Topic: Whistler's Jug Band Lyrics

[arlotone]

"Low Down Blues" only has one verse, but I can't make out all the words:

I'm worried now, pretty mama, papa won't be worried long
I'm worried now, pretty mama, papa won't be worried long
I'm gonna tell you, pretty mama, what papa

Possibilities are:

what shoulder papa got it on
what surely papa got it on

But neither makes sense. Do you hear something else?

[waxwing]

Hey Arlo,

I've always thought it was "What shoulder papa's gun is on"  Listening now, the "shoulder" seems pretty clear to me and I think the "is on" at the the end is clearly not "it on". The hard part is that he doesn't pronounce the "s" at the end of "papa's" and I can't really say it's an "n" or a "t" or what at the the end of "gun". It makes sense that he would elide over the "possessive "s" as it flows more smoothly. Not couting the final consonant, it sounds more like the "u" of "gun" to me than the "o" of "got". And I think there's somewhat of a clearer meaning in the threat of the "gun" in relation to the "worry".

Just my thoughts.

Wax

P.S. I'm listening to the version on the Yazoo "Ruckus Juice and Chitlins" CD, which is pretty clear.

[Suzy T]

I always sing "what surely Papa got it wrong"

[bnemerov]

"what shoulder papa got it on" sounds correct to me and makes sense as in "shoulder your worries; burdens" etc.

best,
bruce