Topic: Washboard Sam Lyrics

[Papa John]

Hello all,

I'm trying to work out the lyrics to Diggin' My Potatoes by Washboard Sam and I would be very grateful for your assistance once again.  Below is what I have.  Any help filling in the blanks or correcting what I already have would be appreciated.



Diggin? My Potatoes

They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I have a special plan, restin' on my mind

I don't eat no cabbage sprouts, bring me ??.
Supposed to call the wagon, if I find him in my bed

You know they?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I have a special plan, restin' on my mind

Now she powdered her face, ?.. her wavy hair
Caught a taxicab, she's out across town somewhere

You know she?s diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I have a special plan, restin' on my mind

(Instrumental)

Said my vine's all green, potatoes solid red
Never found a bruised one, till I caught them in my bed

You know they?re diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I have a special plan, restin' on my mind


Thanks
John

[Stuart]

Hi John:

I just did a couple of quick listens on the computer which is not my favorite way to go, but here's what I got. I think that the first blank is "....head," but I can't make out what comes before "head," although a web search turns up "solid head" for the Big Bill version. I think the second blank may be "washed," which makes sense in context. I think that I hear an "w" as the initial for the word in question, but it's certainly less than clear.

[Bunker Hill]

Sounds to me like "bring me solid head" (as in cabbage head, as opposed to the sprouts?) and "Now she powedered her face, Lord her wavy hair", (with an implied "and" between Lord and Wavy?)

[Richard]

Solid head is I think what is generally sung, haven't heard the actual recording that I recall so can't help on the rest.

[Stuart]

Michael Taft's site also has "Lord her" but with asterisks to note the uncertainty.

http://www.dylan61.se/MTBluesS_Y/Michael%20Taft,%20Blues%20Anthology%20with%20index%20by%20Artist%20S-Y.htm#_Toc71651726

Could it be "lowered her" wavy hair?

[dj]

I'd go with "washed her wavy hair".  Spelled as I hear Sam sing it, it would be "was'ed her wavy hair".

[Johnm]

Hi all,
This is only peripherally on topic, but I checked the ""Favorite Singers" thread (http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=60&topic=864.0) to see whether Washboard Sam was mentioned.  He was noted there and certainly deserves to be--what a voice!  He really had a sensational voice of the type I usually associate with pianists, rich and bright like a horn.  It's not too hard to figure out why he was a hitmaker in his day.
All best,
Johnm

[David Kaatz]

I've apparently got a different version of this, from "The Blues - Volume 3" on Chess

Lyrics are pretty hard to understand.  He could be saying Tramplin' instead of Trampin'.

This is what I hear, FWIW:

They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I got my gal, lord have mercy, on my mind

I don't work no cabbage greens
I don't want cabbage heads
I got that woman in ?jail? lord
And she got .... in bed

They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
?? my heart, left my life behind
Play it boy!

(instrumental)

... I might run and ??
I don't know my name
Gosh tried somethin happen I can't 'splain
They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
I ain't got nobody, to find my .... combined

Hey when I woke up this morning, just about three o' four
My gal told me lord lord I really got to go
They?ve been diggin' my potatoes, trampin' on my vine
Hey that's alright, lord have mercy on my mind

[Wilson]

Working on songs/recordings by Washboard Sam, so just sharing what l have so far.



Who Pumped The Wind In My Doughnut - Washboard Sam

Intro
G                E7               A7  -  D7    G

G                E7               A7  -  D7    G
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me
G                E7               A7              D7
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Down on that yam-yam tree
G                G7              C                C#dim
I wasn?t there, when the pump?in was done
But so ever pumped, was a pumping son of a gun
G                E7               A7  -  D7    G
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me

Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Down on that yam-yam tree
I like my doughnut, nice and sweet
But everybody takes them up and down the street
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me

De-da de-da da, Da-da-da-doe, De-da-da Da-da-da-doe
De-da de-da da, Da-da-da doe, Down on that yam-yam tree
I like my doughnuts, nice and round
But everybody takes them, all over this town
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me

De-da de-da da, Da-da-da-doe, De-da-da Da-da-da-doe
De-da de-da da, Da-da-da doe, Down on that yam-yam tree
Now my doughnuts, they are hard to beat
You eat three baby, you can?t stand on your feet
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me

De-da de-da da, Da-da-da-doe, De-da-da Da-da-da-doe
De-da de-da da, Da-da-da doe, Down on that yam-yam tree
I got doughnuts, all in my house
You eat my doughnuts, They?ll melt in your mouth
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me

(Solo)
"Now who put the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me
I don?t know who did it, But? Who soever did it.
They was a? pump?in son of a gun?

Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Down on that yam-yam tree
I wasn?t there, when the pump?in was done
But so ever pumped was a pumping son of a gun
Who pumped the wind in my doughnut, Sure don?t resemble me
Hey, hey, hey Babe, Sure don?t resemble me.

[arlotone]

Does anybody know what the "wind" part of the metaphor refers to here? Is that a technique of baking, maybe the singer's notion of yeast causing dough to rise?

It just occurred to me that one could easily change the lyric to "who pumped the cream in my donut," which would make more sense on both levels, but maybe that would cross a line for some audiences.

[Lignite]

The doughnut is slang for a tire because of the similar shape. He's just talking about filling the tire with air (and other things).

[arlotone]

The tire metaphor makes sense just considering the chorus, but I wouldn't want to eat three or let them melt in my mouth!

[banjochris]

From the context, it seems like he's extending the doughnut/tire metaphor to deny that he's responsible for impregnating someone.
Chris

[arlotone]

I understand what it means on the metaphorical level, just wondering how "wind" relates to "donut" on the literal level. Are you saying that "doughnut" refers to a sweet breakfast cake in some verses and an automobile tire in others?

[frailer24]

Personally, I believe it to be commenting on the yeast's rising action on dough. The tire idea makes little sense to me in the context of the song.