Hi all, John Hurt recorded "Waiting For You", a waltz with a sort of Jimmie Rodgerish sort of sound at his Library of Congress recordings, accompanying himself in G position in standard tuning. This song has many lyrics. Here is that performance:
SPOKEN: I want to do this one on account I know my wife's waiting for me. This is "Waiting For You".
INTRO
Will you be faithful to me? Is your heart good and true? While it's in sorrow, and in pain Darling, I'm waiting for you REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
My heartbeat would quicken My cares would all fly away If you would kindly let me know That you welcome me today REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
Weigh that leisure, my darling Let your thoughts drift to me Why it's I have parted from you Happiness I never will see REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
The days are dreary The nights are so long With the heartache for you I'm singing this sad song REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
If we can not meet again 'Til our troubles are all through Beyond the river of Jordan I'll still be waiting for you REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
When you see my grassy mound Then our troubles, all through My days have been shortened Whilst I've been waiting for you REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
If I had a pass to Glory And it did not read "for two" I would trade it off, dear darling And stay on Earth with you REFRAIN: Because of your cruel ways I may never live to know In justice to my true love I'll forgive you before I go
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: September 14, 2018, 06:53:47 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Mississippi John Hurt recorded "I Shall Not Be Moved" at the Oberlin concert released on Vanguard, accompanying himself out of C position in standard tuning. Here is that performance:
SPOKEN: I shall not be moved.
INTRO SOLO
Oh, I shall not, I shall not be moved I shall not, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
SOLO
I'm on my way to Heaven, I shall not be moved On my way to Heaven, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
Oh, I shall not, I shall not be moved I shall not, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
Oh preacher, I shall not be moved Oh preacher, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
SOLO
I'm sanctified and holy, I shall not be moved Sanctified and holy, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
Oh I, (guitar) I shall not be moved I shall not, I shall not be moved Just like a tree, planted by the water I shall not be moved
Hi all, John Hurt re-recorded "Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied" for "The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt" on Vanguard, after first recording it in 1928 for Okeh. He played the song in G position in standard tuning.
INTRO SOLO
I've got the blues and I can't be satisfied Got the blues (guitar finishes line) Well, some old day, gonna catch that train and ride
SOLO
Yes, whiskey straight will drive the blues away Whiskey straight will drive the blues away That be the case, I wants a quart today
SOLO
I bought my babe a great big diamond ring Bought my babe a (guitar finishes line) Come right back home and caught her shakin' that thing
I said, "Babe, what make you do me this-a-way? Babe, what make you? (guitar finishes line) Well, that I bought and now you give it away."
SOLO
I took my gun, and I broke the barrel down Took my gun (guitar finishes line) I put that joker six feet in the ground
Yes, got the blues and I still ain't satisfied You got the blues (guitar finishes line) Well, some old day, gonna catch the train and ride
SOLO
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 09:51:10 AM by Johnm »
One small correction to the lyrics for "Funky Butt": if you listen closely, I think you'll find that Hurt sings "I thought I heard somebody say," rather than "some boys." This is perhaps slightly clearer when he repeats the line in the third verse than when he sings it in the first verse.
Also, I'm not sure why you say Dave Van Ronk "turned ['Buddy Bolden's Blues'] into the instrumental 'St. Louis Tickle,'" as I believe Theron Bennett published the sheet music for "St. Louis Tickle" in 1904. What Van Ronk did was arrange Bennett's piece (which of course makes use of the "Buddy Bolden" melody as one of its themes) for solo guitar.
Hi Todd, Actually, I hear John Hurt say "some boys" in both places, with no hint of a "d" or two syllables after "some". I have listened closely.
The reason I said Dave Van Ronk turned "Buddy Bolden's Blues" into the instrumental "St. Louis Tickle" is because I never heard of the Theron Bennett tune of that name. I stand corrected. All best, Johnm
Hi all, John Hurt recorded "Blue Harvest Blues" in 1928, and as far as I know, never played or performed it in his rediscovery period. He played it out of E position in standard tuning, and it has a very unusual rhythmic feel; I really don't know another piece by John Hurt or anyone else in the style that sounds like it, rhythmically. It's an unusually "down" set of lyrics for him. Mike Dowling does a really nice version of this song. Here is "Blue Harvest Blues":
INTRO
Standing on the mountain, fur [sic] as I can see Standing on the mountain, just as fur as I can see Dark clouds above me, clouds all around poor me
Feeling low and weary, Lord, I've got trouble in mind Feeling low and weary and Lord, I've got a troublin' mind Everything's against me, everybody's so unkind
Harvest time's coming and will catch me unprepared Harvest time is comin' and will catch me unprepared Haven't made a dollar, bad luck is all I've had
Lord, how can I bear it? Lord, when will the harvest bring? Lord, how can I bear it? Lord, what will the harvest bring? Burned up all my money and I hasn't got a doggone thing
I'm a weary traveler, roamin' 'round from place to place I'm a weary traveler, roamin' 'round from place to place If I don't find something, death will end me in disgrace
Ain't got no mother, father left me long ago Ain't got no mother, father left me long ago I'm just like an orphan, where my folks is I don't know
Blues around my shoulder, blues are all around my head Blues around my shoulder, blues are all around my head With my heavy burden, Lord, I wished I was dead
Edited 9/27 to pick up corrections from Lyndvs Edited 9/28 to pick up corrections from banjochris
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: September 28, 2020, 01:47:21 PM by Johnm »
Thanks for the catches, Chris. I agree it is "feeling" in both those places, and "death" later on, which is what I had originally. I will make the changes--thanks!
Hi all, John Hurt's 1928 recording of "Ain't No Tellin'" is a real high water mark of those sessions. His playing and singing of the song is tremendously varied and loose-sounding, and he sounds more relaxed vocally than he did on many of the other songs from his 1928 sessions. I'd appreciate any help with his spoken comment in his second solo. John Hurt pronounced "stab" "stob". Here is "Ain't No Tellin'":
INTRO
Don't you let my good girl catch you here Don't you let my good girl catch you here She might shoot you, may cut you and stab you too Ain't no tellin' what she might do
(GUITAR BEGINS VERSE) I'm up the country, where the cold sleet and snow I'm up the country, where the cold sleet and snow Ain't no tellin' how much further I may go
SOLO
Eat my breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee Eat my breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee Eat my breakfast here, my dinner in Tennessee I told you I was comin', baby, won't you look for me
SOLO (Spoken during solo: Hey, hey, that's [ ?],
The way I'm sleepin', my back and shoulders tired Way I'm sleepin', babe, my back and shoulders tired The way I'm sleepin', my back and shoulders tired Gon' turn over, try it on the side
SOLO
Don't you let my good girl catch you here (GUITAR PLAYS LINE) She might shoot you, may cut you, stab you too Ain't no tellin', what she might do
Hi John, No, I'm hearing it where you note "stob." That always made more sense to me, with the long A. But my ears aren't that good. [I've never been able to figure out the spoken line.]
« Last Edit: February 12, 2021, 01:49:07 PM by eric »