This song was covered by a famous rock and roll musician who became a folk singer because he can afford to - Roy Book Binder, introducing Delia, a Gary Davis song
Going all the way back to your "Stomp That Thing" post, you have the first line of the first verse as:
Now, my sons got tight, they won't treat me right
I have always heard:
Now, the law got tight, they won't treat me right
Thanks for this wonderful thread, and for anyone who loves Frank's music, please consider contributing to the Mt Zion fund for Frank's gravestone, funding for which is currently being requested. Link below:
Hi PattonsDaimon, I hope folks do contribute for Frank Stokes' headstone. I am definitely not hearing "law got tight" in "Stomp That Thing", there doesn't appear to be any "l" sound at the front of the word at all, and it concludes with an "s" sound. Re-listening just now, it sounds much more like: Now, my SONG'S got tight, they won't treat me right
I agree, "songs got tight" is what it sounds like....and for those of us that have played the streets know all too well that the whiskey can keep the songs from being right.....
Logged
SSG, USA, Ret
She looked like a horse eating an apple through a wire fence.
On "Frank Stokes' Dream," I'm pretty sure it's I wouldn't have a motherless dollar to give your houserent man. People who wrote here that they heard it as "motless" were on the right track! If you think about the previous line together with this as a verse: Ever dream that you're lucky, and wake up cold in hand? I wouldn't have a motherless dollar to give your house-rent man. I think what he is saying that he (or you, it's inconsistent in the second line, I wonder if he meant to sing "I...my" or "You...your") woke up so broke, despite dreaming about being lucky, that he doesn't have even one "motherless" (= "damn") dollar for rent. "My last" doesn't quite make sense. "Mamlish" does make sense, as it is an intensifier like "motherless," but the recording is clear, I give the nod to "motherless" on the combination of logical and aural evidence. Cheers, Chezz
Speaking of Frank Stokes...Mike Brosnan took a crack at "Downtown Blues" Take 1 a while ago on this thread. But I don't see any suggestions or corrections. Here is my take on that song, similar to Mike's fine job but with a few differences:
Downtown Blues, take 1 Frank Stokes
(inst.)
And I don't drink whiskey but I'm crazy 'bout my beer And I don't drink whiskey but I'm crazy 'bout my beer This is 1928 and it must be a brand new year
And if I's younger I'd take me to your back door Ah, now I?d take me to your back door As the times get rough I ain't gon' make the trip no more
(inst.)
And I'm goin' downtown, gon' stay 'round there 'til dark And I'm goin' downtown, gon? stay 'round there 'til dark You don't like my treatment you can make you another start
And I'm sittin' right here, now, look straight in your face And I'm sittin' right here, now, look straight in your face If you gon' do better, girl, it's time for to you make haste
(inst.)
Now when you lay down at night, lay down early, try to take your rest Now when you lay down at night, lay down early, try to take your rest You?ll get a call, be four o'clock, wake up you gotta try to do your best
Now what make I know that my good gal like me so Now what make I know that my good gal like me so Because she takes her time, she do work everywhere she go
(double inst.)
« Last Edit: July 13, 2020, 08:04:31 AM by Johnm »
Andrew I still hear 'bully steamers', not 'bullyin' steamers'. I've tried listening to it loud, soft, every which way but standing on my head. Perhaps a few others here could listen to it and chime in.
I'm still hearing "bullyin'" though it leans towards bull'in'. My Wilkins reference for this line is not the one that probably pops into most people's heads from Alabama Blues -- "Saw a bullyin' alligator doin' the shivaree" -- but from Long Train Blues which has almost the same verse as Sweet to Mama and goes:
It's two bullyin' freight trains runnin' side by side It's two bullyin' freight trains runnin' side by side They done stole my rider and I guess they's satisfied
Wilkins clearly says bullyin'. First line is more like bull'in' but the second line is clearly bullyin'. I guess I just don't see why Stokes would have a different usage. Plus I hear it.
Stokes recorded Sweet to Mama in 1927, Wilkins did Long Train Blues in '29. I suppose either could have got the verse from the other, although it seems to me to be a stock (perhaps stock Memphis?) verse. Anyone have any other occurrences of "bullyin'" in a lyric from any prewar artists, particular Memphis players?
Hello, I'm reasonably sure Stokes is saying "bullion" when referring to bullion freight or a bullion steamer. Gold and silver bullion freight cars were a common sight in mining communities, with their precious, heavy cargo in plain sight. Then the bullion was often loaded onto steamers. Lots of examples if you google these phrases.
Here are words to Rockin' On the Hill, incorporating suggestions from John and Chris. Anybody's satisfied when they got a good mind!!
Rockin’ on the Hill - Beale Street Sheiks Stokes A, Sane D
Now listen baby, I wanna come back home Hey listen baby, I wanna come back home Then I’ll tell you what happened baby, since your man’s been gone
Now listen baby, you so good and sweet Hey listen baby, you so good and sweet I wanna stay round you if I, have to sleep in the street
Stokes: It’s all right if you TREAT ’em right (Sane says something like “Keep ’em happy” at the same time.)
Sane: Fiddle it all right boy, fiddle it careful for ’em
Take me back baby and try me one more time I said take me back, baby try me one more time And I think I know something that’ll (Bout?) satisfy your mind
Stokes: Rock right, [rock until you can’t set still] Do the rock until they rock on the hill!
Sane: Say, fiddle like you live, you know how you live, live hard, fiddle hard!
Stokes: Hey rock, church, rock!
Cmon take me back baby, and try me one more time (I like that!) Take me back baby, try your baby just one more time And I think I know something’ll satisfy my good gal’s mind
Sane: Anybody’s satisfied when they got a good mind!
Oh lord, lord ….
« Last Edit: May 25, 2020, 10:02:38 PM by Suzy T »
Suzy, I have some suggestions and I got quite a few of the spoken asides – I wish there was a better copy of this available. I put some bits in brackets were I'm unsure of what I've written (especially the "can't sit still" I'm pretty sure is not right). Chris
1.1, 1.2 COME back home 1.3 THEN I’LL tell you...
Stokes: Somethin’ happened bad to me now!
2.1 NOW LISTEN BABY (no “to me” – he just extends the “listen”) 2.3 I wanna stay around YOU if I have to sleep in the street
Stokes: It’s all right if you TREAT ’em right (Sane says something like “Keep ’em happy” at the same time I can’t quite catch)
Sane: Fiddle it all right boy, fiddle it careful for ’em
3.2 I said take me back, BABY try me one more time 3.3 And I think I know something BOUT satisfy your mind
Stokes: Rock right, [rock until you can’t set still] Do the rock until they rock on the hill!
Sane: Say, fiddle like you live, you know how you live, live hard, fiddle hard!
Stokes: Hey rock, church, rock!
Sane: Anybody’s satisfied when they got a good mind! Sane: Oh, lord, [lord again]
Hi all, In my transcription of "Downtown Blues, Take 2", I think I got the lyric in this verse wrong:
And I'm goin' downtown, gon' stay 'round there 'til dark And I'm goin' downtown, gonna stay 'round there 'til dark I don't want no trouble, don't want you to drive me on
Re-listening, I think the lyric is: And I'm goin' downtown, gon' stay 'round there UNTIL DAWN And I'm goin' downtown, gon' stay 'round there UNTIL DAWN I don't want no trouble, don't want you to drive me on
Here is the track. I'd very much appreciate correction or corroboration before I make the change in Weeniepedia. Thanks for any help.
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 26, 2022, 09:30:03 AM by Johnm »