Hi all,
David Miller first recorded in 1924, and didn't return to the studio for over three years. His last session was in 1931, and over the course of his recording career he had records released as "David Miller", "Davie Miller", "The Blind Soldier" and "Davey Miller". His version of Stackerlee is posted elsewhere on this site. He recorded "Way Down In Jail On My Knees" at a session in New York City on January 23, 1931, the day before his final recording session. The song, which he chose to accompany in F position, standard tuning, is his version of "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad", or "Lonesome Road Blues", a 16-bar blues common to both the black and white traditions. I sure like his singing, and his accompaniment, while not being "hot" or "exciting", has a lot of really nice, subtle, musicianly places in it. It's nice to hear a guitar relegated to a pure accompaniment role nonetheless played so musically. Here is "Way Down In Jail On My Knees":
Goin' down the road a-feelin' ba-a-ad, I'm
Goin' down the road, feelin' bad, I'm
A-goin' down the road feelin' ba-a-ad, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm goin' where the climate suits my clo-o-othes, I'm
Goin' to where the climate suits my clothes, I'm
A-goin' to where the climate suits my clo-o-othes, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Away down in jail on my knee-ees,a-
Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
They feed me on cornbread and bea-ea-eans, they
Feed me on cornbread and beans, they
Feed me on cornbread and beans, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow-ow-ow
Goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow, I'm
A-goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow-ow-ow, 'cause I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
'Way down in jail on my knees
'Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Ten dollar shoe fits my fee-eet
Ten dollar shoe fits my feet, a
Ten dollar shoe fits my fee-ee-eet, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm a-gonna steal the jailor's key-ey-eys, I'm
A-gonna steal the jailor's keys, I'm
A-gonna steal the jailor's key-ey-eys, 'cause I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Away down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, a-
Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Edited 5/11 to pick up correction from dj
All best,
Johnm
David Miller first recorded in 1924, and didn't return to the studio for over three years. His last session was in 1931, and over the course of his recording career he had records released as "David Miller", "Davie Miller", "The Blind Soldier" and "Davey Miller". His version of Stackerlee is posted elsewhere on this site. He recorded "Way Down In Jail On My Knees" at a session in New York City on January 23, 1931, the day before his final recording session. The song, which he chose to accompany in F position, standard tuning, is his version of "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad", or "Lonesome Road Blues", a 16-bar blues common to both the black and white traditions. I sure like his singing, and his accompaniment, while not being "hot" or "exciting", has a lot of really nice, subtle, musicianly places in it. It's nice to hear a guitar relegated to a pure accompaniment role nonetheless played so musically. Here is "Way Down In Jail On My Knees":
Goin' down the road a-feelin' ba-a-ad, I'm
Goin' down the road, feelin' bad, I'm
A-goin' down the road feelin' ba-a-ad, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm goin' where the climate suits my clo-o-othes, I'm
Goin' to where the climate suits my clothes, I'm
A-goin' to where the climate suits my clo-o-othes, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Away down in jail on my knee-ees,a-
Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
They feed me on cornbread and bea-ea-eans, they
Feed me on cornbread and beans, they
Feed me on cornbread and beans, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow-ow-ow
Goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow, I'm
A-goin' to where the chilly winds don't blow-ow-ow, 'cause I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
'Way down in jail on my knees
'Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Ten dollar shoe fits my fee-eet
Ten dollar shoe fits my feet, a
Ten dollar shoe fits my fee-ee-eet, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
I'm a-gonna steal the jailor's key-ey-eys, I'm
A-gonna steal the jailor's keys, I'm
A-gonna steal the jailor's key-ey-eys, 'cause I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Away down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, a-
Way down in jail on my knees, a-
Way down in jail on my knee-ee-ees, and I
Ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way
Edited 5/11 to pick up correction from dj
All best,
Johnm