collapse

* Member Info

 
 
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
Once when singing in midtown Manhattan, a passer-by remarked that he played very much like Reverend Gary Davis, to which Gary replied that he knew Reverend Gary Davis quite well - Barry Kornfeld in Oh, What a Beautiful City

Author Topic: Frank Stokes Lyrics  (Read 96737 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline PattonsDaimon

  • Member
  • Posts: 10
  • Howdy!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #45 on: April 09, 2004, 02:07:56 AM »
Hi guys.  I've been playing this song for years.  I laugh almost every time I play it.  Anyway, I've always sung

"I once stole meat right out of Crump's furnace..."  I know it sounds strange, but perhaps it made more sense back then, especially to someone like Frank.  By the way, I play all of Frank's stuff.  His delivery is unmatched i think. 
"To be is to be the value of a bound variable." -- W.V. Quine

HardLuckChild

  • Guest
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #46 on: May 18, 2004, 01:03:29 PM »
Frank Stokes is great- I love his duets with Dan Sane, and I also really dig Frank's deep and archaic voice. "I Got Mine" is cool, and I'm in a desperate search to find the lyrics to the tune. The fiddle playing (by Will Batts) in "Right Now Blues" is awesome too. "Nehi Mama Blues" and "Downtown Blues" are gems! As far as lyrics go, I can understand what he's saying in most of his blues songs, but his less bluesy tunes, like "Mr. Crump Don't Like It," are often harder to decipher.

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #47 on: June 12, 2004, 07:47:18 PM »
Howdy:

My memory (what's left) rang a bell about a posting by HardLuckChild in the Frank Stokes lyrics thread that he was looking for the lyrics to "I Got Mine". Yust today I found an old scrap of paper with my stab at them that I did in the early '80's.

I can't post an .mp3 'cus the only copy I have of this song is on vinyl. I'm hopeing one of you others will be so kind



I Got Mine
Frank Stokes
Key of C

(1) Introduction

(2)Then I went down to a little crap game
Boys, that was against my will
I lost every penny that I had in my pocket but a greeback dollar bill
I turned my head (??), shake my shoulders, thinkin' I was way behind.
But just as I jumped in the kitchen door boys, I got mine

(Chorus)I got mine, boys, I got mine
Standin' 'round here tryin' git sumpin' good eat, all the time
Said ever since that I've been livin' high.
I've been livin' offa chicken and wine
But I belong to the knockdown society, but I got mine

(3) Now I went to church (???) was brought in
Tell me people all began to grin
Now think about the good times all would happen
Couldn't say exactly when.
So the mangot the turkey right by the neck
But I swong wrong behind
He might thought he had the whole barroom gone (???)

Chorus

(4) Then I went off to work one morning
That sumpthing I never did to me
While the people through the crack back in my old lady
Sittin' on some other man's knee
(???) rap across the head
"You've been fightin' your old lady, God darn your soul", but I got mine

(5) I went uptown to a little crap game
(???) assume police (???)
The man looked at me, never cracked a smile
I couldn't get this fella to a (???)
(Missing line?)
So he throwed the dice out on the floor
And the thing got fight like mine
But just as I (???) back door
I got mine


I have typed this old try without relistening to the song (which I can't find at the moment) so this could be pretty rough. I really like to play this one. (as you can see I usually make up my own words).

Thanks in advance for the help,
Alex
« Last Edit: July 13, 2020, 06:30:41 AM by Johnm »

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #48 on: July 02, 2004, 09:01:22 PM »
Hi all:

I finally found my copy of "I Got? Mine" (on vinyl) and tried to fix up the version I posted earlier. This is as far as I can take it with my ears. Again if anyone could post the .mp3, I'd be gratefull

I Got Mine
Frank Stokes
Key of C
Capo I

(1) Introduction

(2) Then I went down to the little crap game
Boys, that was against my will
I lost every penny that I had in my pocket but a greenback dollar bill
I turned my head (??), shake my shoulders, thinkin' I was way behind.
But just as I jumped in the kitchen door, boys, I got mine

(Chorus)
 I got mine, (boys) I got mine
(Standin') 'round here tryin' git sumpin' good eat, all the time
(Said)(Ever) since that I've been livin' high.
I've been livin' offa chicken and wine
(But) (Said) I belong to the (crab)? knockdown society, but I got mine

(3) Now I went to church,? was brought in
Tell me people all began to grin
Now think about the good times all would happen
Couldn't say exactly when.
So the man got the turkey right by the neck
But I swung wrong behind
He might thought he had the whole barroom gone but I got mine

Chorus

(4) Instrumental

(5) Then I went off to work early? one morning
That sumpthing they never did to me
While the people took the crack back in my old lady
Sittin' on some other man's knee
(???) bailey rap across my head and he jumped up and cryin'
"You've been fightin' your old lady, Dog gone your soul", but I got mine

(Chorus)

(6) I went uptown to a little crap game
(??? police (???)
The man looked at me, never cracked a smile
I couldn't get this fella to a (laugh ???)
So he throwed the dice out on the floor
And the thing got fight like nine
But just as I (???) back door
Lord, I got mine

Chorus


Thanks,
Alex
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 06:23:28 PM by Johnm »

Offline PattonsDaimon

  • Member
  • Posts: 10
  • Howdy!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #49 on: July 11, 2004, 12:08:25 PM »
Hi Alex.  I play this tune in dropped D, but C is good too.  Unfortunately, I don't have the recording with me right now, but the lyrics I sing are just about identical to the recording.  Here's how I do it:


Said I went down to the little crap game, lord that was against my will
I lost every penny that I had in my pocket but a greenback dollar bill
I turned my head, (be)gan to shake my shoulders, thinkin' I was way behind
But just as I jumped in the kitchen door boys I got mine

Chorus: I got mine, boys I got mine
Standin' 'round here tryin' to get somethin' good eat all the time
Said ever since that I've been livin' high, I've been livin' offa chicken and wine
Said I belong to the (crap) (knockdown) society but I got mine

Now when the turkey was brought in, suddenly people all began to grin
I was thinkin' 'bout the good times all would have, I coudn't say exactly when
So the man grabbed the turkey right by the neck, but I swung 'round behind
He might thought he had the whole bottle and gone, but I got mine

Chorus

Then I went off to work early one morning, that's somethin' never did suit me
I was peepin' through the crack, back in my old lady settin' onna some other man's knee
Well I rapped my baby rap across her head, and he jumped up and cryin'
"Ya even fightin' your old lady, doggone your soul" but I got mine

Chorus

I went uptown to a little crap game, heard some other police was playin'
That man looked at me never cracked a smile I couldn't get that fella to laugh
So he throwed the dice out on the floor, and the place got fightin' like nines
But just as the police jumped in the back door lord i got mine

chorus

As I recall, I think Paul Oliver hears "fowl" where I hear "bottle" in the second verse.  In my interepretation, he's talking about a bottle of Wild Turkey.  Whether or not this is even historically possible I don't know.  But I also know that Paul Oliver makes some other, more obvious, errors in his transcription.  I love Frank Stokes, and play most of his recorded output.  Good luck with the lyrics. 

"To be is to be the value of a bound variable." -- W.V. Quine

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #50 on: July 11, 2004, 11:16:14 PM »
Hi all:

With some help I have just figured out how to get cuts off my vinyl on to the computer and into . mp3. Only took 5 hours :-\. Next one should (will!) be much quicker. so here is I Got Mine.

Thanks for your version PD. Lots of good work.

Work was much more enjoyable thanks to Weenie Juke!

Alex



[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #51 on: July 19, 2004, 03:38:36 PM »
As I recall, I think Paul Oliver hears "fowl" where I hear "bottle" in the second verse.? In my interepretation, he's talking about a bottle of Wild Turkey.? Whether or not this is even historically possible I don't know.?

Hey PD:

I just looked at the Wild Turkey website, and according to them, the nickname "Wild Turkey" was given to this whiskey (which had been made since the late 1800's) only in 1940, a little too late for this reference in I Got Mine.

Anyway, Frank was nuts about fowl, so the included reference to a turkey would be right in character.

All for now,
Alex
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 06:24:49 PM by Johnm »

Offline PattonsDaimon

  • Member
  • Posts: 10
  • Howdy!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #52 on: July 22, 2004, 12:18:35 AM »
Thanks Alex,

I guess I've always peripherally suspected that my interpretation of that line was dubious.  I'm pretty certain that it would have been highly illegal to make Wild Turkey at the time anyway.  Thanks for the research. 
"To be is to be the value of a bound variable." -- W.V. Quine

Offline Cambio

  • Member
  • Posts: 172
  • Howdy!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #53 on: September 07, 2004, 08:09:02 AM »
My buddy Catfish used to do this song.? Frank and I were kicking it around this weekend and he told me I should post a reply to this thread.? Here goes:

Boy, you ever do anything like stealing chickens?

Now chicken, chicken, oh chicken,
You may go up in a balloon.
Chicken, chicken, you may hide behind the moon,
? dogone you now.
Chicken, I'll never let a fowl be.
Ten thousand dollar (re)ward for the fowl on earth,
He don't roost too high for me.

I got to thinkin bout chickens late last night, man I couldn't hardly rest.
I jumped out the bed, grabbed up my old shoes, started where some chicken was at.
I grabbed a big buckhorn, stuck him under my arm, some I never let fall.
I don't think I'll rob your hen house til I get your roost(er), poor chicken and all.

CHORUS

That chicken made me awful mad the dother night man, that's somethin I didn't like to taste.
I grabbed my little happysack, down crost my back, grabbed the chicken right by the neck.
Said I turned around, quick as I could, chicken all way up there.
I won't steal meat and bread, other cooked products, steal a chicken from anywhere.

CHORUS

That police rest me last Friday night, I couldn't think what it was about.
I was goin down the alley where I lived at, a lotta chicken tied in my house.
Say, you may carry me to the place that you want, I'll go to work out my time.
Just as quick as you put me on the L&N track, I'll have chickens on my mind

CHORUS


It hear happysack instead of haversack, which is the logical lyric, and I don't hear pennitentiary wall, I hear "place that you want".?
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 06:19:12 PM by Johnm »

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #54 on: September 07, 2004, 11:50:48 AM »
Cambio:

Very thought provoking post.

Chorus: I think you have it perfectly

1st Verse:
Line 1: late lasta night
Line 2: I hear "thought of" instead of "started where"
Line 3: I hear "I grabbed big buck ???", I just don't hear "horn" (although I have no alternative)
Line 4: I'd substitute "robbed" for "rob", "your" for "you" and "fo'" for "poor"

2nd Verse:
Line 1: could "taste" be "take"? Sort of makes more sense.
Line 2: I still hear "Haversack", not "Happysack"
Line 3: I would put an "a" between "could," and "chicken"
Line 4: Could this line be "I won't steal meat, bread outta Crump's fire, steal a chicken from anywhere"? However It could be exactly as you have it.

Verse 3:
Line 1: I would substitute "you" for "I"
Line 3: I hear the "n" sound on the "place that you want" and an "l" sound at the end, so I'll have to side with "pen'tentury wall"

Alex


Offline Bill Roggensack

  • Member
  • Posts: 551
  • Not dead yet!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #55 on: September 07, 2004, 01:29:34 PM »
For what it's worth, 'buckhorn' may be 'buckeye', which is actually a breed of chicken raised for its meat qualities as a roaster. Don't ask me why I know this.
Cheers,
FrontPage

Offline uncle bud

  • Member
  • Posts: 8306
  • Rank amateur
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #56 on: September 07, 2004, 05:39:54 PM »
My buddy Catfish used to do this song.? Frank and I were kicking it around this weekend and he told me I should post a reply to this thread.? Here goes:

I've put what I hear different from Todd's transcription in square brackets. Dang, we're close.



Boy, you ever do anything like stealing chickens?

Now chicken, chicken, oh chicken,
You may go up in a balloon.
Chicken, chicken, you may hide behind the moon,
? dogone you now.
Chicken, I'll never let a fowl be.
Ten thousand dollar (re)ward for the fowl on earth,
He don't roost too high for me.

I got to thinkin bout chickens late last night, man I couldn't hardly rest.
I jumped out the bed, grabbed up my old shoes, [thought o'] where some chicken was at.
I grabbed a big buckhorn, stuck him under my arm, some['in'] (as in something, sum'in) I never let fall.
I don't think I'll rob your hen house til I get your roost(er), poor chicken and all.

CHORUS

That chicken made me awful mad the dother night man, that's somethin I didn't like to taste.
I grabbed my little happysack, down crost my back, grabbed the chicken right by the neck.
Said I turned around, quick as I could, [a] chicken all way up there.
I won't steal meat and bread, [outta Crump's ???]? (I don't hear fire here), steal a chicken from anywhere.

CHORUS

That police rest me last Friday night, [you couldn't think-a what's it] about.
I was goin down the alley where I lived at, a lotta chicken tied in my house.
Say, you may carry me to the place that you want [walk?], I'll go to work out my time.
Just as quick as you put me on the L&N track, I'll have chickens on my mind

CHORUS

Quote
I hear happysack instead of haversack, which is the logical lyric, and I don't hear pennitentiary wall, I hear "place that you want".?

I think I hear happysack as well. Maybe it's a version of haversack? I'm not sure it's "penitentiary" wall after listening more. Could be. Could be what Todd wrote, or "walk" instead of "want."

Edited to add: after repeated listenings, I hear "I once steal meat and bread outta Crump's front", "penitentiary wall", and have a craving for chicken...
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 06:20:38 PM by Johnm »

Offline Cambio

  • Member
  • Posts: 172
  • Howdy!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #57 on: September 07, 2004, 08:23:10 PM »
I think the Crump thing is a reach.  I feel confident that it's "I won't steal meat and bread or other cooked products"

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: I Got Mine by Frank Stokes
« Reply #58 on: September 08, 2004, 09:40:44 AM »
Hi all:

While we're on the Frank Stokes theme, I wonder if we could give I Got Mine a try. The .MP3 is posted in the fourth post in this thread.

Thanks,
Alex

Offline GhostRider

  • Member
  • Posts: 1292
  • That'll never happen no more!
Re: Frank Stokes Lyrics????
« Reply #59 on: September 08, 2004, 03:41:05 PM »
Hi:

I think now that I hear happysack too.

What we need are more ears. How 'bout some of you recent joiners? How about taking a crack at this one. We obviously need the help!

Encouragingly,
Alex

 


anything
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal