Topic: Sam McGee Lyrics

[banjochris]

Listened again Bruce and you're right for sure!
Chris

[Johnm]

I re-listened, and I believe you've got it, Bruce. It's pretty neat the way Sam supplied instructions for assembling a hot dog. I'll make the change. Thanks!
All best,
John

[Johnm]

Hi all,
While we're at it, I'd very much appreciate corroboration/correction of what I have for Uncle Dave Macon's spoken commentary of Sam McGee's original recording of "Knoxville Blues", played in Vestapol tuning and recorded on April 17, 1926 in New York City. Sam was later to record the first tune in the medley in a separate version, and likewise the second tune, for Mike Seeger in 1957. He called the first tune "Guitar Waltz" and the second one "Knoxville Blues". Here is the original recording:



Spoken, by Uncle Dave Macon: Hello folks. Talk about hot air and wind, I'm gonna give you something real, now. I'm right from the Windsor Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee. Let's go! (Sam plays first tune, finishes it.) Well people, I took a ride on the underground car yesterday, and the side doors, the ways they run the folks in there, orta [sic; “oughta”] like being like livestock, just poles to punch ‘em around with. Fare thee well! Just can’t hold myself! Lord, Lord! Tell mama. Lord, Lord! Just so loose. Bridle that mule! All the way and back! Sure want no dinner. I’m clean gone! All the way. Change your side.

Edited 3/25 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm 

[David Kaatz]

Sounds good to me John, but your link isn't working. Just a pasting error I think. Try this:

[Johnm]

Thanks for the heads up, Dave. I fixed it.
All best,
John

[banjochris]

Couple suggestions, John –

There's another Lord, Lord! after Tell mama

I think "Just for Lou" might be "Just so loose"

Should be "All the way AND back" – a square dance instruction

And "CHANGE your side" – another dance call


Also, there's an alternate take of "Knoxville" that I only have on the Old Homestead LP of the McGee's 78s and Uncle Dave is a little less tongue-tied during his speech in the middle of the tune, plus of course the calls are different. I went ahead and transcribed it – I did manage to find a video of the alternate on YouTube as well, which I'll post underneath.

Hello folks. Talk about hot air and wind, Gonna give you something real, now. I'm right from Knoxville, from the Windsor Hotel. Let her go! (Sam plays first tune, finishes it.) Well folks, I took a ride on a underground car yesterday, and the way the folks run on there, only difference between them and stock, the man didn't need a pole to punch 'em around with. Tell mama! Clean gone! Rare back! Ain't that the truth? Steppin' forward now. Take your time! Lord, lord! Clean gone again! Just can't he'p it! Just as easy!

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris, I re-listened, and all of your suggestions sound spot on to me. It's funny--I like instrumentals with spoken commentary, but in almost all instances, only if the player is delivering the commentary him/herself. The only ones I can think of where I really like commentary delivered by someone other than the player are William Moore's "Old Country Rock" and "Barbershop Rag". Even Uncle Dave, whose spoken commentary on his own songs I always enjoy, in this instance I pretty much just find annoying. Among the worst I can think of are the spoken commentary on "Bibb County Grind", and pretty much all of Bob Wills' "Ah-ha"s  and other spoken comments--yech!
That having been said, I'm happy to get it right--so thanks again, and I will make the changes.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

I kinda like Bob Wills, but he does lay it on a bit thick sometimes. I really hate it when other western swing folks think they need to do that! And oh God, that "Bibb County" – I totally agree with you, something about that guy's voice drives me nuts!

[Blues Vintage]

One further suggestion for the weenie verse in "Easy Rider";

weenie in the middle and mustard on the top

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Harry! I have made the change.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sam McGee recorded "Chevrolet Car" at the same session at which he recorded "Easy Rider", and as with "Easy Rider" he accompanied himself on banjo-guitar, this time working out of G position in standard tuning, capoed up. He sure was a ripping player! The melody was later used for "Deep Elum Blues" by the Prairie Ramblers. this song belongs in the old "product placement" thread. Here is "Chevrolet Car":



INTRO SOLO

Well, I have a little car, and-a it's a Chev'olet, it's better than the Dodge or a Ford coupe
I would swear my name to this good fact: she's the next car now to a Cadillac
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout my Chev'olet

INTERLUDE AND SOLO

I got in my car one Sunday morn, I stepped on the starter and I blowed the horn
I pulled down the spark and I give 'er the gas, said, "Look down, boys, and let me pass."
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout my Chev'olet

INTERLUDE

Well, I give the Chev'olet a whole lot of praise, she burns up the gas without a blaze
She will make thirty miles on a gallon of gas, so the Chev'olet car is the best that lasts
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout my Chev'olet

INTERLUDE AND SOLO

The Chev'olet car is all okay, the Chev'olet car is taking the day
When your hair turns gray and your head gets bald, you will see the Chev'olet will beat them all
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout my Chev'olet

INTERLUDE

The Chev'olet car, she is so keen, the prettiest little car that I've ever did seen
She is worth her weight in silver or gold, she's the best little car that's ever been sold
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout my Chevrolet

INTERLUDE

If you want to win a sweetie, I will tell you what to do, just drive your Chevy down Fifth Avenue
Well, the Chev'olet motor, she hums like a bee, you can have the other car but let my Chevy be
REFRAIN: I love my baby, but crazy 'bout the Chev'olet

CODA

Edited 4/4 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

4.2  "gets" and "turns" got reversed somehow.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Blues Vintage. I have made the change.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Sam McGee recorded "The Ship without A Sail" at the same session at which he recorded "Easy Rider" and "Chevrolet Car", switching to guitar to accompany himself out of C position in standard tuning. The song plays around with the listener's expectation of rhymes which never arrive or surprise. Hang around for the surprise ending. Here is "The Ship Without A Sail":



INTRO

A man without a wife, a ship without a sail
But the funniest thing I've ever saw was a shirt without a collar button
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE

Old Mother Hubbard she went to the cupboard to get her poor daughter a dress
And when she got there, the cupboard was bare, and so was the daughter, I guess
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE

An old maid went to take a trip, her maiden name was Honey
She fell out of the jitney bus, of course she broke her journey
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE

My brother said if he ever would marry he'd never marry for riches
He'd marry a girl 'bout six foot tall so she couldn't wear his necktie
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE AND SOLO

The girl sat on the Brooklyn Bridge, and oh, she had to shiver
She sneezed so hard her hat flew off and the wind blew up the river
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE

My wife, she made a lot of tarts , she made them out of jelly
She made about a dozen or two for me to put in my knapsack
REFRAIN: Hi-deedle-dih-diddle-dih-dum-dih-dum-dih-dum

INTERLUDE AND SOLO

FREAK-OUT

Edited 4/6 to pick up correction from Johnm

All best,
Johnm

 

[banjochris]

Just a little note to add that Sam's solo on that before the FREAK-OUT 😂 is the second strain of "Sam McGee Stomp" on his Arhoolie record from the '60s if anyone wants to hear it a little clearer or slower.
Chris