Topic: Lonnie Johnson Lyrics

[uncle bud]

For those who were in Ari Eisinger's Lonnie Johnson class at Port Townsend when we covered this song, I've grabbed the lyrics off the net for reference, though haven't checked them with the recording (which I need to get). I was trying to remember in class who else had done a version of this and had mentioned the Dallas String Band. My memory was correct for once - they recorded it as "So Tired" in December 1928.

Corny lyrics, but what a nice guitar part.



I'm So Tired of Living All Alone - Lonnie Johnson
March 1928
dropped D tuning


So tired of sighin?
So tired of cryin?
I?m so tired of livin? all alone

All my days seem weary
The skies seem dreary
And I?m all alone and where must I roam?

Although we have driftin? so far apart
My arm may be empty, have not gived up in my heart

I?m so tired of yearning
For the long returnin?
I?m so tired of livin? all alone

Although we are driftin? so far apart
My arms may be empty, have not gived up in my heart

I?m so tired of yearning
For the long returnin?
I?m so tired of livin? all alone

So tired of sighin?
So tired of cryin?
I?m so tired of livin? all alone

My days seem weary
All the skies seem dreary
I?m all alone and where must I roam?

Although we are driftin? so far apart
My arms may be empty, but never down in my heart

I?m so tired of sighin?
I?m so tired of cryin?
I?m so tired of livin? all alone

[Buzz]

Dear Andrew:

I did not go to Ari's classes, but still enjoyed his playing, and this post of the lyrics is great. I put on the tune, and followed along with  the words. Thanks, old pal...

PT was terrific fun for me. Again. Really liked your playing back in Wax's room  at  4 am those nites. All the hours of playing and getting into the great tunes you play, has really paid off, Andrew--you sound terrific on the guitar, and I really  l'ked listening to you play and sing.

Take care,
Buzz

[doctorpep]

I personally think that the Dallas String Band's recording of this song is a classic. I'm sorry to hear that you think the lyrics are a bit corny. I suppose that they are, but the great vocals from the Dallas String Band and Lonnie seem to diminish the corny-ness of the lyrics, at least for me. Great song!

[uncle bud]

I was just reminded of another version of this song by itunes shuffle mode, from a rather surprising source to me - Rev. Gary Davis. The song is totally Gary Davis-ized, with a nice guitar part (surprise, surprise) out of C position, and is one of those tunes where he puts on an act and hams it up, though not as over the top as he can be. Pretty laid back take on the song actually. A really nice version. It's available on the Demons and Angels boxed set, Disc 1.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Lonnie Johnson has a terrific cut on the JSP "Ain't Times Hard" set, entitled "Hard Times Ain't Gone Nowhere".  He sounds to be working out of his favorite DGDGBE tuning in D, and treads no new ground instrumentally, but his sumptuous sound serves him well and his vocal and lyrics are really strong.  It's worth seeking out, especially if you've not heard it before.  Here is Lonnie's performance.  And what an outro!



People is ravin' 'bout hard time, tell me what it's all about
People is holl'in' 'bout hard times, tell me what it's all about
Hard times don't worry me, I was broke when it first started out

Friends, it could be worser, you don't seem to understand
Friends, it could be worser, you don't seem to understand
Some is cryin' with a sack of gold under each arm, and a loaf of bread in each hand

When I had plenty money, I spent it on my so-called friends
When I had plenty money, I bought 'em the best whiskeys, wine and gin
Now, the sole of my shoes is thin, and I'll soon be on my feet again

If you a single man, you'd better drink and have your fun
If you a single man, you better drink and have your fun
'Cause when that love bug bites you, then your worries ain't never done

People ravin' 'bout hard times, I don't know why they should
People is ravin' 'bout hard times, I don't know why they should
If some people was like me, they didn't have no money when times was good

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I merged two threads on the lyrics of different Lonnie Johnson songs to do a "Lonnie Johnson Lyrics" thread.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Got The Blues For Murder Only", Lonnie Johnson was playing a 12-string guitar in DGDGBE tuning, in D position.  This is one weird set of lyrics, almost surreal, and Lonnie's flat affect makes it that much stranger.  He plays it perfectly straight, never suggesting a humorous intent.  In listening to the song, one considers the possibility that Lonnie Johnson may not have had first-hand experience of life in Mexico.  Gosh!  Here is the song:



INTRO

Down in old Mexico, where a child will slap your face
Down in old Mexico, where a child will slap your face
They make up bread with cayenne pepper, drink gun powder to kill the taste

Women down in Mexico is bad as bad can be
Women in old Mexico, they're bad as bad can be
They eats rattlesnakes for breakfast, and drink the rattlesnakes' blood for tea

Down in old Mexico their bed is made out of stones and trees
Bed is made out of stone trees, and the pillows out of rocks and stones
They got rattlesnakes for bodyguards, wildcats'll watch over 'em all night long

I'm goin' back to old Mexico, where there's long, long-reachin' guns
I'm goin' to old Mexico, where there's long, long-reachin' guns
When they want real excitement, they kill each other one by one

Down in old Mexico, where's everybody's wild and free
Down in old Mexico, where everybody's wild and free
'Cause over here in this country, they don't kill 'em fast enough for me

Down in old Mexico, where they kill 'em both night and day
Down in old Mexico, where they kill 'em both night and day
Where the Chief locks up the jailhouse and the judge goes home and stays

All best,
Johnm

[Prof Scratchy]

This was recorded in 1930, as was Bessie Smith's Black Mountain Blues. Wonder who got the idea first?

[Johnm]

Good point, Prof, and the inspiration may have come from somewhere else completely, that preceded Lonnie's and Bessie's songs.  I'm really weak on the recordings in the Classic Blues, and it seems like the notion of a thoroughly rough spot may have been introduced there somewhere.
All best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

interesting similarities. Bessie's Black Mountain Blues was recorded July 22nd 1930 and credited to one H. Cole.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I was recently requested to do a lesson Lonnie Johnson's "Life Saver Blues".  It seems most likely that he played it out of DGDGBE tuning, for he never hits a low root of his V7 chord in his rendition, and a lot of his bass work between the third of the I chord and the IV chord would be easier in DGDGBE tuning, but there is no absolutely conclusive place in the rendition that nails down either DGDGBE or Dropped-D tuning as the playing position/tuning.  It's an odd, sort of fanciful set of lyrics.  Here is Lonnie's performance:



INTRO

It's raining and storming on the sea, we're miles and miles from shore
It's raining and storming on the sea, we're miles and miles from shore
The way the waves is rocking this ship, we won't see home no more

The wind is so strong, turning this old ship 'round and 'round
These winds are so strong, turning this old ship 'round and 'round
Something tells me, won't be long before we're sinking down

The Captain say, "Get your life savers.  Fasten them around your waist."
Captain say, "Get your life savers and fasten them around your waist.
Because we're sinking down, and the life boat is your safest place."

The we floated all night long in the storm, lost, miles and miles from shore
And the water was freezing, and the rain begin to pour
I say, "Girls and boys, let's pray, 'cause we won't see home no more."

SOLO

Uncle Sam's ship was coming, painted in red, white and blue
Uncle Sam's ship was coming, painted in red, white and blue
We say, "We live in New York City, red and white, blue brought us all the way through."

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Lonnie Johnson - Why Women Go Wrong

November 2, 1939, Chicago

Lonnie Johnson - Guitar, Vocals
Joshua Altheimer - Piano (described by Big Bill Broonzy as "the best blues piano player I ever heard").





Man the reason why so many women has done gone wrong
The reason why so many good women done gone wrong
Just tryin' to find the love and happiness that they don't get at home

You can take your wife and put in a palace can dress her with diamonds on down
You can take your wife and put in a palace dress her with diamonds on down
But when the cat is always away the mice is bound to play around

If you men want a real happy home please take my advice
If you want a real happy home then please take my advice
Furnish your home with the love it needs and don't chase your best friend's wife

You can put your queen bee in a palace you can put her up on a throne
You can take your queen bee an' put in a palace you can put her up on a throne
But what good is a queen bee when the king bee is forever gone

I can be so sweet if you just will understand
Life can be so sweet if you just will understand
What do a woman's ways needs with her husband when she's chasin' some other man

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
Thanks for doing this song.  I think the tagline to the last verse is:

   What do a WOMAN'S WAYS needs WITH HER husband, when she's chasin' some other man

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John.

[Dr Pryor]

Hi,
I'm working on Lonnie Johnson's "She's making whoopee in hell tonight". It looks like these lyrics make no difficulty to decipher. I'd like to be sure about Line 3 of Verse 1 and, if that line is correct, could someone explain me the meaning?

Baby, you've been gone all day, set to make whoopee tonight
You've been gone all day, set to make whoopee all night
I'm gon' take my razor and cut your late hours, I will be servin' you right

The undertaker’s been here and gone, I gave him your height and size
Undertaker’s been here and gone, I gave him your height and size
You'll be makin' whoopee with the Devil, in hell tomorrow night

You made me love you, just got me for your slave
You made me love you, just got me for your slave
And from now on you'll be makin' whoopee in your lonesome grave

Devil got ninety thousand women, he just needs one more
Devil got ninety thousand women, he just needs one more
You’re just the type of woman for him, mama, you’re booked out and bound to go

I tol' you next time you go out, please carry your black dress 'long
Tol' you next time you go out, please carry your black dress 'long
'Cause a coffin will be your present, and hell will be your bran' new home

"cut your late hours": I will make your life shorter? I will keep you from going out (making whoopee) late at night? Else?
Thanks!

[Category:Lonnie Johnson]