Topic: Blind Boy Fuller Lyrics

[Johnm]

It's because I had the first two lines of the second verse correct originally, and changed them both back to "Now just tell me" at the front end. I picked up Harry's "and" beginning a line near the end of the song. I also in the second verse corrected "plum"--Fuller sang "from" both times.

[David Kaatz]

I thought "from" was correct, then re-listened. It could be "plum", it's really hard to discern. Same with the "I want you to tell me" vs "Now just tell me".
If I was singing it, I would certainly prefer the fewer syllables of "Now just tell me".

Dave

[Johnm]

He definitely never says "to" at the front end of either of the first lines, and he pronounces "from" more like "f'om". Those front ends are right as they are.

[banjochris]

John, listening to "Sugar Plum," I have to agree with Harry on both of those beginnings for 2.1 and 2.2. The first time he sings "I want you tell me mama" and the second time he sings "I want you to tell me, sugar." He swallows the "to" quite a bit, in fact he's swallowing all of those words a bit, but it's there.
Chris

[Johnm]

Well, if more than one close listener hears it, I re-listen, and I finally heard it. Good on you, Harry and Chris, that is some seriously twisted pronunciation. I will make the changes. Thanks!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Boy Fuller recorded "Stingy Mama" at a session in New York City on July 12, 1937, accompanying himself out of A position in standard tuning. When he starts his intro solo, you can't really tell whether he is playing in A or C until he goes to the IV chord in the fifth bar, at which point the key center becomes clear. Fuller recorded essentially the same song later the same year, calling it "Mojo Hidin' Blues" then. Here is "Stingy Mama":



INTRO SOLO

Stingy mama, don't be so stingy with me, I says
Stingy mama, don't be so stingy with me
Says you's a good little girl, Lord, you so stingy with me

Throw your water, out your pitcher, mama, let your bowl go dry
Throw your water out your pitcher, let your bowl go dry
Said I want some of your lovin', mama, just before you die

Says my babe, got a mojo, and she won't let me see
Says my babe got a mojo, she won't let me see
One mornin' 'bout four o'clock she, eased that old thing on me

Now, mama, now, ma, you can't keep that mojo hid
I say hey, hey, mama, can't keep that mojo hid
'Cause I got something, mama, just to find that mojo with

Now my mama, lent me something, called that old stingeree
Hey, mama lent me something, called that stingeree
Says, I done stung my little woman, and she can't stay away from me

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[GhostRider]

John:

In the last verse of "Stingy Mama" I here let instead of lent. Doesn't make sense though.

Alex

[Johnm]

Thanks for suggestion, Alex. I re-listened, and the "n" in "lent" is certainly not very pronounced, but I'm just hearing a little nasal suggestion of it before the "t" in "lent" in both of those lines. And as you noted, "let" doesn't make sense anyway, so I'm inclined to stick with "lent".

[waxwing]

"to let" means "to lease", as in "rooms to let" a very common sign of 20th century era. So the sense of "LENT me something, called that old stingeree" vs "LET me something, called that old stingeree" would be whether the owner of the stingeree expected compensation, either she was lending it as a favor, or leasing it for some sort of return favor.

Listening I would agree with John that the suggested nasality is not very pronounced. Attempting to sing the line, I find it is very hard to sing that nasality followed by a "T" sound at speed, that if I really wanted to sing "lent" it would come out as "len' " eliding into the "me" with no hard "T". Tough call.

Wax

[Johnm]

Hi wax,
I don't think that "let" in the "rent" meaning is any more plausible than "let" in the "allow" meaning in this context.
She's renting Fuller her stingeree? I don't think so.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

It's definitely not "let" – there's another sound there. To me in headphones it sounds more like "left," which makes more sense than "let" but less than "lent." I think you could make a case for either left or lent sound-wise.
Chris

[waxwing]

In a song named Stingy Mama you think it is unreasonable that she would make him pay for sex? I guess it's too subtle a joke for Fuller to sing? That's a judgement call.

I think the fact that there is such a strong "T" sound argues for "let", because "left me" would most likely be sung "lef'me" and likewise, "lent me" would be sung "len'me". Fuller was a very nasal singer and I think this can cause a lot of extraneous sounds. But I leave it to you all.

Wax

Edit to add: I remembered that in Screaming and Crying Blues Fuller sings "left me" at the end of verse 1 and in the first two lines of verse 2. Checking just now, he very clearly sings ""lef'me".

[Johnm]

For what it's worth, wax, when I sing or say "lent" I get exactly the sound I hear in Fuller--mostly a "t" at the end of the word and just a little hint of a nasal "n" sound immediately prior. I don't sing or say "len'" at whatever speed.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Blind Boy Fuller recorded "Walking And Looking Blues" at a session in New York City on July 12, 1937, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning. In the tagline to the first verse, "bes" is not a misprint or mis-spelling. Here is the song:



INTRO SOLO

Said, I can't see how these, worried mens can sleep
Said, I can't see how these, worried men do sleep
Said, he bes up all night just like a, police on his beat

Said, I walked last night, baby, feet got soaking wet (Spoken: Yeah!)
Said, I walked all night, mama, feet got soaking wet
Said, I didn't find my woman, ain't stopped walking yet

But I'm gwonna find my little woman, don't think she can be found
I say, hey, hey, don't think she can be found (Spoken: Why, boy?)
I'm gon' walk this hard, hard road 'til my, mustache drag the ground

SOLO

Said, I got a new way of lovin', think it must be best (Spoken: Aw, pshaw!)
I got a new of lovin', think it must be best (Spoken: Why, boy?)
Said, these here North Carolina women, won't let Blind Boy Fuller rest

All best,
Johnm



 

[Slack]

In the tagline to the first verse, "bes" is not a misprint or mis-spelling.

I whole heartedly agree with this approach.... to include southern convention/black dialect. It's a challenge on how best to  spell or express it though... !  In this vain, imo:

Said, I can't see how these, worried mens can sleep... should be
Said, I can't see how dees (however you want to spell it), worried mens can sleep