Topic: Charlie Patton lyrics

[Kokomo O]

You've got verse 3 the way I hear it--it's pretty clear for Charley. I can't tell home from hope in verse 4--could be either at the end of those lines. You could transcribe the verse that way, but I hear the second line with "Lord" at the beginning and no "and" in the middle.

You know, I've said it here before, but someone once told me of an interview he once hear or read with Son House, who had been asked by some ethnomusicologist to listen to Charley and tell him what Charley was singing. Son apparently told the ethnomusicologist that he couldn't hardly make Charley out when they were in the same room, and he sure couldn't understand what he was singing on that scratchy old record.

[Alexei McDonald]

I hear that last line of verse 4 as "[something] come in, parched all the cotton and crops", but what it was, I can't tell.

[Alexei McDonald]

Just recalling now that Stefan Grossman, in one of his books, offered the prize of a sealed bottle of Lula Water ca. 1930 for anyone who could accurately transcribe the lyric of Dry Well Blues.   I think that bottle's probably safe till Judgement Day.

[Chezztone]

How about
"Goin' to move to Alabama, lake shores'll be our home"

[Stumblin]

I agree with Kokomo O about the "home" / "hope" issue, they're indistinguishable on my stereo system. I couldn't decide which word Mr. Patton actually used, but either would fit nicely - and he might evne have used both, deliberately, but we might never discover which line contained which word.
Etc...
Sorry, I'll get me coat.

[CF]

I wish there was some kind of online access to the Patton Revenant set lyric transcriptions . . . they seem the most obvious source to work from. I'm reluctant to try my hand at any more Patton because I always feel like, at best, I'm just offereing what has already been established with those transcriptions.

[LeftyStrat]

I aint got no money and I sure aint got no home

I aint got no money and I sure aint got no hope

Yeah when others come in, collect all the cotton and corn (referencing you cant even keep what you grow because of debt to planter, bank, whatever)

I've always heard the last line of this verse as:

"The weather done come in & parched all the cotton & corn..."

Just another idea to add to the bunch.  I know better than to claim this as the definite line  :-)

[uncle bud]

I think Lefty is real close, and I hear

"The hot weather done come in, parched all the cotton and corn"

[Shovel]

hmmm i dunno .. i feel i hear a c at the beginning of collect all the cotton and corn, and the syllables seem to match, but yeah, no way to know, especially with patton.

thanks for the feedback,

[Coyote Slim]

I know I transcribed this somewheres else. . . I was looking on the BBF. . .

I hear

"Citizens around Lula, they all doin very well
All come together and said, Lord, let's bore a well"

Oh where is that old post!

[Gumbo]

EDIT - title corrected - thanks uncle bud

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it sounds like it's played in standard around a C shape and the slide is only playing the top e string?

If anyone can help with the missing lyrics that'd be great (and impressive). This is what i have so far



Magnolia Blues

When your way get dark baby
Turn your lights up high
When your way get dark baby
?? (come over to my room)??
When you see my man he
come a-eve(n)in' ..


I'm worried now baby
won't be worried long
I'm worried now baby, I
won't be worried long

Goin' away baby
won't be back no more
I'm goin away mama
won't be back no ..

I love my baby and I
tell the world i do
I love my marra (farro?)
tell the world i do
what make me love her
you can love her too


got up this morning
bout 7.45
got up this morning
..
i didn't have me nobody
??

worried woman
sing a worried song
takes a worried woman
sing a worried song
i'm worried now, baby
i won't be worried ....

[uncle bud]

This one is played in Spanish tuning, either tuned up or capoed to around B. It is likely Patton played most of his slide tunes like this lap-style. I wouldn't tune my guitar to B though! It's certainly possible to do it in an upright position. Patton recorded this song twice, once as Magnolia Blues and once as When Your Way Gets Dark. Magnolia Blues probably qualifies for the mystery title thread. I've played this one, so have the lyrics lying around.


Magnolia Blues - Charley Patton
Spanish tuning

When your way get dark, baby, turn your lights up high
When your way get dark, baby  (yeah, well, what's a matter with 'em)
Well, I can see my man and he come a-easin' ...

I'm worried now, baby, won't be worried long
I'm worried now, baby, won't be worried long

Goin' away, baby, won't be back no more
I'm goin' away, mama, won't be back no more

I love my baby an' I tell the world I do
I love my fair brown, tell the world I do
What made me love her, you come to love her too

Got up this morning, I said my 'fore day prayer
Got up this morning...
I didn't have me nobody...speak in my behalf

Worried woman, sing a worried song
Takes a worried woman sing a worried song
I'm worried now, babe, I won't be worried...




When Your Way Gets Dark - Charley Patton

When your way gets dark, baby, turn your lights up high
(spoken: What's the matter with 'em?)
Where can I see my man, Lord, if he come easin' by

I take my daily...
(spoken: Daily 'fore day prayer!)
I take my daily...

Trouble at home, baby
(spoken: Tryin' to blow me down!)
It wouldn't hurt so bad but the news all over this...

I love my baby an' I
(spoken: Tell the world I do)
What made me love her, you will come an' love her, too

Hey, someday, baby
(spoken: You know, an' it won't be long)
You'll call at me, baby, an', an' I'll be gone

I'm goin' away, baby
(spoken: Don't you wanna go?)
I'm goin' away, baby, don't you wanna go?

[Gumbo]

I thought "'bout 7.45" sounded a bit strange

and i never would have got "speak on my behalf"

thank you kindly *raises hat*

[Stumblin]

I'm fairly convinced that Mr. Patton was referring to Mandy France, a former wife or girlfriend.
This has been covered elsewhere on the Weenie lyrics board, I think. Although I could be mistaken - on both counts.

Something like:

Where I can see my Man-dy - she come easin' by

Factor in Patton's idiosyncratic diction, the timing of the vocal and instrumental lines, and you might see where I'm coming from.

[Gumbo]

I can hear that.

but then i could hear "got up this morning bout 7.45" and "I didn't have nobody peekin' my purple hair"