Topic: Mississippi Sheiks Lyrics

[waxwing]

McTell uses it quite a bit: "You know howra poor man feels", etc. I heard  someone else do it very clearly on the juke today, but wasn't paying attention to who it was. I don't think it was very regional other than Southern Black, and I don't know for sure it wasn't used by whites as well. Any of you Old Time fans know of any instances?
All for now.
John C.

[Mark]

Thanks for the input everyone.  I listened again after reading Frank's comments and I agree with his interpretation.  Now all I need is time to put it all together ...

Mark.

[frankie]

A reharmonization that I hit on this weekend - looks weird, but sounds cool:

Eflat

When I find that river


     F          Aflat minor

That lazy, lazy river


Eflat             Bflat    Eflat

Then my life will be  complete

The II to minor IV looks weird, but sounds cool - more subtle than playing the major flat VI chord.  Totally nutty progression in any case.

[Bruno]

Dear all,
Could someone help me ? I am looking for the lyrics of the Mississippi Sheiks' song "He calls that religion". The tune in on the "Stop and Listen" album (Yazoo). I am a non native English speaker and my level is pretty low. I only get the words of the chorus and can't figure out the verses.



Thanks a lot in advance.
Bruno

[mr mando]

Bruno, I'm another non-english native speaker, but I googled up the following:

Well, the preacher used to preach
To try to stay atoned
But now he's preachin'
Just to buy jellyroll

Well, he calls that religion
Yes, he calls that religion
Well, he calls that religion
But I know he's goin' to hell when he dies

It was at a church last night
Had desire to be
The old preacher
Was tryin' to take my wife from me

Oh, he call that religion
Yes, he call that religion
Well, he called that religion
I know he's goin' to hell when he dies

Preacher always
He was a mighty true man
He gives his commence
And he couldn't understand

Well, he calls that religion
Yes, he called that religion
Well, he called that religion
I know he goin' to hell when he dies

(guitar & fiddle)

'Oh yes, he calls that religion'

He will swear he's keepin'
God's command
Have women fussin' 'n fightin'
All over land

And then he call that religion
Well, he calls that religion
Well, he called that religion
But I know he's goin' to hell when he dies

Therein the people
Stopped goin' to church
They know that preacher
Was tryin-a do too much

But still he called that religion
Still, he called that religion
Well, he called that religion
But I know he's goin' to hell when he dies

Old Deacon Jones
He was a preachin' King
They caught him 'round the house
Tryin-a shake that thing

Oh, he called that religion
Yes, he called that religion
Well, he called that religion
But I know he goin' to hell when he dies

'Oh yeah, he calls that religion'.


I haven't listened to that song in a while, so I can't comment on the accuracy of this transcription.

[uncle bud]

A few changes I'd make:

Well, the preacher used to preach
To try to stay atoned

To try to save souls

It was at a church last night
Had desire to be

(I) Was at a church last night
Happy as I could be

Preacher always
He was a mighty true man
He gives his commence

He gives his commands?
And he couldn't understand

He will swear he's keepin'
God's command
Have women fussin' 'n fightin'
All over land

All over the land

Therein the people
Stopped goin' to church
They know that preacher
Was tryin-a do too much

"Therein" is certainly an unusual word to come across in country blues. But that's what I hear too. I also hear "They knowed" as opposed to "They know".

This is a great Sheiks song.

Oh, and welcome to WeenieCampbell, Bruno!

[Bruno]

Thanks a lot to you Mr Mando and Uncle Bud,
It's clearly a good and funny song.
All the best
Bruno

[a2tom]

One of my favorite Sheiks tunes.  Totally cracks me up, and you can't help but sing along.  Then again, that's true of most of their songs...  Too Long is another favorite.

BTW, I'm not lyrics expert, but I get:

The reason the people stopped going to church

tom

[uncle bud]

BTW, I'm not lyrics expert, but I get:

The reason the people stopped going to church

This makes a lot more sense. Good ear.

[Bruno]

Hello,

I have another e-conversation with a fellow on Ari Eisinger's Acoustic Blues Message board and my correspondant is not convinced about the third verse:
Preacher always
He was a mighty true man
He gives his command
And he couldn't understand

After listening again to the song, I wonder if the verse couldn't be something like :
Preacher always
He was a mighty true mind
He gaves his commands
That couldn't [be] understand

What do you think ?

Bruno

[uncle bud]

Hello,

I have another e-conversation with a fellow on Ari Eisinger's Acoustic Blues Message board and my correspondant is not convinced about the third verse:
Preacher always
He was a mighty true man
He gives his command
And he couldn't understand

After listening again to the song, I wonder if the verse couldn't be something like :
Preacher always
He was a mighty true mind
He gaves his commands
That couldn't [be] understand

What do you think ?

I don't know that I'd trust that guy over on Ari's board. He's a slippery fellow.

Actually, he's right. The second couplet makes no sense to me. I think the original first two lines are correct but can't really say what the next two are, just they they sound like.

[a2tom]

I hear:

Preacher always he was a mighty true man
He gives his commands and/that he couldn't understand.

It has to be "man", not "mind", to rhyme with understand, I think (it's just drawled a little bit)

"that" makes more sense than "and", but I hear "and he"

"Commands" may not be the right word (especially since it would then be repeated in the song) but I can't come up with anything better.  Commence?  What's that?

This whole verse is a puzzler in that it doesn't seem to carry an obvious humorous payoff, unlike every other verse.  Most of it is plenty clear except that word "commands".  Perhaps it is wrong, and if we knew what the right word was it would be funnier!  What else would be giving that he couldn't understand, especially knowing that he's a mighty true man...

tom

[waxwing]

Seems to me the humorous implication would be that the preacher claims to be true, but then can't follow (understand) his own reading of god's (His) commands. As to what exactly the words are, I can't make any more out than any body else. I'll try to give another listen when I have time later.
All for now.
John C.

[a2tom]

Seems to me the humorous implication would be that the preacher claims to be true, but then can't follow (understand) his own reading of god's (His) commands.

ah!  Thanks John!  Duh!  All the difference a capitalization makes.

tom

[uncle bud]

I knew I'd seen a reference to this song somewhere recently in my reading, so checked Screening the Blues by Paul Oliver and sure enough there it was in the chapter called "Preaching the Blues", p. 51. Unfortunately, he discreetly leaves out the problematic verse. Thought you could sneak that one past us, eh Mr Oliver?  

The differences in the transcription here thus far in Oliver's text:

Verse 1. "save our souls" in the 1st verse. I disagree and don't hear "our".

Verse 2. "Went from the church last night, fast as I could be." Again, I disagree, and hear "Was at a church last night, happy as I could be."

He skips verse 3. Dang!

Verse 4. "He will swear he's meeting God's command". I hear "keepin God's command."

Verse 5. "They reckon the people stop going to church". Could be "reckon". Although I think "The reason" makes more sense.

The Oliver essay is fascinating, examining both devout and satirical approaches to religion in blues, medicine show songs and gospel songs. The whole book is great for that matter...