Topic: Whistlin' Alex Moore Lyrics

[dj]

I spent some time this weekend listening to Whistlin' Alex Moore, and thought some of his lyrics were worth posting here.

Moore was born in Dallas Texas in 1899, which made him 30 years old at his first session, which took place in Dallas on December 5, 1929.  "West Texas Woman" was the second song Moore recorded at this session and was one side of the first record released from it.  The lyrics tell a cohesive story, with some distinctive vocabulary.  The first two lines of every verse are always exactly identical, suggesting that "West Texas Woman" was a well-rehearsed part of Moore's repertoire.  Moore accompanies himself on piano in C, standard tuning.     Here is "West Texas Woman":



I met a woman in West Texas, she had been left out there all alone
I met a woman in West Texas, she had been left out there all alone
Out by the hooking cow crossing, where I wasn't even known

She fell for me a raggedy stranger standing in the drizzling rain
She fell for me a raggedy stranger standing in the drizzling rain
She said "Daddy I'll follow you though I don't know your name"

We snugged close together, muddy water 'round our feet
We snugged close together, muddy water 'round our feet
No place to call home, wet, hungry, an' no place to eat

She said "I care for you daddy, but I love no man better 'n I do myself"
She said "I care for you daddy, but I love no man better 'n I do myself"
"But I have a mind to care, a heart to love like anyone else"

The wolves howled 'til midnight, wild ox moaned 'til day
The wolves howled 'til midnight, wild ox moaned 'til day
The man in the moon looked down on us but had nothing to say

I'm not sure about the [hooking cows crossing].  Can anyone offer a better suggestion?

 

[Johnm]

Hi dj,
Thanks so much for posting this.  I've not heard the performance and so can't speak to the line you were wondering about, but have heard Alex Moore described as an excellent lyricist, and based on your transcription, I can see why.  Thanks, and I'd be very interested in seeing more of Alex Moore's lyrics.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

I'll have to listen to the tune, but the line you question does remind me of the John Hurt song entitled Cow Hooking Blues.

[banjochris]

dj--

I think the line is "Out by the hooking cow crossing" -- perhaps a place where cows would cross railroad tracks or somewhere like that. I found, for what it's worth, an old newsgroup posting via Google that "A hooking cow is one who will go for you with his horns and try to hook you with them. This is different from butting."
Chris

[dj]

You've got it, Chris.  Thanks.  I'll make the change.

[dj]

"It Wouldn't Be So Hard" was the other side of Whistlin' Alex Moore's first record.  It was recorded the day after "West Texas Woman".   Moore accompanies himself on piano in C with probably Blind Norris McHenry playing chords and bass runs on guitar in standard tuning.  I love that first verse!  Here is "It Wouldn't Be So Hard":



I get up early every morning to toil the whole day through
I get up early every morning to toil the whole day through
Baby it wouldn't be so hard if I was getting up from beside of you

I'm so lonesome without you baby I can't be satisfied
I'm so lonesome without you baby I can't be satisfied
Aren't you a little lonesome for me too, so we can both be pacified

Your hugs are so shocking, your eyes tell me yes
Your hugs are so shocking, your eyes tell me yes
And you don't story me, that's what makes my happiness

I'm not lying baby, your way is really mine
I'm not lying baby, your way is really mine
And if I don't see you soon, I'll be found trying

Back, back to Dallas, I've got to be on my way
Back, back to Dallas, I've gotta be on my way
I'm gonna let that Texas Special drive me in southern USA

Right or wrong I must be with my little southern Choctaw
Right or wrong I must be with my little southern Choctaw
I don't know that she loves me, but still she calls me her South Pa

"South Pa" is pronounced as "southpaw", either interpretation could make sense.
   

[Johnm]

Well dj, this is certainly another winner from Alex Moore.  There is much to admire here, but I particularly like, "you don't story me".  Perhaps the conventional meaning of "southpaw" makes sense in the last verse if Alex Moore was noted for being left-handed.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

Thanks for pointing out that "southpaw" could make sense, John.  I'll amend my comment.

One side of Whistlin' Alex Moore's second record was "Ice Pick Blues".  It was the fourth song recorded on Alex's first day in the studio on December 5, 1929.  Alex accompanies himself on piano in the key of Bb.  It's interesting to note that while Moore's first record was apparently credited to Whistlin' Alex Moore, his whistle didn't appear on record until his second release.  Here is "Ice Pick Blues":



I thought my woman had the blues, she looked so worried and sick
I thought my woman had the blues, she looked so worried and sick
Come to find out in her bosom she's carryin' an old ice pick

Well she wasn't sick, I could see trouble in her eyes
Well she wasn't sick, I could see trouble in her eyes
She want to stick me with that ice pick, Lord and I don't know why

Half a pint in one hand, cigarette between her lips
Half a pint in one hand, a cigarette between her lips
Tryin' to get that ice pick out with her fingertips

Whistled verse

Why don't you go to bed woman and put that old ice pick down?
Why don't you go to bed woman and put that old ice pick down?
From room to room squabblin' half the night in your gown

[Coyote Slim]

What great lyrics!  No I gots to hear the man hisself!

[dj]

"Heart Wrecked Blues" was the other side of Whistlin' Alex Moore's second record.  Chronologically, it was recorded immediately before "Ice Pick Blues" and, like that song, features Moore accompanying himself on piano in Bb.  When you think of it, this really seems like a follow-up to "Ice Pick Blues".  Here is "Heart Wrecked Blues":



Like in a raging storm and the captain on the deck
Like in a raging storm and the captain on the deck
My poor heart's bleeding and my mind's all wrecked

I think it's unfair to love and not be loved
I think it's unfair to love and not be loved
I think it means beware when you kiss and can not hug

There's no heart in life unless you understand
There's no heart in life unless you understand
There's no heart in marrying someone just because you can

Whistled verse

This morning a year ago, baby, I was with you
This morning a year ago, baby, I was with you
This morning I'm without you, Lord that's why I'm so blue

Hatred is self-punishment, forgiveness is better than revenge
Hatred is self-punishment, forgiveness is better than revenge
There's no heart in finding love, all to lose and none to win
   

[dj]

"Blue Bloomers Blues" was one side of the third and last record released from Whistlin' Alex Moore's first set of sessions.  Alex Moore is accompanying himself on piano in C while Blind Norris McHenry does chords and bass runs on a guitar in standard tuning.

"Blue Bloomers Blues" is just an exceptional lyric.  The first, third, and fifth verses are particularly good.  Here is "Blue Bloomers Blues":

 

Women winkin' and wigglin' at me, some other men they'll tease
Women winkin' and wigglin' at me, some other men they'll tease
While I'll sit down beside one and scratch her on her knees

She said "Come an' go home with me, Daddy, I stay all by myself"
She said "Come an' go home with me, Daddy, I stay all by myself"
I asked her would she give me carfare, she said "Yes, and anything else"

While standing at the car line, reckon what that ol' woman done
While standing at the car line, reckon what that ol' woman done
She hugged and kissed me, then bit me on my tongue

I asked her to give me what mama did when I was three months old
I asked her to give me what mama did when I was three months old
She said "I'll make you a sugar tit, Daddy, I can't stand that to save my soul"

I said "I believe I'll go" and raised up out of my chair
I said "I believe I'll go" and raised up out of my chair
She pulled off them blue bloomers and said "You ain't goin' nowhere"

Next morning she said "Daddy, I hope you'll be in good humor"
Next morning she said "Daddy, I hope you'll be in good humor"
I said "Providing, Baby, I tie the string in them blue bloomers"
   
Edited to correct final line of second verse.

[Johnm]

You're right, of course, dj.  These lyrics are perfectly amazing.  What is it about Texas pianists?  Between Alex Moore and Curtis Jones, you've got more great lyrics than with 9 or 10 of most other blues singers.  "Unfair" in a blues lyric?  Wow!  "Hatred is self-punishment"--Alex Moore was quite the aphorist.  "You ain't going' nowhere" has an extra good ring in "Blue Bloomer Blues".  I've been meaning to get the Arhoolie Alex Moore recordings forever.  Now I can see I have to spring for them.  Thanks again for posting these--they are terrific.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

"They May Not Be My Toes" was the other side of the last record released from Whistlin' Alex Moore's first trip to the recording studio.  After this session, the Depression would hit in earnest and Alex Moore wouldn't record for another 8 years.  The accompaniment is just Moore's piano, in C.  This was the first song Alex Moore ever recorded, which could be taken to imply that it was his most popular piece.  But in spite of a great opening line and some other really good lyrics, it seems to be the most disorganized of the first set of songs that Moore recorded.  Here is "They May Not Be My Toes":



Girl they may not be my toes, the toes that be sticking out where I used to lay
They may not be my toes, the toes that be sticking out where I used to lay
Don't get so [pat] on your job, all the women turning men every day

'Cause when he stay out from you 'til midnight I know it makes your heart ache
'Cause when he stay out from you 'til midnight I know it makes your heart ache
Because all of that pool hall life, oh you must be some carefree candidate

Piano solo

Misusin' your good woman to fill some other weekday
Misusin' your good woman to fill some other weekday
You're gonna wish you had her back, then whose, whose mistake?

She go to work every morning, sometimes he sleep 'til noon
She go to work every morning, sometimes he sleep 'til noon
Instead of packing fare, she makes a touchdown in some serving room

I'm not sure about "pat" in the first verse.  Any suggestions or corrections are welcome.

[dj]

After a seven year hiatus, Alex Moore Returned to the recording studio on February 18, 1937.  He had a new record company, Decca, and a new name, Alex Moore - the "Whistlin'" had been dropped somewhere along the line.  But the first song he recorded, and one side of the first record released from the session, was an old favorite:  "Blue Bloomer Blues".  Moore played the song in F this time out, and was accompanied by an unknown guitarist (possibly Andrew Hogg or Blind Norris McHenry) who strummed chords, and an unknown jug player.  This version of the song was remarkably similar to the original, except that the last verse of the original was dropped and the penultimate verse of the original was significantly changed.  I hope readers don't mind if I transcribe the entire song here, but I think it's fascinating how much the first four verses have remained constant.  With this much stability in the first four verses, it seems highly likely that the final verse was purposefully reworked and not just misremembered.  But to my mind, Moore has taken one of the best blues verses I've ever heard and made it much more mediocre.

Women winkin' and wigglin' at me, some other men they'll tease
Women winkin' and wigglin' at me, some other men they'll tease
While I'll sit down beside one and scratch her on her knees

She said "Come go home with me, Daddy, I got to stay by myself"
She said "Come go home with me, Daddy, I got to stay by myself"
I asked her would she give me carfare, she said "Yes, and anything else"

While standing at the car line, reckon what that ol' gal done
While standing at the car line, reckon what that ol' gal done
I said she hugged and kissed me, and bit me on my tongue

I asked her to give me what mama did when I was three months old
I asked her to give me what mama did when I was three months old
She said "I'll make you a sugar tit, Daddy, I can't stand that to save my soul"

She pulled off them blue bloomers, begin to whine and frown
She pulled off them blue bloomers, begin to whine and frown
I said "Soft, soft, Jersey, let your Jersey milk come down"
 

[dj]

The second song recorded at Alex Moore's 1937 session, and the other side of the first record released from the session, was a remake of "It Wouldn't Be So Hard" titled "Come Back Baby".  As in the remake of "Blue Bloomer Blues", Moore is now playing in F with an unknown guitarist chording along.  There's some great singing in this version of the song, especially in the first line of the fourth verse where Alex grabs the "you" and holds it for 3 beats.  Moore somewhat makes up for his weakening of the "Blue Bloomer" lyrics with an absolutely fantastic line here: "Your hugs were so shocking and it was a mess when you were undressed"!  Here is "Come Back Baby":



I get up every morning to toil the whole day through
I get up every morning to toil the whole day through
Baby it wouldn't be so bad if I was sleeping beside of you

Baby come back home, I'll see that you'll be satisfied
Baby come back home, I'll see that you're satisfied
Because I'm lonesome without you and want to be pacified

Your hugs were so shocking and it was a mess when you were undressed
Your hugs were so shocking and it was a mess when you were undressed
I don't need no tellin' because you've got my happiness

I'm not lying baby, you really mine
I'm not lying baby, your way is really mine
And if I don't see you soon, I'll sure be found tryin'

When I'm makin' up the bed, Lord how I think of you
When I'm makin' up the bed, Lord how I think of you
Won't you hurry home darling, so I won't be blue