Topic: Ragged But Right-Riley Puckett Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I found this version of Riley Puckett doing "Frankie and Johnnie", recorded August 23, 1939, with an unusual ensemble--greasy accordion, very active mandolin and guitar.  Riley was in fine voice, as always, but it's a bit hard to hear his guitar.  Here is the performance:



Frankie and Johnnie were sweethearts, oh Lord, how they did love
Swore to be true to each other, just as true as the stars above
Lord, he was her man, he wouldn't do her wrong

Frankie went down to the corner, she called for a bottle of beer
She said, "Mr. bartender, has my lovin' Johnnie been here?
He's my man, he wouldn't do me wrong."

"I don't want to cause you no trouble, I ain't gonna tell you no lie.
I saw your lover about an hour ago with a girl named Nellie Frye.
If he's your man, Lord, he's doin' you wrong."

Frankie peeped over the transom, she saw, to her surprise
A-there on the couch sat Johnnie, makin' love to Nellie Bly
He was her man, he was doin' her wrong

Frankie drew back her kimono, pulled out a little .44
Rooty-toot-toot, three times she shot, right through that hardwood door
Lord, she shot her man, but he'd done her wrong

"Bring out your rubber-tired buggies, also your double-seated hacks
Takin' my baby to the graveyard, but it sure won't bring him back
Lord, he was my man, but he done me wrong."

"Bring out a thousand policemen, bring 'em around mid-day
Lock me down in that dungeon cell and throw the key away
I shot my man, but he'd done me wrong."

Frankie said to the jailer, "What are they going to do?
The jailer, he said to Frankie, "It's just electric chair for you.
You shot your man, but he'd done you wrong."

This story has no moral, this story has no end
This story just goes to show that there ain't no good in men
Lord, he was her man, he wouldn't do her wrong

All best,
Johnm


 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Riley Puckett's version of "Chain Gang Blues" is of the same family, at least with regard to its text, as "Little Sadie".  Puckett's song has a much less spooky or lonesome-sounding melody, and in fact, his jolly tune belies the seriousness of the song's tale.  He backed himself out of C position for the song, and here it is:



INTRO

Late last night when I made my rounds
Spied my woman and I hunt her down
Went right home and I got my gun
Shot my woman and away I run

Got up next morning at the risin' of sun
I got up and I started to run
I made a good run, a-but I run too slow
I got overtaken down in Jericho

Standin' on the corner readin' my Daddy's will
Up stepped a man, they call him Bad Texas Bill
He said, "Mister, well ain't your name Brown?
You look like the rascal shot your woman down."

I said, "Mister, my name is Heed,
You got any papers, just read 'em to me."
He said, "Kansas City wants you under arrest.
Come on, Lee, the judge will tell you the rest."

The day I got arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on the train and they brought me back
I had no baby for to go my bail
They landed me over in that county jail

Early one mornin', 'bout half past nine
I spied that old turnkey comin' down the line
I thought I heard him when he cleared up his throat,
"Lee, get ready for that great big court."

'Bout twenty-five minutes, out stepped a man
He held a verdict in his right hand
That verdict read, "Murder, in the first degree"
I hollered, "Lordy, have mercy on me!"

I seen that old judge, when he reached for the pen
"Ninety-nine years in that Flat-top Pen.
Forty-four feet down under the ground
Remember the night you shot your woman down?"

Me being nervous, all through the end
I seen the old judge, when he reached for the pen
I seen the judge when he reached for the pen, he said,
I don't b'lieve you'll ever kill a woman again."

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Riley Puckett's version of "Poor Boy" is really a beauty, in waltz time.  He accompanies himself out of F in standard tuning and is joined by a harmony singer for the refrains that follow the odd-numbered verses.  Unfortunately, I can't find it on youtube so I can't post it here.  I'm currently away from my Tony Russell book, so I don't know the harmony singer, but I'll find it when I get home and post it. EDITED TO ADD: It appears the harmony singer on "Poor Boy" was Red Jones.



As I sit down at the gambling game
I could hardly play my hand
Thinking about that woman I love
Run away with another man

Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
Thinking about that woman I love
Run away with another man

I bought everything she need
I dressed her up so fine
She caused me to work just forty long years
And I've still got ninety-nine

I still got ninety-nine, poor boy
I've still got ninety-nine
She caused me to work just forty long years
And I've still got ninety-nine

They took me down to the old jailhouse
The door, they slammed on me
"If you report that moonshine still
I'll see that you go free."

I'll see that you go free, poor boy
I'll see that you go free
If you report that moonshine still
I'll see that you go free."

They took me back to the old courthouse
My name, they wrote it down
They turned me over to the deputy sheriff,
"You're now penitentiary bound."

"You're now penitentiary bound, poor boy,
You're now penitentiary bound."
They turned me over to the deputy sheriff,
"You're now penitentiary bound."

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I just found this version of "The Longest Train", recorded by Riley Puckett in 1938, and accompanying himself out of F position in standard tuning. I love how unadorned this version is, and when you're able to sing like Riley Puckett could, instrumental fireworks would just be a distraction. Here is "The Longest Train":



The longest train I ever saw was on that Choctaw line
The engine passed at six o'clock, and the cab come around at nine

The purtiest girl I ever saw, lived down that railroad track
Red rosy cheeks and blue eyes fair, and the curls hung down her back

"Little girl, little girl, what have I done, that you must treat me so?
You taken my clothes and throwed 'em outdoors, and me, no place to go."

My darling was killed last Friday night, just a half a mile from town
Her head was laying in the carbox floor, and her body has never been found

The longest train I ever saw was on that Choctaw line
The engine passed at six o'clock and the cab come around at nine

All best,
Johnm