Topic: Walter Roland Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi dj,
I re-listened some more to the tagline of the last verse of "T Model Blues", and I'm hearing "get on" at the place that has been in question. Banjochris suggested that very lyric immediately after I posted the transcription in 2017.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

I caught 2 more,

3.3 I seed with you with the other day

5.3 'Cause you know I've I'm got to go home

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Harry. I made the changes.

[dj]

John,

Sorry to keep harping on T Model Blues, but I think the "n" you're hearing is an artifact of closing one's mouth to transition from the long "o" of a shortened "over" to the "m" of "my" that follows it.  Try it yourself - just say "git o' my" a few times really fast and see if the "n" sound doesn't sort of creep in there. 

If Roland is really saying "get on my old lady 'cause she won't come back no more", how do you interpret that?  If she's gone and not coming back, how will he "get on" her?  It just makes more sense to be saying he's got to get over her.

Anyway, you hear what you hear.  No hard feelings if we don't agree.

[Johnm]

Hi dj,
I re-listened again, and I agree with your interpretation of the lyric and have made the change. I finally heard the "v" in "over", and didn't hear an "n" sound in there, and your interpretation also made the most sense, as you noted. Thanks for hanging in there! I really think it's right now.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

45 Pistol Blues
 

Walter Roland - Vocals,  Piano
Josh White - Guitar

March 18, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in C





I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my thirty five
Lord I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my forty five
Because you know ain't many men goes there and comes back alive

They will shoot you and cut you Lord they will knock you down
Lord they’ll shoot you and cut you Lord they will knock you down
And you can ask anybody ain't that the baddest place in town

Mens carry thirty eights womens carr’ razors too
Mens carry thirty eights womens carr’ their razors too
And you know you better not start nothin’ do they'll make away with you

Says I ain't going to Third Alley no more unless I change my mind
Ain't going to Third Alley no more Lord ‘less I change my mind
Cause you know I done got shot once over there Lord and stopped three or four times

Says you know I’m gonna leave Lord my forty-five most too long
Lord my forty-five most too big
Cause you know when I carry that gun Lord I can’t keep it hid

[Blues Vintage]

Early in the Morning No. 2


Walter Roland – Vocals, Piano

New York City, New York
July 31, 1934

Piano In F





Says me and my good girl we had a falling out
And I bet you mens can tell me what it's all about
We fell out early in the morning baby about the break of day
And I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

I says go get your hat baby let's go in the woods
If you can't go now please ma'am tell me when you could
She say I go early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turn over and hug the pillow where my baby used to lay

You know I got me a woman now they call her Ann Kate
I told her to come to my house tonight about half past eight
She said she'd be there early in the morning baby about the break  of day
Then I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

You know a girl get twelve years old she thinks she's grown
You never can catch that kind a girl at home
Unless you go there early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turned over and hugged the pillow where my baby used to lay

I'm gonna sing this verse now ain't gon’ sing no more
I wanna see my good girl and I think I'll better go
Before it get early in the morning baby about the break of day
Then I turn over and hug the pillow where my baby used to lay

[Johnm]

Thanks for posting those Walter Roland songs, Harry. I think I have the last verse of "45 Pistol Blues":

   Says you know I’m gonna leave, Lord, my forty-five most too long
   Lord, my forty-five most too big
   'Cause you know when I carry that gun, Lord, I can’t keep it hid

I think he wanted to take a smaller gun which would be easier to conceal.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

A couple of minor suggestions for 45 Pistol Blues:

1.2:  Lord I'm going over in Third Alley Lord but I'm gon’ carry my forty five.

I think Roland pronounces the second syllable of "Alley", it's just quieter, almost like a sigh.

3.3:  And you know you better not start nothin’, do they'll make away with you

I think a comma is appropriate to separate the two phrases.  It helps a reader to understand that "do" really stands for "if you do".

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John and dj.
I don't use commas in my transcriptions. I play some of the songs I'm transcribing. Commas just distract me when I'm playing.
John double checks every song when he enters them into Weeniepedia and adds commas etc.

[banjochris]

One other suggestion, in 4.3 of 45 Pistol:

Cause you know I done got shot once over there Lord AND STOPPED three or four times

Chris

[Johnm]

You are sure enough right about that line, Chris. I'll make the change in Weeniepedia. Thanks!

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris.

[Blues Vintage]

Club Meeting Blues


Another winner from the randomandrare channel.

Walter Roland - Vocals,  Piano
Josh White - Guitar

March 14, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in F





My wife done joined a club, I know she done something wrong
Says my wife done joined a club, I know she done done something wrong
Because two nights a week, that club meeting got to be carried on

Some say she was with Mr. Jack last night, some say she was with Mr. Lee
Some say she was with Mr. Jack last night, some say she was with Mr. Lee
I don’t give a doggone who she’s with, she better bring it home to me

I ain’t gon’ get me a woman, Lord, that will not join that band
I’m gon’ get a woman, Lord, that will not join that band
Because if I catch her messin’ around, she gon’ have hell on her hands

Boys, if you want a good woman, don’t let her join no club
Lord, if you want a good woman, don’t her her join no club
Because she’s just making ‘rangments, to meet that one she love

You can always tell, when it’s something goin’ on wrong
Always tell, something goin’ on wrong
She’ll say a club meeting had late, and Mr. so-and-so brought me home

[Blues Vintage]

Bad Dream Blues


Thomas, if I remember correctly you once mentioned Roland played in the key of A. Can you confirm this?


Walter Roland – Vocals, Piano

March 5, 1935
New York City, New York

Piano in A





INTRO

Last night I had a dream, Lord, and it was all about you
Last night I had a dream, Lord, and it was all about you
Then you know says you done left me, Lord, what is it I’m goin’  to do

Says, I dreamed that I fought you, Lord, and I blacked your eye
Hmmm, I fought you, Lord, and I blacked your eye
You know says I would cut your throat, Lord, but you’re too good to die

SOLO

Says, you don’t know, woman how much that I cares for you
Says, woman you don’t know, how much that I cares for you
But you know I’m still wonderin’, hope that dreams don’t come true

I says, baby be careful, Lord, ‘bout the things you do
Hey-hey, Lord, ‘bout the things you do
‘Cause you know the first thing you know, Lord, I’m gon’ make away with you