Johnm: Lloyd on Hawaiian National steel guitar lap style, myself on mandolin, in G. We play Gus Cannon's version. I sing. Every time we play it, month to month, we smile at each other and say how much we love that tune. There is something about the slide, the words, the emotional moment that can be haunting. Thanks for the posts about this tune and myriad versions, John.Wax, thanks for bringing up Gus version. Miller
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Do good, be nice, eat well, smile, treat the ladies well, and ignore all news reports--which can't be believed anyway,
Hi Miller, It's great that you and your friend enjoy playing the tune so much--that's one of the best reasons for playing music together. I wish you joy in it. All best, Johnm
Hi all, I just discovered a version by John Lee Ziegler that he called "Poor Boy", and played in Vestapol with a slide, as he did most of his repertoire. I really think he had one of the prettiest voices in the blues, right up there with Sam Collins and Lemon Jefferson. He accords most of the space in his version to his guitar and sings single-line stanzas. Here is his rendition of "Poor Boy":
INTRO
Poor boy, I ain't got nowhere to go
I'm worried, I'm worried from my home
How long since that evening train been gone?
Take a rider, you sure can't keep her long
Edited 7/27 to pick up corrections from alyoung
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: July 27, 2017, 06:13:36 AM by Johnm »
A lovely piece, John. I hear the first line as "Poor boy, I ain't got nowhere to go", and the last as "Take a rider, you sure can't keep her long". I'm quite confident on the first line, not so sure on the last.
Thanks for the catches, Al. You're certainly right about the first one, and I think you've got the later one, too. I will make the changes. Thanks! All best, Johnm
Hi all, I just found this version of "Poor Boy Long Way From Home", performed by James Henry Diggs and recorded by Ken Davidson and Bill Hale in Roanoke, Virginia on November 22, 1962. James Henry Diggs' version is a little unusual in that he does not use an open tuning to play the song, opting instead to play it in E position, standard tuning. If you watch the video, near the end is a photo of Diggs entertaining two detectives after having been acquitted of charges of burglary in 1955. Life is really odd sometimes. Here is the performance, and I sure like James Henry Digg's singing:
INTRO SOLO
Poor boy, long way from home Oh Lord, and I'm a poor child, long way from home Lord, I'm a poor child, long way from home Have no place to stay, no place to roam
I'm goin', I'm goin', cryin' won't make me stay Oh Lord, I'm a-goin', I'm goin', cryin' won't make me stay I'm goin', I'm goin' your cryin' won't make me stay For the more you cry, further you drive me 'way
SOLO
I said, take me, baby, try me one more time Oh Lord, take me, mama, try me one more time I said, take me, baby, try me one more time And if I don't suit you, bust my backbone, tryin'
I got a ship on the ocean, goin' 'round and 'round Lord, I got a ship on the ocean, goin' 'round and 'round I got a ship on the ocean, going 'round and 'round Before the gal of mine leave me, I'd jump overboard and drown
SOLO
I said, take me, baby, put me in your big brass bed Oh Lord, take me, mama, put me in your big brass bed I said, take me, baby, put me in your big brass bed Let me lay there, baby, 'til my face turn cherry red
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 24, 2017, 08:12:55 AM by Johnm »
I'm glad you enjoy the James Henry Diggs version, Prof and Harriet. He sings it with such relish, he just sounds like he loves to sing it. If you like different versions of "Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home", as I do, if you go to Weeniepedia, in the Song Families category, you will find twenty-three versions of the song transcribed, almost all of which you can find on youtube. All best, Johnm