Topic: George Reneau Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
George Reneau, "The Blind Musician of the Smoky Mountains", recorded a lot of titles between his first session, in New York City in April of 1924 and his last session, in New York on October 16, 1925.  He accompanied himself on guitar and harmonica on a rack, and recorded a lot of foundational material that was later recorded by other musicians, often in versions very close to his own.  He recorded "Casey Jones" at his first session, accompanying himself out of C position in standard tuning on the guitar.  I'd very much appreciate help with any bent bracketed sections of the lyrics.  Here is George Reneau's version of "Casey Jones":



INTRO

Come all you rounders, if you want to hear
A story about a brave engineer
Casey Jones a-was the rounder's name
On the six-eight wheeler, boys, he won his fame

The caller called Casey at a-half past four
Kissed his wife at the station door
Mounted to the cabin with his orders in his hand
Took a farewell trip a-to the Promised Land

Casey Jones, mounted to the cabin
Casey Jones, with his orders in his hand
Casey Jones, mounted to the cabin
Took a farewell trip a-to the Promised Land

Lay in your water and shovel in your coal
Put your head out the window, watch the drivers roll
"I want her, too, 'f she leaves the rails
'Cause I'm eight hours late with the Western mail."

Looked at the watch, and his watch was slow
He looked at his water and his water was low
He turned to the fireman, and he said,
"We're gonna reach Bristol, but we'll all be dead."

Casey Jones, gonna reach Bristol
Casey Jones, we'll all be dead
Casey Jones, gonna reach Bristol
We're gonna reach Bristol, but we'll all be dead

Casey pulled up at Reno Hill
He tooted for the crossing with an awful shrill
The switchman knew by the engine's moan
That the man at the throttle was Casey Jones

He pulled up within two miles of the place
Number 4 stared him right in the face
Turned to the fireman, said, "Boy, you better jump,
'Cause two locomotives is going to bump."

Casey Jones, two locomotives
Casey Jones says they're going to bump
Casey Jones, two locomotives
Two locomotives and they're going to bump

Casey said, just before he died,
"There's two more roads I'd like to ride."
Fireman said, "What could they be?"
"The Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe."

Miz Jones set on her bed, a-cryin'
Just to see the message that Casey was dyin'
"Go to bed, children, and hush your cryin',
You got another papa on the Salt Lake line."

Casey Jones, got another papa
Casey Jones, on the Salt Lake line
Casey Jones, got another papa
You got another papa on the Salt Lake line

SOLO AND CODA

Edited 5/13 to pick up correction from harry

All best,
Johnm

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
George Reneau recorded "Rovin' Gambler" as a one-chord number, backing himself out of G position in standard tuning and playing the tune on harmonica.  I remember Mike Seeger doing the song this way on the very first New Lost City Ramblers album, and I believe his version was modeled on George Reneau's.  Here is "Rovin' Gambler":



INTRO SOLO

I am a rovin' gambler, I gambled down in town
Wherever I meet with a deck of cards, I lie my money down

I had not been in Washington many more weeks than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little girl, and she fell in love with me

SOLO

She took me in her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
She whispered low in her mother's ear, "I love this gambling man."

"Oh daughter, oh dear daughter, why do you treat me so,
To leave your dear old mother and with the gambler go?"

SOLO

"Oh mother, oh dear mother, you know I love you well,
But the love I have for the gambling man no human tongue can tell."

I've gambled down in Washington, I gambled down in Spain
I'm going down in Georgy to gamble my last game

SOLO

I hear this train a-comin', a-coming around the curve
A-whistlin' and a-blowin' and strainin' every nerve

"Oh mother, oh dear mother, I'll tell you if I can,
If you ever see me comin' again, I'll be with the gamblin' man."

SOLO

Edited 5/13 ro pick up corrections from harry

All best,
Johnm

 

[Blues Vintage]

Casey Jones

4.3 I want her, too, if she leaves the rails

Rovin' Gambler

3.1 She took me to in her parlor, she cooled me with her fan
5.1 "Oh mother, my oh dear mother, you know I love you well,
7.1 I hear this the train a-comin', a-coming around the curve

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Harry.  I changed "if" in Casey Jones to "'f", because he didn't really pronounce "if", but I can clearly hear an "f" preceding "she".  I took your fixes for "Roving Gambler" except the last one, where I can an "s" before "train".
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
George Reneau recorded "Jesse James" at a session in New York City on September 12, 1924, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning and playing harmonica off a rack. I've never heard anyone else sing "Jessie James" with either this melody or this set of lyrics. Here is "George Reneau's version of "Jesse James":



INTRO SOLO

Away down in Missouri lived a bold man band
He's noted from Seattle down to Birmingham
From Boston, Massachusetts right across the state
From Denver, Colorado to the Golden Gate

The people may forget a lot of famous names
But every nick [sic] and corner knows of Jesse James
We used to read about him in our homes, at night
When the wind come down the chimney we would shake with fright

Jesse's wife said, "Jesse, it's the coin we need."
He polished up his rifle called his old trust steed
And then he galloped over to his brother, Frank
"We've got to have some money from the Pittsfield Bank."

Jesse rode to town next day at ten o'clock
The cashier at the bank, he had an awful shock
Jesse had him covered with his .44
His pals sprang from the bank a thousand bucks, or more

Jess was in his cabin one day, all alone
His wife had left him there to straighten up the home
He's scrubbing out the kitchen when the doorbell rang
In stepped Ford, a member of his outlaw gang

The photograph of Jesse's wife hung on the wall
Jesse said to Ford, "We'll have to make a haul.
At ten o'clock the Western Mail come into town."
He turned to get his rifle, knocked the picture down

Jesse said, "I'll hang that picture back up there."
He stooped to pick it up and stood up in a chair
Ford, he aimed a .44 at Jesse's head
The news spread o'er the country, Jesse James was dead

The next week on the tombstones were the lines that ran:
"If you're gonna be a bandit stay a single man.
For all we know that Jesse wouldn't have lost his life
Hadn't it been for the picture of his darling wife."

SOLO

Edited 1/27/23 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm





 


 

[Blues Vintage]

3.3  And then he galloped over to his brother, Frank

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Blues Vintage. I have made the change.