Topic: "Big Road" Webster Taylor Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Big Road" Webster Taylor had only two titles released, I believe.  On both of them, he accompanies himself out of Vestapol with a bit of slide.  He phrased very freely in a way that was all his own, interspersing falsetto at the end of each of his sung lines.  For "Sunny Southern Blues", he sings two line stanzas (with one exception), with a relatively plain (for him) falsetto leap at the end of the first line of each verse and a much more florid falsetto passage at the end of the second line of each verse.  Both his vocal tone and his tone on the guitar were really beautiful.  In a way, he sounds as though he might have been a bit simple, or intoxicated, but he had a beautiful sound.  Here is "Sunny Southern Blues":



I wonder who's got my sweetie-ie-ie
I wonder who's got my sweetie-ie, hee-ee-ee

Well, she's got her Alabama jelly-ee
Well, she's got her Alabama jelly-ee, hee-ee-ee

Now, gonna buy me a pistoo-ool
And, gonna buy me a pistoo-ool, whee-oo-oo

Ah, just as long as i am tall, whoo-oo
Hey, just as long as I am tall, oo-oo, whoo-oo-oo

And, don't get the woman I love, oo-oo-oo
If I don't get the woman I love, oo-oo, whoo-oo-oo-oo

Then I don't want no woman at all, oo-oo, whoo, oo-oo-oo

Then, I'm gonna write her a lett-oo-oo
I'm gonna write her a lett-oo-oo, whoo-oo-oo-oo

Then, gonna mail it in the air, oo-oo
Then, gonna mail it in the air, oo-oo, wheeoo-oo-oo-oo

When this North wind blow-oo-oos
Sayin' when this North wind blow, oo-oo, wheeoo-oo-oo-oo

Then, it's gonna blow this news everywhere, oo-oo
Oh, it's gonna blow this news everywhere, hoo, heeoo-oo-oo

I'm goin' to Lou'sianoo-oo
I"m goin' to Lou'siana-oo, whoo-oo-oo-oo

I'm goin' to get me a new girl, hee-ee
I"m goin' to get me a new girl, hee-ee, hee-hee-oo-ee

I'm gonna call her Suzy Annoo-oo-oo
I"m gonna call her Suzy Annoo-oo, hee-ooo-ooo-eee

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Big Road" Webster Taylor accompanied himself out of Vestapol for "World In A Jug" as he had for "Sunny Southern Blues" and indeed, the two songs have very similar feels and phrasing.  For "World In A Jug", Taylor sings a more conventional three-line verse with AAB lyrics (with one exception) followed by a yodeled refrain.  It's amazing how consistent he was with his yodeling.  Once again, both his tone on his guitar and his vocal tone are especially pretty.  Here is his performance, and thanks to Roi for posting this on youtube:



I'm goin' to South Carolina
I'm goin' to south Carolina
I got a sweetie but, Lord, she's in China
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

I asked that girl to be mine
I asked that girl to be mine
For her black a-little valentine
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

I'm gon' get me a submarine
Gonna get me a submarine
Gonna get me a brand new rider
Gonna call her Kathereen
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

I'm goin' up the country in a few more days
I'm goin' up the country in a few more days
I got a brand new rider, but I sure don't like her ways
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

I'm goin' where the river shine like gold
I'm goin' where the river shine like gold
I got a brand new rider, but I can't love her to save my soul
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

I got the world in a jug
I got the world in a jug
But Lord, Lord, sweetie's got the stopper to that jug
REFRAIN: Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-ee-ee
Hey-de-lee, yodel-ay-hee, a-hee-ee-odel-ay-hee

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Yup, I agree, Roi, more titles would have been great, even if they were very close to the two he did have released.  He had such a distinctive sound and approach it would be great to be able to hear more of his music.
All best,
Johnm