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Well as a man he was a good natured fellow to meet, very kind. Well thought of and everybody liked him, wouldn't do nobody no harm at all. He do like most blind men do when they have a family or wife, do all they can to take care of them - Rev. Gary Davis describes Blind Boy Fuller, in Oh, What A Beautiful City

Author Topic: Joe Callicott Lyrics  (Read 28757 times)

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Offline uncle bud

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #60 on: March 29, 2011, 10:21:53 AM »
Regarding all the retitling and reissuing of the George Mitchell session Stefan has kindly provided a matrix toward the bottom of his discography http://www.wirz.de/music/calicfrm.htm

Yes, very handy to see what song appears where. Thanks Stefan.

There will be a little further title confusion between one or two songs when comparing George Mitchell and Blue Horizon recordings, where Laughing to Keep From Crying becomes You Don't Know My Mind for example. Not sure if there are others at the moment.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2011, 10:23:01 AM by uncle bud »

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #61 on: March 29, 2011, 11:41:46 AM »
I hear "brand new stream" pretty clearly in the last verse, but don't know what is meant by it.

If I recall correctly, it refers to a brand new Airstream trailer.

Ah, so perhaps "brand new 'stream" is best. Is this is reference heard elsewhere?

Offline Stuart

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #62 on: March 29, 2011, 12:44:14 PM »
Ah, so perhaps "brand new 'stream" is best. Is this is reference heard elsewhere?

I'm going back a long ways, Andrew, but I think that "'Stream" (capitalization owing to it being a proper noun?) was--and maybe still is--just shortened slang for Airstream. Maybe someone more connected with the RV crowd would know. Google didn't turn up anything, other than that a "Toad" is slang for a "towed" trailer. We learn something new everyday.

When Ry Cooder's first LP came out, there was some discussion about the cover and the connection with the "France Chance" lyrics. I can't remember any specifics because it was so long ago. As for other occurrences of "'Stream" in lyrics, I don't know of any.

Offline JRO

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Joe Calicott - Lonesome Katy Blues
« Reply #63 on: July 20, 2011, 04:59:06 AM »
Hi,

I'm wondering if someone has all the lyrics for Joe Calicott's ? I cannot understand everyting and I guess there are mistakes in my vers. It's played in key of G.

Lonesome Katy Blues

I

O-uu O-uu - worried long
o-uu, baby I won't be worried long
When I 'm worried, I won't be worried long

II

She loves me, o-uu in my arms
She's a little bitty woman, I hold her in my arms
She's a brownskin baby, ??

III

She wished to the trouble train was run
I wished to the trouble train was run
Lord, I take my troubles where I came form

IV

You can always, o-uu braging about
You can always tell sweet girls I can find
She's always slipping out of the town (?)

V

So I wished to Lonesome Katy blow
I hate to hear Lonesome Katy blow
Well, she blow this nornink like se won't blow no more

VI

Well, I'm worried, soaked, wet
When your women biring (her?) suitcase and went (??)
What about Corrine, I ain't seen her yet

VII
???
???
Well, I'm sittin' and thinkin' 'bout that woman all the time

Is there any sense in these words? My native language is not english.

Offline Pan

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Re: Joe Calicott - Lonesome Katy Blues
« Reply #64 on: July 20, 2011, 05:37:17 AM »
Hi JRO

That's a tough one.  :)

I think the key to figuring out the first line, is to figure out the second one first. On the first line Calicott drops out words, and the falsetto singing makes it difficult to figure out what he's saying.

I'm not a native speaker either, but while we are waiting for one to chime in, I'd offer the following suggestions. Unfortunately a lot is still left unclear.

I
MM-HMM WORRIED, WON'T BE worried long
WELL I'M WORRIED baby, won't be worried long
WELL I 'm worried,  won't be worried long

II

She loves me, HOLD HER in my arms
She's a little bitty woman,  hold her in my arms
She's a brownskin baby, ??

III

She wished A TROUBLED(?) train WOULD run
SAID I wished to GOD SOME TROUBLED(?)  train WOULD run
WELL, I take my trouble RIGHT WHERE I GOT 'EM FROM

IV

You can always, BABY, LURKING(?) AROUND
You can always tell sweet girl LURKING(?) AROUND
She's always slipping out ON THE EDGE OF town (?)

V

So I wished to Lonesome Katy blow
WELL/LORD(?) I hate to hear Lonesome Katy blow
Well, she blow this MORNING like se won't GOING TO(?) blow no more

VI

Well, I'm worried, soaked, wet
When your women biring (her?) SOAKED AND WET (??)
What about CORRINA, I ain't seen her yet

VII
Huh
WELL I WAS DOWN, HONEY DIDN'T HAVE A DIME
Well, I'm sittin' DOWN and thinkin' 'bout that woman all the time

Corrections are more than welcome!  :-X

Great tune!

Cheers

Pan
« Last Edit: July 20, 2011, 07:13:01 AM by Pan »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #65 on: July 20, 2011, 12:13:43 PM »
Hi all,
Since there was already a Joe Callicott Lyrics thread, I merged the "Lonesome Katy" thread into it.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Johnm

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #66 on: July 20, 2011, 02:05:19 PM »
Hi JRO and Pan,
I'll add what I came up with for "Lonesome Katy".  I think one thing that makes the lyrics tricky is that Joe Callicott is doing a stammering archetype on the first line, kind of like William Harris' "Bullfrog Blues", and leaving out strategic words in that first line.  Some stuff I don't have any good idea for, but here goes:

I'm worried, won't be worried long
Well, I'm worried, baby, won't be worried long
Well, I'm worried, won't be worried long

She's a little bit, hold her in my arms
She's a little bitty woman, hold her in my arms
She's a brownskin baby, chocolate to the bone (bone is really swallowed)

See, I wish to, trouble train would run
Said, I wish to God some trouble train would run
Well, I take my troubles right where I got 'em from

You can always, baby, lurking around
You can always tell, sweet girl's lurking around
She's always slippin' out on the edge of town

Says I wants to, to, Katy blow
Now, I hate to hear lonesome Katy blow
Well, she blowed this mornin' like she wasn't gonna blow no more

Well, bring me your, bring it soakin' wet
Well now, bring me your towel, bring it soakin' wet
Well, about Corinna, I ain't seen her yet

Well, down, I didn't have no name
Well, I was down, I didn't have a dime
Well, I's settin' down thinkin' 'bout the woman all the time

Edited 7/21 to pick up corrections from uncle bud

All best,
Johnm


 
« Last Edit: July 21, 2011, 05:51:45 AM by Johnm »

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #67 on: July 20, 2011, 02:24:17 PM »
A couple more pieces:

4.1 You can always, baby, lurkin' around
4.2 You can always tell, sweet girl's lurking around

7.1 Well, down, I DIDN'T have no [name] (sounds like name, though he sings dime the next time so dime would be logical. Maybe a lyric flub?)
7.2 Well I was down, I didn't have a dime


Offline Johnm

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #68 on: July 20, 2011, 03:52:04 PM »
Thanks for the help, uncle bud, I was missing "lurking" altogether, and couldn't hear "dime" either.  It's pretty cool the way Joe Callicott gets "I Will Turn Your Money Green" in G standard.
all best,
Johnm

Offline JRO

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #69 on: July 20, 2011, 11:06:28 PM »
Hi,

Thanks, Pan, Johnm and Uncle Bud. The lyrics got a lot more sense now.

I couldn't find Joe Callicot lyrics with searching engine so I guess I left l from his surname out - thanks, Johnm for adding it under right topic.

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #70 on: July 21, 2011, 08:17:40 AM »
It's pretty cool the way Joe Callicott gets "I Will Turn Your Money Green" in G standard.
all best,
Johnm

I agree, and such a great performance. One of my favorites among many favorite Joe Callicott songs.

Offline Rivers

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #71 on: August 05, 2011, 08:22:07 PM »
Airstream is one for the brands and products thread, will add.

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #72 on: August 11, 2012, 08:17:05 AM »
Johnm taught this one at the Port Townsend workshop. Joe Callicott played "Roll and Tumble" (Fat Possum title) or "I Rolled and I Tumbled" (Arhoolie title) out of Spanish tuning, pitched around G sharp. It's a hypnotic version with a typically great vocal from Joe. I am having a couple trouble spots in the lyrics, so any help appreciated.

Roll and Tumble - Joe Callicott

Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried all night long
I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong

It may be two, three days, may be a month or more
It may be two, three days, may be a month or more
Oh well the good book [said it teach] you got to reap just what you sow

Well I called my baby, called her to the door
Well I called my baby, I called her to the door
Said if you [want I'll tell you woman I] don't, don't need you no more

Well I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long
Well I rolled and I tumbled, I cried the whole night long
Says, I didn't have nobody to teach me right from wrong

Offline Slack

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #73 on: August 11, 2012, 09:43:58 AM »

2.3 Ah well the good boo(k)um say teach you...  (swallows the k in book)

3.3 Say-if-you wanna tell you woman.....

I say do what works for you, these are kind of vocal stumbles IMO.

Johnm, great lesson by the way - a very doable and enjoyable tune to do.  Of course Joe' vocal _makes_ the tune.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2012, 09:45:16 AM by Slack »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Joe Callicott Lyrics
« Reply #74 on: December 13, 2012, 09:18:59 PM »
Hi all,
Joe Callicott recorded a different "Fare Thee Well Blues" than the one uncle bud transcribed earlier in this thread.  Joe first recorded the song at a session in Memphis on February 20, 1930, backing himself out of D position in standard tuning.  This version of the song seems related both to the song Johnnie Head recorded as "Fare Thee" and several versions of "The Titanic", which have a "fare thee" refrain.  Joe has a favorite signature lick that he uses on this song at the conclusion of verses that is really exceptional, for it is six beats long, but he phrases it in a 4 beat meter so that it keeps flipping over on itself.  Listen for it the next time you hear the song, it's really a treat.  Joe pronounced "hoist", "heist".

Told me, early last Fall, you never had no man at all
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Told me, early Fall, you never had no man at all
Well, you got more men than a two-ton truck can haul

You told me, to my face, that a good man in my place
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
You told me, to my face, that a good man in my place
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well

Told me, it was early Spring, when the birds begin to sing
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Told me, early last Spring, when the birds begin to sing
Well it's the last chance, gettin' to be my gal with me

I told you early in that June, when the flowers begin to bloom
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
I told you early in June, when the flowers begin to bloom
You don't do no better, 'nother good girl can take your room

Go and hoist your window, let your curtain down
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Go and hoist your window, let your curtain down
Well, you can't tell there might be some joker around

Go and put on your nightgown, baby, let's we go lie down
Fare thee, baby, fare thee well
Go and put on your nightgown, baby, let's we go lie down
Well, it's the last chance, shakin' in the bed with you

SOLO

Edited 12/13 to pick up correction from Stuart

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: December 13, 2012, 10:47:11 PM by Johnm »

 


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