haven't had a chance to listen through closely again, but I reckon I'll agree,

If you want, I'll check it all out, but would have to 'correct' the INGs and similar things for my own peace of mind ? it would otherwise look as if I agreed that that was a correct transcription. 

I know the feeling, dingwall. Go right ahead, if you would; your disclaimer is understood.

[Johnm]

Hi Bob,
I agree it's a shame Freezone only recorded the one song.  I think the last line of verse four is:

   Where I can get my whiskey, honey, carry it right from the still

I think there is a very good chance that "Freezone" was a phonetic misunderstanding of the artist's name, like Cat Iron, as you suggest.  I think of one-name musicians like Cher, Sting, or Sade as being a more modern trend.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Hi Bob,
I agree it's a shame Freezone only recorded the one song.  I think the last line of verse four is:

   Where I can get my whiskey, honey, carry it right from the still

I think there is a very good chance that "Freezone" was a phonetic misunderstanding of the artist's name, like Cat Iron, as you suggest.  I think of one-name musicians like Cher, Sting, or Sade as being a more modern trend.

Or perhaps a prison nickname? I'm thinking for example of that great name from one of the Lomax recordings, Crap-Eye.

[dingwall]

Nine verses!   Three a minute.   A record?

Indian Squaw Blues
 
1.1/2 I woke up this MORNIN' ---
1.3 ---my ACHIN' head.
2.2 SAID I love my pretty baby, but---
2.3 FOR they get so drunk and evil, RAISE CAIN all over the neighborhood.
3.3 I DON'T mean (no ME AND) my brownskin mama, I don't mean nobody else.
4.3 (no SO) I can get my whiskey, HONEY, CARRY right from the still
5.3 Change my way of LIVIN', sure ain't GOIN' there no more.
6.1 GOIN' back to Oklahoma, I'm gon' marry me A Indian squaw
6.2 I'm GOIN' back to Oklahoma, I'm gon' marry me A Indian squaw
6.3 Gonna let the big chief Indian, honey, be my DAD-IN-LAW.
7.1 Voice is GETTIN' tired and my fingers GETTIN' sore
7.2 Now my voice is GETTIN' tired and MY fingers GETTIN' sore
7.3 I'm gon' sing this verse, BROWN, and I ain't gon' sing no more.
8.3 Tell 'em THE MAN'S name WAS Freezone, but(or BABE??) he done been here and gone.
9.1 GOIN' up on the mountain, look down in the deep blue sea
9.2 I'm GOIN' up on the mountain, look down in the deep blue sea

[jpeters609]

I've always speculated that "free zone" was a nickname deriving from a geographical reference. Pure conjecture, to be sure, but when I first heard about this mysterious singer (and the "Indian Squaw" title of his lone released recording), I couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't spent some time in the Indian Territories. I didn't know, of course, but I wondered if the Territories might have been referred to as the "free zone" in some context or another. A little further research has revealed something of historical interest, which may or may not pertain to our man. But it is intriguing, and might at least provide fodder for further investigation into his background. I found this article from the New York Times, circa 1902. Could "Freezone" be related to this?:

(From The New York Times, July 27, 1902)

The ?Free Zone? To Be Abolished

Strip of Land Between Mexico and the United States.

It Has Had a Semi-Legal Existence ? Place of Refuge for Smugglers and Revolutionists.

"The 'free zone,' or 'Zona Libre' ? a strange territory that is only half recognized in law and which exists between Mexico and the United States ? is about to be done away with?

The 'Zona Libre,' as ultimately established and legally recognized, was a strip of country twelve miles wide along the northern border of Mexico. When first organized, American goods, or goods of any other foreign country, could be taken into the zone free of duty?

The 'free zone' has furnished a basis of operations for smugglers, and has therefore been a serious menace to the United States. It has operated to the detriment of nearly all of the towns on the American side of the Rio Grande?"

The full article can be viewed as a pdf here:
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9401E5DF1E30E132A25754C2A9619C946397D6CF

By the way, I have enjoyed lurking these pages for a while now. Thanks for allowing me to play.

-Jeff

[uncle bud]

Welcome, to WeenieCampbell, Jeff! Thanks for jumping in with that very interesting information. It does sound like a plausible theory for the name. I guess, ultimately, we'll never really know, but that's certainly serious food for thought.

[Rivers]

Plus Jeff you figured out how to bold and italic text, and add a link, on your first post! That's got to be a first, you are The Man!

[Bricktown Bob]

Thanks, all.  Yep, nine verses in three minutes.  Ten if you count the instrumental.  Might not be a record, but sure is impressive.  Doesn't waste any time, does he?