Upstroke is the way I learned it though. That's the way you're supposed to go with a mandolin. After I got my hands stiff I have to play it down. I can't play that quiver like I used to. You can play that quiver better with an upstroke. Upstroke is a better sound to me. Sure is. - Yank Rachell, Blues Mandolin Man
I've been listening to Curley Weaver songs lately and his Dirty Deal Blues is a good one. If I am not mistaken it is played in standard tuning Key of G capoed at the 1st fret. I would like some help with the lyrics. My source is Docd-5110 Georgia Blues and the track under discussion is pretty scratchy. Perhaps others have a different source with better audio quality and can hear the lyrics better. Here is "Dirty Deal Blues" and this is what I am hearing:
When you are tired mama lay down on your bed (repeat) I brought you your medicine I also brought your bread
Now you laugh today, sure can't do it again Now you laugh today, sure can't do it again I brought you your medicine, you won't even let me in
I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night Don't matter what time I go there, he never put out all his light
I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here I go home up the country, I want to know what I'm doing round here
Hey hey hey hey hey, hey hey hey hey hey (repeat) These women in Atlanta they treat me like a dog
I run to the telephone, pressed the receiver down I run to the telephone, pressed the receiver down I said, "Hello Central, give me Dr. Brown"
« Last Edit: June 25, 2020, 07:51:44 AM by Johnm »
That's a cool tune. I haven't noticed it before, probably because it went by in a fog of surface noise. Some things I still need to listen to some more but here are a few corrections and suggestions. The more uncertain bits are in square brackets:
Verse 2 is very tricky. I am not sure about lines 2.1 and 2.2
[NOW YOU LAUGH] today, [SURE] CAN'T do it again [NOW YOU LAUGH] today, [JUST] CAN'T do it again I brought you your medicine, YOU won't even let me IN
I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night I go there early in the morning, I go there late at night DON'T MATTER WHAT TIME I go there, he never PUT out all HIS light
(This verse occurs in Blind Lemon's Mean Jumper Blues: "I go there early in the morning, and I goes there late at night/Don't care how late I goes there, he has never turned out his light")
I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here I'm going to hire me a taxi, gonna ride away from here [I GO] home up the country, I want to know what I'm doing ROUND here
The I GO above is probably more like Curley swallowing I'M GOIN'.
The last verse appears in Blind Lemon's Gone Dead On You Blues (slightly different, Lemon's sings "pulled the receiver down". Which as someone pointed out here at some point, I believe, is how those old telephones worked):
I RUN TO THE telephone, PRESSED THE RECEIVER down I RUN TO THE telephone, PRESSED THE RECEIVER down I said, "Hello Central, give me Dr. Brown"
edit: could possibly be "TOUCHED the receiver down". Not sure.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2012, 10:34:50 AM by uncle bud »
Thanks, dj, although the key was recognizing Lemon's verses then deciphering how they differ in Weaver's tune. I agree, that pressing sounds like it has extra furniture in it.
Nate, regarding the playing of this tune, I would say it is in Spanish tuning, pitched as you say in the neighbourhood of G sharp or so. A couple things point me to this, the foremost being that the accompaniment is similar to a style of accompaniment used by Barbecue Bob and Charley Lincoln that was in Spanish. This includes in particular the end tag riff in the bass. You can also hear he goes to a low V note in that riff, not available in G standard. Another clue is the open 5th string for the bass in the IV chord, which would then be completed by barring the remaining strings at the 5th fret. Not a clincher, but the chord is quite ringy and seems to point to this position, IMO, rather than a C chord position with G bass in standard tuning. But that bass riff is the real tip off for me, just because I have used it playing other tunes.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2012, 01:04:06 PM by uncle bud »
Thanks guys! UB, in particular thanks for your in depth lyrical and tuning analysis. When I first started listening to the lyrics, I couldn't recognize anything he was singing except for a couple of words and thought there's no way these lyrics can be deciphered, but I kept listening literally dozens of times and I gradually heard more and more. It's funny how obvious parts sounded afterwards. About the tuning - I had rather hastily asumed standard G basing it largely on the I7 chord. For that descending bass walk in standard used the 1st string G note as a pedal point, left stings 2 and 3 open then walked down the 4th string which maiantained a pretty open sound. When I have the opportunity, I'll rework it in Spanish.
I'm really pleased this song has now been given the all around attention it deserves. Considering I couldn't find any reference to it relating to Curley Weaver on the internet or on weenie, this one may have been mouldering unplayed and undiscussed since Curley passed away. It's an exciting prospect (to me at least), that it's once again ready for prime time. I'll post my rendition on the backporch when I get a chance. It might be fun if others did as well. Any takers?
I'm really pleased this song has now been given the all around attention it deserves. Considering I couldn't find any reference to it relating to Curley Weaver on the internet or on weenie, this one may have been mouldering unplayed and undiscussed since Curley passed away. It's an exciting prospect (to me at least), that it's once again ready for prime time. I'll post my rendition on the backporch when I get a chance. It might be fun if others did as well. Any takers?
It's quite possible you're right that the song has been mouldering pretty much unnoticed and unplayed, Nate. And I agree, it's exciting when one of these completely obscure but cool songs gets some new life breathed into it. It's one of the real pleasures of the weenie site for me, honestly.
BTW, I found the version from the Atlanta Blues JSP set to be slightly better in terms of noise, likely just the Document with better EQ but it may help folks decipher things a bit more. Attached.
Who stole the lock, I don't know Who stole the lock on the hen-house door I'll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
People in town scared again People in the country picking cotton again I found out before I went Who stole my rooster who stole my hen
Had a little girl, sweet as a plum Found an egg about as long as my thumb I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
Don?t come in here with your nose all snotty Know any chicken stealers, better ask somebody Judged him right before his face Gave him ninety-nine years and two extra days
Old Uncle Moe is sick in bed Doctor said he's almost dead I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
Woke up this morning about half past six Now turn over mama let?s get it fixed I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen house door
Old Aunt Dinah's long and tall Shakes it like some winding ball I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
Had a little dog his name was Bill Won?t bite my brother Will I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
Old Aunt Dinah?s sick in bed Doctor said she's almost dead I?ll find out before I go Who stole the lock on the hen-house door
« Last Edit: July 09, 2013, 02:00:53 AM by cru423 »
Hope these are correct... Here is "My Baby's Gone":
My Baby's Gone
My baby?s gone and I 'll soon be gone myself My baby?s gone and I 'll soon be gone myself That the reason why I ain't got nobody else
If the good gal quit you and you ain't done nothin wrong If the good gal quit you and you ain't done nothin wrong Don't take it so hard cause your life won't last you long
I'm gonna act like a rambler ain't gonna never stay at home Act like a rambler ain't gonna never stay at home I'm gonna catch me a freight train I'm going back to Baltimore
My baby gone and I'm almost in my grave My baby gone and I'm almost in my grave Gonna leave Georgia cause I'm tired being you women's slave
mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm mmmmmm (melody hummed for verse)
« Last Edit: June 25, 2020, 07:53:13 AM by Johnm »
You've got it -- I would suggest "your life" in 2.3 and "I'm gon' catch" (he really swallows the G) in 3.3, but other than that looks good to me! Chris