Topic: J.T."Funny Papa" Smith's Lyrics

[Bunker Hill]

Re. Honey verse 2, I hear : "Goodbye honey if you call that gone, gonna take a ride with my high browns on", as in boots.

Hey Rivers:
I listened to this passage about 5X, and I still hear "in" at the beginning and "arms" at the end pretty clearly. What do the rest of you think?
Alex

It's a rule of mine to refrain from "me too" type responses but on this occasion I'm breaking it because that's what I've heard since the days of the Yazoo LP. So, m-e t-o-o

[GhostRider]

Hey:

Well, we're coming to the end of this little study of (IMHO) the best lyrics writer in the history of CB, Funny Papa Smith. "Before Long" is the last issued tune he recorded, on July 10, 1931, the same session in which he recorded "Seven Sister's Blues", which will be the last post in this thread.

"Before Long" is a pretty direct copy (melody-wise) of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell's "How Long, How Long Blues", which was recorded in 1928.

The guitar FPS used is even more out-of-tune than usual. The song contains two instrumental breaks, a first, and two repeats of the first verse (another first). The guitar accompanyment is pretty basic. Another evil woman blues.

I'll add the .mp3 and the tuning info tomorrow.



Before Long
1931

Standard tuning, Key of D

Instrumental introduction

1) Before long, before long,
I'm gonna make you greave and moan.
Before long, before long, baby 'fore long.

2) When I had money baby, you was good to me,
But now I'm broke and hungry and youse cruel as you can be.
But before long, before long, baby 'fore long.

3) Last night you called me a low down, dirty name.
Woke up Monday mornin', and done the same old thing.
But before long, 'fore long, baby 'fore long.

4)It won't be long, before the break o' day
Gimme my shirt and tie baby, I'll get out on my way.
But before long, you'll need me, yes, ba-baby 'fore long.

5) Instrumental break

6) Repeat Verse 1

7) You in good health now baby, and good and strong.
But before long, baby, you'll be down to skin and bone.
But, before long, before long, baby 'fore long.

Eight) I'm going now baby, kiss me goodbye.
I know you don't love me baby and I don't see how you cry.
But before long, you'll need me, baby 'fore long.

9) Instrumental break

10) Repeat Verse 1

11) Seem like I 'streated you to dog me all the time.
Look like it do you good somebody, the same (one that) saw me cryin'.
But 'fore long 'fore long, baby 'fore long.

Outro

Alex

Note: edited to reflect Pan, UB and dj corrections below

[GhostRider]

Hi:

Here's the .mp3 for "Before Long". Hope some of you can help with the parts of the lyrics I can't get.

Alex

[uncle bud]

Hey GR, a few more bits...

4)It won't be long, (?) the break of day
Gimme my shirt and tie baby, I'll get out on my way.
But before long, you'll need me, yes, baby 'fore long.

Tough verse to hear:

11) (?) treatin' you to dog me all the time.
Look like it do you good somebody (?) saw me cryin'.
Bur 'fore long, 'fore long, baby 'fore long.

[Pan]

Hi UB and Alex

Could the line in the 4th chorus be:

"It won't be long, before the break of day..." ?

Yours

Pan

[uncle bud]

Hi Pan,

It sounds more like " on the break of day".

cheers,
UB

[GhostRider]

Hey GR, a few more bits...

4)It won't be long, (?) the break of day
Gimme my shirt and tie baby, I'll get out on my way.
But before long, you'll need me, yes, baby 'fore long.

Tough verse to hear:

11) (?) treatin' you to dog me all the time.
Look like it do you good somebody (?) saw me cryin'.
Bur 'fore long, 'fore long, baby 'fore long.

I like these Verse 4 additions and have amended the post above.

I like these Verse 11 additions as well. I have added "the same one that" for the Verse 11 second line question marks.

I have no idea how to fill in the remaining two question spots. Can anyone else take a crack.

Alex

[dj]

I'd suggest:

4) It won't be long, well 'bout the break o' day

11)  Ain't like I treated you to dog me all the time

[GhostRider]

One last go round:

The last FPS tune I'd like to present the lyrics to is "Seven Sisters Blues", recorded during his last 1931 session, July 10, Lyrics-wise, this is one of the greatest CB tunes ever recorded (IMHO), very creepy.

"The Seven Sisters is a term used to indicate the constellation of the Pleiades -- but The Seven Sisters of New Orleans were a family of hoodoo women who lived and practiced in the Crescent City in the 1920s - 30s. Mentioned by several of Harry Middleton Hyatt's informants, they were said to have a house "by the water" and were popular enough to became the subject of a blues song by the Texas musician J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith." (Catherine Yronwode, keeper of
http://www.luckymojo.com/number7.html website, from which the lyrics beneath were lifted. In her post she mentions that the song was recorded Oct. 3, 1931, which does not agree with the Document disc info).

The song is performed in A, Standard tuning and has a similar guitar part to "Tell it to the Judge", "Mama, Quittin' and Leavin'", "Howlin' Wolf Blues", maybe not quite so fancy.

A great blues, great singing, lyrics, guitar. A must listen.




Seven Sisters Blues - Parts 1 and 2
1931

Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo I (A^#)

PART 1

1) They tell me Seven Sisters in New Orleans, that can really fix a man up right (x2)
And I'm headed for New Orleans, Louisiana, I'm travelin' both day and night.

2) I hear them say the oldest Sister look just like she's 21 (x2)
And said she can look right in your eyes and tell you just exactly what you want done.

3) They tell me they've been hung, been bled, and been crucified (x2)
But I just want enough help to stand on the water and rule the tide.

4) It's bound to be Seven Sisters, ('cause) I've heard it by everybody else (x2)
Course, I'd love to take their word, but I'd rather go and see for myself.

5) When I leave the Seven Sisters, I'll pile stones all around (x2)
And go to my baby and tell her, "There's another Seven Sister man in town."

6) Good morning, Seven Sisters, just thought I'd come down and see(x2)
Will you build me up where I'm torn down, and make me strong where I'm weak?

PART 2



1) I went to New Orleans, Louisiana, just on account of something I heard (x2)
The Seven Sisters told me everything I wanted to know, and they wouldn't let me speak a word.

2) (Now, it's) Sarah, Minnie, Bertha, Holly, Dolly, Betty and Jane (x2)
You can't know them Sisters apart, because they all looks just the same.

3) The Seven Sisters sent me away happy, 'round the corner I met another little girl (x2)
She looked at me and smiled, and said, "Go, Devil, and destroy the world."
[spoken] I'm gonna destroy it, too.
[spoken] I'm all right now.

4) Seven times a year the Seven Sisters will visit me (all)in my sleep (x2)
And they said I won't have no trouble, and said I'll live twelve days in a week.

5) Wanna go down in Louisiana, and get the hell right out of your bein' (x2)
These Seven Sisters can do anything in Louisiana, but you'll have to go to New Orleans.

BTW Steven Wirtz has done a great discography of FP Smith

http://www.wirz.de/music/smifpfrm.htm

I hope you've enjoyed this trip through FPS's work. I sure have enjoyed listening to these tunes a lot more intensively.

Alex

[Bunker Hill]

I hope you've enjoyed this trip through FPS's work. I sure have enjoyed listening to these tunes a lot more intensively.

Hey, when this this thread began it made me take the Yazoo LP from off the racks and reacquaint myself with FPS. That can't be no bad thing...thank you.

[GhostRider]

I'd suggest:

4) It won't be long, well 'bout the break o' day

11)  Ain't like I treated you to dog me all the time

dj:

I don't think the first of these is right, but the second (Verse 11) sounds good. I'll make the change.

Thanks,
Alex

[uncle bud]

I hope you've enjoyed this trip through FPS's work. I sure have enjoyed listening to these tunes a lot more intensively.

Alex

Hey, Alex nice job working your way through Funny Papa's stuff.

[Johnm]

Hi Alex,
I'd like to second Uncle Bud's congratulations for your work on this thread.  It is a great thing to get into someone's music so deeply.  Good for you.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

"Hard Luck Man Blues" is the only surviving track (why would someone record only 1 song) recorded in early November 1930.

3) I've got a woman in Seymour, one in Tyler, (don't) you know I'm feelin' blue (x2)
Leave what I'm in jail now on Chicago Avenue.

This is "I've got to leave but I'm in jail now on Chicago Avenue"

5) I've been in jail in Texas, been in jail in Alabama, been in jail in Louisiana, been in jail in Indiana.
I got a fool about women goin' jail down in Tennessee.
But the Chicago Avenue jail is too much jail for me.

This sounds like either "Actin' a fool about women got in jail down in Tennessee" or "I get a fool about women got in jail..."

[uncle bud]

Tell It to the Judge No.1

Spoken introduction (with guitar playing behind in parts)
Dessa: Who's that knockin' on my door?
FPS: Police officer. Open this door 'fore I shoot the knob off.
Dessa: Wait man, I'll let you in.
FPS: Where that booze at?

A minor point but I'm pretty sure he says "Where's" not "Where". It's not that audible but I believe it's there.

2) (Mama) You can lose your temper (mama), but please don't lose your head. (x2)
I'm gonna search this shack this mornin', come on and ( get ) this search warrent read.

come on and hear this search warrant read.

4)Last time I searched this shack (you know) I found a half a pint of gin (x2)
Now whats the meanin' of all this here liquor, call the wagon 'cus I'm gonna run you in.

Again a minor point, but he says "going to run you in" not gonna.

5) (Please) Give me a break, don't make me pay no fine (x2)
That judge ( darn don't like me ), 'cus I been here so many times.

Tricky. I am hearing "That judge'll darn now lynch me 'cause I been here so many times."