Topic: Ma Rainey Lyrics

[uncle bud]

As Frank mentioned in the covers++ post, this is one of the candidates for the weenie cover thread. here are the lyrics and mp3 is attached.



Don't Fish in My Sea - Ma Rainey
 
My daddy come home this mornin', drunk as he could be
My daddy come home this mornin', drunk as he could be
I knowed that he's done got bad on me

He used to stay out late, now he don't come home at all
He used to stay out late, now he don't come home at all (no kiddin either)
I know there's another mule been kicking in my stall

If you don't like my ocean, don't fish in my sea
If you don't like my ocean, don't fish in my sea
Stay out of my valley, let my mountain be

I ain't had no loving since God knows when
I ain't had no loving since God knows when
That's the reason I'm through with these no-good, trifling men

You'll never miss the sunshine till the rain begin to fall
You'll never miss the sunshine till the rain begin to fall
You'll never miss your ham till another mule's in your stall

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[thumbstyle]

Hi y'all,

I'm likin' this song, too. I'm game to try it. I imagine most of us will want to adapt the lyrics some (not that there's anything wrong with that!)?

At the risk of giving too much away, I thought I'd take a stab at the chord structure for this. The recording is a bit jazzy, but of course we can make it as down-home as we like.

It's in Bflat, but a good "country blues" way to play it and match the pitch of the recording might be to capo at the 1st fret and play A figures.

I hear something like this (each chord symbol or repeat symbol ["] = 1 beat):

Intro
| Bb Bdim? | Cm7?"?F7? " |? Bb? "? Bdim?"? | Cm7?"?F7? " |

Body
| Bb? "? Gm7/D? "? | Cm7?"? F7? " | Bb? ""? "? | "? " B7? " |
| Eb? "?"? "? | "? " F7? " | Bb? "?"? "? | Gm7/D? " "? " |
| Cm7 "?" "? | F#7? "? F7? " | Bb "?Bdim? "? | Cm7 "F7? " |


Or in the key of A:

Intro
| A? "? A#dim?"? | Bm7?"? E7? " | A?"? A#dim?"? | Bm7?"?E7?" |

Body
| A? "?F#m7/C#?"? | Bm7?"? E7? " | A?"?"? ?"? | "?"? A7?" |
| D? "?"?"? | "? "? E7? " | A?"?"?"? | F#m7/C#?"? "? " |
| Bm7? "?"?"? | F7? "? E7? " | A?"?A#dim? "? | Bm7? "?E7? " |

Fire away with any thoughts or corrections!

Cheers,
Dave

[Rivers]

Looks right up my street. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet (it's 1:35 AM, insomniac's post this) but some of those patterns are familiar.

[frankie]

Thanks for the chords, Dave.? In going about this, it seems to me that no one should feel like they have to stick strictly to the original arrangement, although doing so would probably result in a snappy guitar accompaniment.? If the lyrics, harmony or melody need to be changed - go ahead and do it.? If you take just one verse and make up a bunch of other ones, scrap the original melodic/harmonic underpinnings entirely - that's fine too, as well as any permutations in-between.? I guess I'm using the word "cover" in a sense that's a lot looser than normal.

Maybe there should be at least some nod made to the source tune...? but just a nod!? Doesn't *have* to be anything more than that.

[uncle bud]

Thanks for the chords, Dave. I like it when others do the work.    Re. Lyric changes: yes, I think I'll be changing a few lines. 

Agreed, Frankie. Straight covers are welcome but not required. Feel free to do your own thing with it. Run it through the Robert Belfour machine. Frank Hutchison-ize it. Take it away from Chicago down to Helena. Do whatever you like...

[Yves]

Hello

I Just listen to the Biograph 12011 Ma Rainey which includes "Don't fish in my sea"
I love this song and will work on it more deeply
On the cover it is mentioned horns - cnt & clt - obviously I can't hear any of them ! just the piano
It looks tuned somewhere between A & Bb
I like very much the balancing of answers on the piano which sounds like "doubling the tempo" during a couple of bars
Yes it sounds a bit jazzy ... never mind it sounds great
Yves
 

[Prof Scratchy]

Had to get in touch with my feminine side to do this. Fortunately my feminine side looks just like Ma Rainey...
Prof Scratch

[Slack]

Nice job Prof Scratch! - I think you definately get the feel of the Ma Rainy tune.... but with a Blind Blake influence/flavor. 

Cheers,
slack

[uncle bud]

Yeah, that's sounding damn good, Perfesser. Enjoyed the singing too. A lot of fun.

[thumbstyle]

Nice job of country bluesifying it! Sounding really good, and you found a good way of adapting the valley/mountain metaphor!

Dave

[Johnm]

Nice rendition, Professor!  The vocal sounds good and the variety in the accompaniment, with its stop-time, etc. really shows off the song to great advantage.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I just listened to the original of this again last night.  Does it say on the CD it came from who the pianist was on it?  It is sensational playing, and made me curious.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Hi all,
I just listened to the original of this again last night.  Does it say on the CD it came from who the pianist was on it?  It is sensational playing, and made me curious.
All best,
Johnm

Hi John. It's Jimmy Blythe. I agree, really great playing.
cheers,
Andrew

[Prof Scratchy]

Hi John
I'm probably not the only Weenie who can't wait for you to post a version!!
Prof Scratchy
PS Thanks for the kind comments on my version which, when I came back to listen to it after a week in the land of Yves, sounded very Scratchy indeed!

[snakehips]

Hi there !

Crikey ! That boy got a real sportin' left and right hand on that there geeee-tarrrrrrr !!!
Scratchy ? Sounds like a hot curry sizzling on a skillet !
It just pips-at-the-post a version of "Memphis Town" I know !