Topic: Bo Carter Lyrics

[Stuart]

There were red squirrels where I grew up, a mile in from the ocean on the Jersey Shore, but as the town got built up, they slowly disappeared. I cannot recall seeing any black squirrels there. Where an old friend of mine lives in Michigan, about 30 miles west of Detroit, black squirrels are all over the place. Here in Shoreline, there are a fair number of Douglas squirrels which are just slightly larger than chipmunks, but they tend to live in the wooded areas.

[Johnm]

I agree with what you said, dj, and have changed "or" to "on". Thanks!

[waxwing]

As I gave a little misinformation regarding squirrels, I wanted to correct it.

I checked my old 1959 Edition of the Harper & Row Complete Field Guide to American WildLife: East, Central and North, a childhood and adolescence companion on many trips to Canada and other points in the Northeast, I find that fox squirrels are, indeed, a species to themselves, inhabiting the Southeast and Midwest US, and not coming into NJ or PA much, at least, in 1959. They are somewhat larger than the gray squirrels, are light grayish with a yellow to rusty overcoat. Red squirrels are somewhat smaller than the gray and are most common in the Great North Woods, altho, again, in 1959, they come into the US in the Midwest and Northeast, and also in the northern Rocky Mountains. The only indication of a black squirrel was that the gray squirrel has a black phase.

As to "cat squirrels", you may be right Johnm.

Wax

[Stuart]

From a quick check it appears that black squirrels are "a melanistic subgroup" of eastern grays and of fox squirrels. Some of the ones I saw in Michigan were too big for grays, so I assume they were the sub-group of the fox squirrel species.

It's great that you held onto the "Complete Field Guide...", Wax.

[dj]

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a cat squirrel is "a reddish-coated fox squirrel found in the eastern part of its range".

I've wondered about the term since 1967, but never thought to look it up until today.  And, living in the Hudson Valley, I'd never heard of a fox squirrel until this thread popped up.  It's amazing the things one can learn reading this forum!

[Johnm]

Thanks for all of the additional information, guys. Digression is so worthwhile sometimes--it's nice to get out of that tunnel vision occasionally. I'd heard Dr. Ross and others sing about "cat squirrels" for years, and just kind of kept squeezing by it without thinking about it very much or taking any steps to find out to what exactly he was referring. Thanks.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Ride My Mule" was the first song Bo Carter recorded at his session in New Orleans on February 20, 1936. He played the song out of DGDGBE tuning, working a lot of familiar territory. In the first verse it is like the last twelve bars of a 16-bar blues, in that the first two 4-bar phrase begin on IV7 chords, after which it morphs into a chorus blues for the remaining verses. Bo's playing on this song is really stellar, even by his standards. Here is "Ride My Mule":



INTRO

If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
I got a two-dollar bill here, sweet baby, that you can just, carr' on home with you

Listen here, sweet baby, won't you just bear this in mind? A woman don't feel so well when she haven't got nar' dime
If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
I got a two-dollar bill here, sweet baby, that you can just, carr' on home with you

Listen here, sweet baby, you know this ain't no fake, a two-dollar bill will buy you a mighty good print dress
If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
I got a two-dollar bill here, sweet baby, that you can just, carr' on home with you

SOLO

Now you listen here, sweet baby, bear this in mind, when you go to the market a two-dollar bill will work just fine
If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
I got a two-dollar bill here, sweet baby, that can just, carr' on home with you

Listen, sweet baby, you know I ain't no lyin' man, you ride my mule one time you'll want to ride him again
If you'll just ride my mule, I'll tell you what I really will do
I got a two-dollar bill here, sweet baby, that you can just, carr' on home with you

CODA

All best,
Johnm

 

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bo Carter recorded "You Better Know Your Business" on February 20, 1936 in New Orleans, accompanying himself out of A position in standard tuning. I'd very much appreciate corroboration or correction on the ending of the last line of the refrain here. Despite the recording being very clear, I'm having a hard time hearing or getting the sense of Bo's meaning. First I thought he was saying "nest", which made no sense, and then decided he must be shortening "business" to "'ness", but then I'm unclear as to whether the word that follows it is "wear" or "worry". So help is much appreciated.  Here is "You Better Know Your Business":



INTRO

Say, you strayed from home, baby, 'fore you's grown, you's runnin' and ribbin', wouldn't let other women's men alone
REFRAIN: Baby, you better know your business, say, you better know your business
I mean you better know your business, don't you want to live in this world here long

Say, you get a good man, then you won't treat him right, you lay around with other women's men at night
REFRAIN: Baby, you better know your business, baby, please know your business
I mean you better know your business, don't you want to live in this world here long

Say, you always goin', baby, in and out, tryin' to show other women's men just what you've got
REFRAIN: Baby, why don't you know your business, baby, please know your business
I mean you better know your business, don't you want to live in this world here long

SOLO

Say, you're flyin' high now, some day you will fly low, you get dog-bit, it'll be by old Fido
REFRAIN: Baby, please know your business, baby, please know your business
I mean you better know your business, don't you want to live in this world here long

Say, you taken exposing from your head to  your knees, next thing you know you'll have a case of the old TBs
REFRAIN: Baby, please know your business, baby, please know your business
I mean you better know your business, don't you want to live in this world here long

CODA

Edited 11/23 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm   

[David Kaatz]

John,
I think Bo is singing 'ere long, meaning "before long". So, mind your business before it wears you down.

I must comment, the quality of those recordings from this session in New Orleans is amazing. You can really hear the resonance of the room where Bo is singing. A wonderful natural reverb.

Dave

[Prof Scratchy]

I have terrible ears, even with mechanical assistance, but I hear ‘ mess win(d) you along’....

[banjochris]

Bo's singing "Don't you want to live in this world here long."
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Dave, Prof and Chris. I agree, Dave, the sound on that New Orleans session is amazing--such a live room, but warm, too, not harsh. I heard "mess" in the first place, too, Prof. I reckon Chris got it--once I heard "let" rather than "live" I was just going down the wrong path, both in terms of sound and sense. Thanks, Chris, for the catch, and I have made the change.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bo Carter recorded "Doubled Up In A Knot" on October 15, 1936 at that good-sounding room in the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans, accompanying himself out of DGDGBE tuning. I suspect Bo could knock out songs like this in a matter of minutes. Here is "Doubled Up In A Knot":



INTRO

Oh, down the river there's something new, It ain't nothin' to it, it ain't hard to do
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you got

Now listen here, baby, this is comin' to a test, we gon' see who's doubled in a knot the best
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you got

Now listen here, baby, this ain't no fun, double in a knot right, you'll always get my mon'
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you got

Say, you double in a knot, is the way, you can't make no money layin' straight these days
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you've got

SOLO

You can double in a knot or you can let it be, you won't hold your man, you see
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you got

Now listen here, baby, bear this in mind, you double in a knot right, you'll always have a dime
REFRAIN: You've got to double in a knot, oh, you double in a knot
I mean you double in a knot, and you give your daddy, all you've got

Says, the womens these days is trying' to learn something new, see if they can take your man from you
REFRAIN: They are doublin' in a knot, oh, they're doubled in a knot
I mean they're doubled in a knot, and they'll give your daddy, all they got

CODA

All best,
Johnm

   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Bo Carter recorded "I Love That Thing" at a session in New York City on June 4, 1931. He accompanied himself out of Vestapol tuning for the song, which is essentially a cover of "Tight Like That". Bo is joined on the track by the same lewd mystery commentator who did the talking on "Twist It, Baby". Here is "I Love That Thing":



INTRO

Now listen here, folks, gon' tell you the fact, my baby got somethin' that I sure do like
REFRAIN: Oh I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

Now it ain't no sugar, it ain't no cake, my baby got me some mighty good meat
REFRAIN: Oh I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

SOLO X 2 (Spoken: Oh baby, I love that thing. Ha ha ha. Oh, you know I love that thing. Baby, it's so good. Mama's so good, I love that thing. Ha ha.)

My baby got somethin', don't know what it is, when she let me down I can't be still
REFRAIN: Oh I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

My baby got somethin' like a stingeree, she can stand in Memphis put the jinx on me
REFRAIN: 'Cause I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

I went home last night, 'bout a-half past ten, I knocked on the door and she let me in
REFRAIN: Oh I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

SOLO X 2 (Spoken during solo: Oh baby, I love that thing. Heh, heh. Mama, I sure love that thing. Told you once before, Mama, I love that thing. Oh baby, sure is good. Mam', I love that thing!)

Now I told you once, I told you twice, when I get to lovin' want to love you right
REFRAIN: Oh I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

Now, listen here, baby, bear this in mind, I never gets tired of lovin' you all the time
REFRAIN: 'Cause I love that thing, I love that thing
I love that thing, tell the world I do

All best,
Johnm

 
   

[gmeyer]

"I'll get you a Graftonola (sic), a radio too"

I have listened to this line way too many times and have song various versions of what I have heard and what might make sense. 

Listening again, I distinctly hear two syllables after the word radio, like:

" a radio o' two"  for the more complete  " a radio or two"

Thanks Frankie for posting all these lyrics from your Done Gone site!