Topic: Amelia Johnson Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Amelia Johnson is featured singing on "Can't Listen No More", taken from the Arhoolie CD, "Big Joe Williams And Friends-Going Back To Crawford". She is accompanied on the song by Big Joe, playing in Spanish tuning, and John "Shortstuff" Macon, playing guitar in E position, standard tuning. I think her singing is wonderfully serious. A couple of times Big Joe starts to solo, but she comes right back in singing. Here is "Can't Listen No More":



INTRO

Don't tell me about your lovin', don't tell me, baby, that you love me, 'cause I
Can't believe a word, can't listen to you, baby, honey, can't listen no more
Can't listen no more, can't listen no more, can't listen no more

I stopped lovin' you, when you told me all about your girl, stopped lovin' you, baby,
All from told me about your girl, can't listen to you, baby, I can't listen no more
Can't listen no more, can't listen no more, can't listen no more

Heard your story too many times, can't listen to you, baby, I can't listen no more
Can't listen to you, baby, can't listen to you no more
Heard your story too many times, can't listen no more

When you told me you loved me, told me a lie, found out, baby, you didn't love me
Can't listen no more, baby, I can't listen no more
Can't listen no more, can't listen no more, can't listen no more

Found out you didn't love me, found out you wasn't true, told me your lie, baby, can't listen no more
Can't listen to you, baby, honey, I can't listen no more
Can't listen no more, can't listen no more, can't listen no more

CODA

All best,
Johnm
 

[banjochris]

Big Joe's smile is saying "Man, that guitar is even more messed up than mine!"

[Slack]

Lol!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Another song featuring Amelia Johnson from the "Big Joe Williams And Friends--Going Back To Crawford" CD is "My Last Girl, Don't Treat Her Wrong". The song features the same accompanying musicians, Big Joe playing in Spanish tuning and Shortstuff Macon playing in E position in standard tuning. Amelia Johnson continues to impress with her no-nonsense impassioned singing. Here is "My Last Girl, Don't Treat Her Wrong":



INTRO

These are the words, my mother said, said, "Child, don't do wrong." My mother
Told, when I left home, "Don't do wrong."

"Don't take nothing, you don't want, 'cause I told him to bring you back, oh when he get tired."
"Don't you treat her wrong. That's my
Baby, my baby girl, don't treat her wrong."

"I got to tell you about this, man, that this is my last girl, Lord.
"Don't treat her wrong, you've got my last girl, don't treat her wrong. Don't treat her
Wrong, don't treat her wrong, don't treat her wrong."

"I got two girls, and one boy. You've got my last girl, don't treat her wrong.
Don't treat her wrong, baby, don't treat her wrong. If you get
Tired, of my little girl, bring her back home."

INTERLUDE

"I'm going to take her worth." This is what my mother said.
"You've got my girl, that's my last, don't treat her wrong."

"Don't treat her wrong, don't treat her wrong, don't treat her wrong, oh, oh, don't treat her wrong.
Don't treat her wrong. If you get tired, bring her back home. You've got my last
Girl, don't treat her wrong. Bring her back home."

SOLO

Edited 10/17 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

 

[Blues Vintage]

Amelia is one helluva singer.


2.1 oh when (you) -he- get tired

3.3 that [fulfills] -this is- my last girl (on) -Lord-."

4.3 Tired, of (that) -my- little girl

5.1 That was what     - "was" sounds different but can't give a good suggestion

6.1 (That's) -you've got- my last

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Blues Vintage. This was a tough one to figure out how to enter most effectively on the page. I think in 5.1, Amelia Johnson sang the vowel sound of "that" but switched to "this" after the vowel sound, and followed it with "is". God, she is (was?) a great singer.