Topic: Hayes McMullan Lyrics

[Randy Meadows]

The Lyrics are good..
Yes, I have a few different versions...
We have plenty of good stuff to put out from Hayes...

He played ALL the styles from Patton/Brown/and even earler times...
Wonderful collection of music that Gayle Dean has on Hayes...
And others...

[TallahatchieTrot]

Lindy/Rivers can'l you send me your email address and phone. Like to talk with you about how to handle  some problems about issuing Hayes songs.. Since  I recorded him in 1968 several of the songs have been copyrighted by the Patton estate and now the music publishing belongs to EMI, which means mechanical royalties and publishing royalties would have to be paid.
 That could get very expensive.    We can get the background noise out of a lot  of the studio cuts and put them with the home recordings like "Bo Weevil/ Leave Here walking/, etc but the copyright and royalties will be the biggest hazzle and make it almost impossible. We are not trying to make money off it--CD or vinyl album--but not lose any.
.But would welcome your input.  Hayes does Newbern's Roll and Tumble-- and plays in a style like neither Garfield Akers of RJ or Newbern. Interesting how he adapted the song to his guitar style. But there is a copyright on that song I believe by Howlin Woilf and owned by Chess/ARC Music now owned by MCA who bought Chess.
    I can be reached at songwriterdelta@yahoo.  I do not know how to send a personal message to either of you. .Also like to hear from John Miller if he can contact me.
I can be reached with new messages or through my own email I  have provided since this i of importance to all of us who  love the old time Delta blues, Thanks for your help. Uncle Bud you might be able to help with some insight also.

[TallahatchieTrot]

Lindy--Will get back to you and tell you exactly what Hayes was singing.. I was around him  alot and can decipher for you some of those questionable lines.. But he was singing for instance "Gonna leave here WALKIN/talkin to myself" that was one of his favorite line he often sang in a couple of songs. But its late tonght so will do so for you later in week.

[lindy]

Gayle--

Helping McMullan's music see the light of day sounds like a great project that I'd like to support in some manner. However, for knowledge on music publishing rights and royalties I rely on several other Weenies who have much more experience with that stuff.

I'll send you a PM and I'll be happy to talk to you about this, but if anyone else is willing to participate in this discussion, please speak up.

Lindy

[oversee]

This all sounds exciting an interesting for country blues. Shame there wasn't a Jeff Konkel around when Gayle needed one!

[Rivers]

Gayle, look to the left, you'll see a little envelope under each user's name, click on it and it'll take you to the PM (personal message) page for that person. I'll PM you.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
It's interesting contrasting Babe Stovall's version of "Kansas City Blues" with that of Hayes McMullan, from Hayes' CD, "Every Day Seem Like Murder Here". Hayes played the song in the more commonly played E position in standard tuning. His feel is altogether different from Babe's, not surprisingly. Hayes had that beautiful heavy time, and I sure love his voice.

On a different note, it's interesting to go back in this thread and read how the seeds for the Hayes McMullan CD were planted here. Here is Hayes McMullan's version of "Kansas City Blues":



INTRO

I woke up this mornin', feelin' bad, thought about the good times I once have had, I'm gon'
Move to Kansas City, I'm gon' move to Kansas City, I'm gon'
Move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

Well, I went up Main, started down Beale, looking for the woman that they call Lucille, she done
Moved to Kansas City, She done moved to Kansas City, she done
Moved, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

Well, Mis'sippi River's so deep and wide, have a good gal on that other side, she done
Moved to Kansas City, she done moved to Kansas City, she done
Moved, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

Well, I know my woman, she gon' jump and shout, train roll up, I come steppin' out, she done
Moved to Kansas City, she done moved to Kansas City, she done
Moved, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

Well, I went to the river, couldn't get 'cross, seen my little gal and I started cross, I'm gon'
Move to Kansas City, I'm gon' move to Kansas City, I'm gon'
Move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

Well, there's T for Texas, T for Tennessee, boll weevil got Mississippi and the women wants me, I'm gon'
Move to Kansas City, I'm gon' move to Kansas City, I'm gon'
Move, baby, honey, where they don't 'low you

CODA

All best,
Johnm   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Hayes McMullan played "Sugar" in cross-note tuning, and I believe it was the only song that he recorded for Gayle Dean Wardlow in that tuning. The song has an unusual two-line stanza (the fourth verse actually has only one line), and it has none of the "Bentonia" cross-note sound of Skip James or Jack Owens, nor does it recall the sound of Henry Townsend, Booker White or Arthur Crudup when playing in cross-note. It's sound is probably closest to Robert Wilkins' "Nashville Stonewall Blues", which has a very similar time stroke to the one Hayes McMullan played in between his verses here. It's a good reminder that even a tuning which we think of as having a characteristic sound can actually end up sounding many different ways. Here is "Sugar":



INTRO

I was born in a desert, raised in a lion's den, sugar
I was born in a desert, raised in a lion's den

I ain't got no, got no, triflin' woman here, baby
I ain't got no, regular woman here

I woke up this mornin', I, didn't know right from wrong, sugar
Woke up this mornin', I didn't know right from wrong

I say T for Texas, T for Tennessee, baby

I say, hurry sundown, tomorrow come, baby
Hurry sundown, tomorrow come

CODA

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Hayes McMullan recorded "Fast Old Train" on a twelve-string guitar, playing in Spanish tuning. The song bears some similarities to Leadbelly's "Poor Howard" and Mance Lipscomb's "Willie Poor Boy". The IC line is the Illinois Central Here is "Fast Old Train":



INTRO SOLO

Fastest train, ever I seen, it was
On that IC line

SOLO

Longest train, ever I seen, she was
On that IC line

SOLO

Longest road, ever I seen, it
Was that IC line

SOLO

Loudest train, ever I seen, it
Was that IC line

SOLO

Loudest whistle, ever I heard, she was
On that IC line

SOLO

Heading down, heading down
Down that Mobile town

SOLO

Same old train, same old train, she
Carried my babe away

SOLO

Same old train, same old train, she
Carried my babe away

SOLO

Fastest train, ever I seen, it was
On that IC line

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Gayle Dean Wardlow has kindly suggested that the unreleased recordings he did of Hayes McMullan be put up on the Weenie YouTube channel and site. The first of these is Hayes' epic version of "Leave Here Walkin'", which clocks in at 9:14. (Hayes plays for almost two minutes before he starts singing!). The outfit that put out the Hayes CD and album several years ago chose not to include this rendition on the project, despite Gayle Dean's conviction that it was probably Hayes' strongest recorded performance. Hayes played "Leave Here Walkin'" in Spanish tuning, tuned quite low, and the song shares it's basic signature lick with his "Look-A Here, Woman". In "Leave Here Walkin'" though, Hayes really took a deep dive into the ideas utilized in the accompaniment, and it provides a very unusual instance of a player coming up with variation after variation of his signature lick, subtly changing the articulation, rhythmic placement and dynamics. Lyrically, Hayes shared a trait with Charlie Lincoln and Henry Thomas--he was fond of using the same verses throughout his repertoire. Here is "Leave Here Walkin'":



INTRO SOLOS

I got nobody, baby, in this world but you
I got nobody, baby, in this world but you
I ain't got nobody in this world but you

I'm gon' leave here walkin', mama, talkin' to myself
I'm gon' leave here walkin', mama, talkin'' to myself
I'm gonna leave here walkin', talkin' to myself

I had a good woman, man, I wouldn't let that do
I had a woman, man, I wouldn't let it do
And I will tell you, what it done for me

I'm gon' get up, the mornin', I'm gon' walk away
I"m gonna get up in the mornin', mama, sure gon' walk away
That way you got me, I can't hardly stay

I know the sun gon' shine, my, my back door some day
I know the sun will shine, my back door some day
Aw, the sun will shine, my back door some day

Said, heist you window, mama, and, turn your lamp down low
I said, heist your window, mama, turn your lamp down low
I said, the way I'm doin', don't want nobody to know

I said, the blues all night, just like showers of rain
I said, blues on me, mama, just like showers of rain
Well, 'mind me of somethin', you sure can rain

Got something to tell you, mama, keep it to yourself
Something to tell you, mama, keep it to yourself
You may tell your friends, but tell nobody else

I said, some folks say that the worried blues ain't bad
I say, some folks say that the worried blues ain't bad
I say, the worst old feeling, mama, I've ever had

I'm gon' away, mama, won't be back no more
I said, I'm goin' away and I won't be back no more
I'm goin' away, won't be back no more

I"m gon' leave here walkin', mama, talkin' to myself
I'm gonna leave here walkin', mama, talkin' to myself
I'm gonna leave, walkin', talkin' to myself

CODA

All best,
Johnm

 



   

[eric]

Wow

[Slack]

Too cool.  I absolutely love his dynamics.

[banjochris]

Great performance!

[jpeters609]

Thanks, John, for sharing this (and thanks to Gayle Dean Wardlow for allowing it). Man, I sure wish the "Light In The Attic" label had included this on their initial release. I agree with Mr. Wardlow that it might be McMullan's best performance, and I have a feeling I'd listen to that CD more regularly if it had been included! I'm guessing it's 9-minute runtime kept it off the record, unfortunately. Glad we can hear it now.

[sofingraw]

Goin’ Away Mama

Well I’m goin away, baby,
honey, don’t you want to go?
I said I’m goin away mama, don’t you want to go?
said I’m goin away mama, don’t you want to go?

(2nd verse obviously needs work!)

I got a lil way, stallin, out in Memphis, Tennessee.
I’ve a t y auto mama that’s in my double z
I says t y auto mama (that’s) in my double z

Believe I’ll go up, stairs,
I’m gon’ bring back down my clothes
Said I’m leaving here mama, I sure don’t want to go
Said I’m leavin’ today, mama, and I sure don’t want to go.


Really would like to know what he’s saying in the second verse! Such a great little track by the man!

What do yall think?