Any y'all wanna come to my home and learn how to play guitar - don't be scared o' your money, come on honey. I ain't gonna kill you - Rev. Gary Davis, in concert
A heartbreaking blues from Montgomery’s mammoth St. Charles Hotel session. 23 (!) sides cut in one day.
Little Brother Montgomery – Vocals, Piano
October 16, 1936 New Orleans, Louisiana
Piano in Bb
Now I'm leaving town baby, ‘cause you know you treats me wrong And I'm leaving town baby, ‘cause you know you treat me wrong You go out at night and get full of bad whiskey, and stay out the whole night long
And I tried everything, mama in this world to get along with you And I tried everything, in this world to get along with you Now and you know I love you, that's why you treat me like the way you do
And I'm going, I'm going, mama and your crying won't make me stay And I'm going, I'm going, and your crying won't make me stay And the more you cry mama, the farther that you drive me away
SOLO
Now when I leave this town mama you can pin crepe, on my door When I leave this time mama, you can pin crepe on my door And I won't be dead, baby but I ain't coming, here no more
I want to suggest some changes in Frisco Hi-Ball Blues if I may, Chris. A transcription you did 4 years ago.
Old Bill, Old Bill's on the mountain, and he's cravin' on the Santa Fe, Old Bill's on the mountain, cravin' on the Santa Fe, And I'm goin' to the river, and catch the longest train I see.
Oakdale, Oakdale's on the mountain, and it's Craven on the Santa Fe, Oakdale's on the mountain, Craven on the Santa Fe, And I'm goin to DeRidder, and catch the longest train I see.
Oakdale, Cravens, and DeRidder are places/regions in Louisiana where Montgomery was from. I'm not sure on Cravens. Pronounced Craven. I got this information from "Deep South piano: the story of Little Brother Montgomery".
« Last Edit: April 15, 2021, 05:35:25 AM by Harry »
Thanks for that, Harry, I made the fixes – I have that book, too – might be time to read it again! John, I'm assuming this is in Weeniepedia; it'd be worth fixing that verse. Chris
Nice work, Harry. I have that book too, but haven't looked at the lyrics in years.
One minor correction, The lyric should read "Oakdale's on the Mountain..", with a capital M. Oakdale was founded on the line of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad, which was locally known as "the Mountain". Cravens was indeed on the Santa Fe. And, since I know you're curious, DeRidder was on the Pittsburgh & Gulf Railroad, which was later renamed to the Kansas City Southern.
By the way, Louisiana does have a "mountain", of sorts. Driskill Mountain (or Mount Driskill) is the highest point in Louisiana, with an elevation of 535 feet (163 m). It's in the northern part of the state, quite a way from Oakdale, Cravens, and DeRidder.
The book also has the lyrics for "No Special Rider Blues" (first song in this thread). With the famous line here on Weenie Campbell,
"Gonna eat my breakfast, in sweet Johannesburg"
Written down in the book as "Gonna eat my breakfast, and sneak to Hattiesburg"
It makes more sense that Montgomery would name a town close by rather than one in California or South-Africa. I find it difficult to hear. What y'all think?
« Last Edit: April 15, 2021, 07:28:21 AM by Harry »
Hi Harry, Re-listening, I agree with you, especially the "and" and "to" book-ending the verb in the middle, which sounds more like "sling" than "sneak" to me. I'll make the change in Weeniepedia. Thanks! all best, Johnm
The first time I met the blues, mama, they came walking through the wood The first time I met the blues, baby, they came walking through the wood They stopped at my house first, mama, and done me all the harm they could
Now, the blues got at me, Lord, and run me from tree to tree Now, the blues got at me, and run me from tree to tree You should have heard me beggin’, “Mr. Blues don't murder me”
Good morning, blues, what are you doin’ here so soon Good morning, blues, what are you doin’ here so soon You be’s with me in the mornin’, Lord, and every night and noon
PIANO SOLO
The blues came down the alley, mama, and stopped right at my door The blues came down the alley, and stopped right at my door They give me more hard luck and trouble, than I ever had before
Stefan Wirz pointed out that the song above was released in 1936 on Bluebird B6766 under the wrong title "First Time I Met You". The correct title is "The First Time I Met The Blues".
Get your water here, baby, and coal where I got mine Get your water here, baby, coal where I got mine Get your water here, mama, and coal in the 'Bama mine
Now, when you wanna, want to ride easy, now, baby, catch the A. and V. Now, when you wanna ride easy, why not catch the A. and V. That’s where you pay for your ridin’ and, Lord, get your ridin’ free
Now, I hate, hate to hear, that A. & V. whistle when she blows And I hate to hear, that A. & V. whistle when it blows It puts me on a wander, mama, makes me wanna go
SOLO
Now, I thought I, thought I heard, that A. & V. whistle when she blowed And I thought I heard, that A. & V. whistle when she blowed Now, it makes me lonesome, and makes me wanna go
« Last Edit: January 06, 2022, 10:18:38 AM by Blues Vintage »