Topic: Bob Campbell Lyrics

[blueshome]

I've re-opened this to post a couple sets of lyrics of Bob Campbell songs.

Both played out of E standard tuned down.  Here is "Worried All The Time":



Worried All the Time

I mistreated my baby, no I did not do her right  2x
I put her out in the cold on one rainy night

If I could find my baby I would do the best I could 2x
I can't give her much money, but I can give her something that's good

Wasn't nothing but old satan made me do her so 2x
If she would just come back home, I wouldn't do that thing no more

Lord I'm worried, stay worried all the time 2x
Yes in love with that no-good, no-good woman of mine


Dices Blues



I said dices oh dices please don't kick 3 on me 2x
Sure is broke and hungry as any gambler can be

My buddy played the jack when he give me that hard-luck queen 2x
It was the luckiest card a gambler ever seen

Jack o'diamonds, jack o'diamonds will turn your money green 2x
It's the luckiest card a gambler ever seen

Now went to gamble in Cuba, I went to gamble in Spain  2x
Then my woman told me last night she did not want no gamblin man

I said run here baby, sit on your daddy's knee  2x
[She said for what?]
I just want to show you what gamblin have done for me

[dj]

I hope folks don't mind, but since I'm about to start a small lyric discussion, I've split out this post and moved it to the Country Blues Lyrics board.

I'd like to make one suggestion concerning Worried All The Time:

Wasn't nothing but a stranger made me do her so

I think should be:

Wasn't nothing but OLD SATAN made me do her so

[blueshome]

Thanks dj, I've made that change. I was about to query this myself, having fudged the vocal in my performance.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bob Campbell accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning for his recording of "Starvation Farm Blues".  It can be found on the JSP set, "A Richer Tradition", which is one of their very best sets.  I believe he is a biographical cipher, even to the extent of it not being known from whence he hailed.  As has been noted elsewhere on the forum, "Starvation Farm Blues" starts out being a sort of cover, at least lyrically, of Blind Blake's "Detroit Bound", though Bob Campbell's melody and instrumental approach are nothing like Blake's.  I take the sense of the tagline to the second verse as meaning not that you can't abide Mr. Ford's way, but rather that you can't stand in his way, or keep him from doing what he thinks needs to be done.  I don't know who first came up with the fourth verse, but it sure is a beauty.

Bob Campbell was not a flashy guitar player, but he certainly has some nifty touches in his guitar part.  He opens the performance with a full solo through the form and never solos again.  His over-all rhythmic feel is one I've not heard utilized by other players.  Here is "Starvation Farm Blues":



SOLO

Say, I'm goin' to Detroit, find myself a job
Say, I'm goin' to Detroit, I'm gonna get myself a job
I'm tired of layin' around here, workin' on the starvation farm

Say, I'm goin' down and get me a job, workin' in Mr. Ford's place
I'm gonna get me a job, look-a-here, workin' in Mr. Ford's place
Say, that woman told me last night that you can not even stand Mr. Ford's way

Say, I got me a little old woman, five foot f'om the ground
I got me little bitty woman, five feet f'om the ground
She's five foot standin' and she's four feet lyrin' down

Say, I know my dog, baby, if I hear him bark
Said, I know my dog, babe, if I hear him bark
And I know my woman if I feel her in the dark

Say, you better stop your woman f'om smilin' in my face
You better stop your woman f'om smilin' in my face
Woman, if you keep on a-smilin', I'm sure gonna take your place

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bob Campbell accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning for "Shotgun Blues", just as he had for his other recorded performances.  Once again, he has a lot of inventive ideas.  I find this to be a pretty hard tune to hear, at least as far as the lyrics are concerned, and would appreciate some help with the bent- bracketed passage.  If you don't otherwise have access to the song, you can find a link to it and Bob Campbell's other songs at:  http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=5097.msg50893#msg50893 .  Here is "Shotgun Blues":



Had me a shotgun, and you down in the wood
If I had me a shotgun, and you down in the wood
I would fix you just where, that you wouldn't do no man no good

Started to kill her, then she fell down on my bed
Started to kill her, and she fell down on my bed
Before day this mornin', she had me talkin' out my head

Don't the-a moon look pretty, shining down from that willow tree?
Don't the-a moon look pretty, shining down from that willow tree?
I can see my baby and she can't see me

Some of these menfolks look just like fodder to me
Some of these menfolk look just like fodder to me
If you mistreat my woman, I'm gonna make you jump in the deep blue sea

Say, run here, woman, and see what you done done
Run here, woman, and see what you done done
You done started me to lovin' you, and now your-a man done come

Edited 12/5 to pick up word from dj

All best,
Johnm

[dj]

Sounds to me like "Some of these menfolks look just like FODDER to me". 

[Johnm]

Thanks so much for the help, dj, I don't think I would ever have gotten that.  A strange line, huh?  Kind of odd scansion, too--the way the line works, the emphasis falls on the second syllable of "fodder".  That's great listening/hearing on your part!  I'll make the change.
All best,
Johnm