Topic: Dick Justice lyrics

[uncle bud]

OK, I've managed to recreate John's transcription of the lyrics as best I can. Unfortunately, John, the introductory notes you wrote are gone, thanks to my stupidity. A million apologies.  

Now here's what I meant to post.

A few suggestions:

Lord, the Barnum & Bailey Circus, [rider], came to town

I hear "Lord, A Barnum Bailey Circus rider came to town" which perhaps helps "rider" make some more sense?

Here comes Sal, with her [note] all tore

Here comes Sal, with her NOSE all tore

What in the world does any man got, now,
Messin' with the furniture man?
He's got no dough, [it's damn] for sure
Certainly will back you back
Take everything from an [earthily plane]
From a skillet to a fryin' pan
If there ever was a devil, boy, without any horn,
Musta been a furniture man

GOT (no He's) no dough, THEN for sure
Certainly will back you back
Take everything from an EARTHLY PLANT

Could be "YOU GOT no dough" with the you swallowed. Jordan sings If you got no dough..."

A-Lord, the baby's in the cradle in new Orleans
The doctor kept a-whippin' 'til the baby got mean
Doctor whippin' 'til the baby got sore
Mama said she couldn't smell no more
Lord, go, doctor, ring the bell, the women in the alley
I'm simply wild about my good cocaine

If he's singing "whippin'", this is presumably a mishearing of whiffin'. In Luke Jordan's version, the baby is the one doing the whiffin' "till it got so mean." The way Dick Justice spits out this line so rhythmically it's hard to tell whether he sings whippin' or whiffin' - I hear one then the other each  time I listen!

[Johnm]

Hi uncle bud,
No worries regarding the deletion.  My intro wasn't exactly earth-shattering.  I think my main point was that Justice and Jordan had some noticeable differences in their guitar parts and their lyrics.  I'm pretty sure Justice says "whippin'", not "whiffin'", in the last verse, probably as a result of mishearing or misunderstanding the original.  Sure sounds like he says "NOTE all tore" too, though it doesn't make sense given the subject matter.  I will listen some more, and I think I agree with all your other suggestions.
All best,
Johnm

[lloyd Thayer]

thanks so much John M for posting this Brown Skin Blues.......I have only heard D. Justice on the Anthology, and this is a great surprise. thanks so much for all you over many grateful years. (new here, have no idea if this will get to the right place. :-)