Hi all,
Bo Carter was once again joined by Walter Vinson on lead vocal for "Times Is Tight Like That", recorded on the same day in Jackson that the duo recorded "Same Thing The Cats Fight About". Bo once again accompanied this song with a flat pick in Bb position in standard tuning and every verse is similarly followed by an instrumental interlude. The second singer on this song does not sound like Bo to me--Bo's singing had a very distinctive timbre, and whoever joins Walter on vocals here doesn't sound like Bo, though the guitar playing is certainly his. Here is "Times Is Tight Like That":



INTRO

Listen here people, this song compose, times is hard and everybody knows
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

If you come to my house, just come across the field, if they don't bring a plow, bring the meat and meal
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

I worked all Summer and I worked all the Fall, got to take my Christmas in my overhalls [sic]
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Ten cent cotton and twenty cent meat, how in the world can a poor man eat?
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Listen here, men, I wanta tell you the fact, don't bring some money, says, "Don't you come back."
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Listen here, daddy, don't mean t'  rob and steal, takes little money, says to roll this wheel
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

When I was up and had plenty money, you was huggin' and kissin' and call me honey
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Now because I ain't got a dollar in my hand, wanta do your cookin' for another man
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Listen here, baby, give me one more chance, I'll bring you some money if I have to pawn my pants
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

Listen here, baby, times is so tough, I b'lieve the old woman got to sell this stuff
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

INTERLUDE

I ain't workin' 'cause times is tough, men ain't got no money, says to buy your stuff
REFRAIN: Oh, baby, times is tight like that

All best,
Johnm



 

Thanks for the suggestion, Blues Vintage. Re-listening, I'm pretty sure it is "splits".

Hi all,
Bo Carter recorded "Same Thing The Cats Fight About" at a session in Jackson on December 15, 1930, accompanying the song with a flat pick in Bb position in standard tuning. He was joined on the song by Walter Vinson, who sang lead as each verse began, with Bo responding halfway through the lines, and both men singing the refrain together. Bo inserts an instrumental interlude which does not follow the chord progression of the song between each verse. Here is "Same Thing Cats Fight About":



INTRO (Spoken, Bo: Boy, you know I laid down last night tryin' to rest my mind and I couldn't rest for them old cats fightin', all the time. I just had to get up and compose me a song about those cats.)

I laid down last night, tryin' to rest my mind, I couldn't rest for cats fightin' all the time, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE

Me and my gal, had a fight, we fussed and we quarreled all last night, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE

Because I love women and she loves men, that's the way this fight begin, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE (Spoken, Bo: Even now an old man'll fight about that.)

Uncle Jack was old, his hair was white, but he's still tryin' to fight, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE (Spoken, Bo: Even down to the horses'll fight about that.)

There is horses in the stall, tryin' to kick the other one through the wall, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE

Most all men gettin' jealous in mind, you can find them fussin' and squabblin' all the time, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

INTERLUDE (Spoken, Bo: Most all women now is doin' the mess-around, man.)

Most all women doin' the mess-around, you can find them doin' it all over town, about
REFRAIN: The same thing the cats all fights about

All best,
Johnm

Thank you David, very helpful!  I now googled 'Pitch a Boogie Woogie' to get some context.

 A dance originating in the blues...  Always good to know what I'm singing about    saves on embarrassment.


Thanks & Regards, Fos

Hi Forum, I'd appreciate it if anyone could fill in the question marks as i have listened hundreds of times and can't work out what he's singing. 

Thank you, Fos



I Can't Sleep At Night
Brownie Mcghee

I can't sleep at night, I can't even eat a bite
Cause the the woman I'm loving, just don't treat me right
She goes out  and ?_?_?  Every day and night
 
I love my woman its true, but her evil ways wont do
She's wild, she's woolly, mean as any girl can be
Well the more i try to love her, the less she cares for me

She stays out late at night, drinking her gin
She keeps time with other men
She'll get mad with me if i say sweetheart where you bin
I'm going to ?_?_?  if i catch her out again

I love my woman its true, but her evil ways wont do
She's wild, she's woolly, mean as any girl can be
Well the more i try to love her, the less she cares for brownie mcghee

Thats why I cant sleep at night, I cant even eat a bite
Cause the the woman i'm loving, she just dont treat me right
She goes out and ?_?_? every day and night