Topic: Walter Taylor Lyrics

[Johnm]

Thanks so much for the help, Blues Vintage and banjochris. It's nice to be able to put the finishing touches on such a busy set of lyrics.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor recorded "Deal Rag" at the first session of his Washboard Trio, in Richmond, Indiana on February 14, 1930. John Byrd provided guitar accompaniment in C position, standard tuning and sang, and C. J. Anderson played tenor banjo and sang, while Taylor played washboard, kazoo and sang. The song is a version of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down", a song often recorded in both the Old-Time and Blues traditions. The ensemble faux yodeling choruses really set this version apart--it's wonderfully loose. A different singer takes over for the last verse. Here is "Deal Rag":



KAZOO INTRO SOLO

Been all around this whole round world, to the
States of Tennessee
Says everywhere that I hang my hat, Lord, it's
Home and it's sweet home to me

REFRAIN: Don't let it down, don't let it down
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar done gone

YODELED REFRAIN

I was standing around, a big skin game, all the
Skinners was standin' around
I hear one of those skinners when he said,
"Don't let the deal go down."

REFRAIN: Don't let it down, sweet mama, don't let it down, mama, mama
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar's done gone

YODELED REFRAIN

KAZOO SOLO

I was drunk last night, mama, and night before
Ain't gon' get drunk any more
I laid my head, my baby's bed
Ain't gon' get drunk any more

REFRAIN: Let the deal go down, don't let it down
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar's done gone

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor and his Washboard Trio recorded "Corrine, Corrine" at the same session as they recorded "Deal Rag", and Walter Tylor once again sang and played washboard and kazoo, John Byrd accompanied on guitar in C position, standard tuning and C. J. Anderson played tenor banjo. Someone sang a vocal harmony, too. The trio does the same melody as the Mississippi Sheiks had used in their version. Here is "Corrine, Corrine":



INTRO KAZOO SOLO

Corrina, where you been so long?
Corrina, Corrina, where you been so long?
Ain't had no lovin', since you been gone

Corrina, Corrina, where did you stay last night?
Corrina, Corrina, where did you stay last night?
Come in this morning, sun was shining bright

I met Corrina, way across the sea
I met Corrina, way across the sea
She wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't care for me

FALSETTO CHORUS

Corrina, Corrina, what you gonna do?
Corrina, Corrina, what you gonna do?
Just a little bit of lovin', a-let your heart be true

I love Corrina, tell the world I do
I love Corrina, tell the world I do
Just a little bit of lovin', a-let your heart be true

Corrina, Corrina, you are a pal of mine
Corrina, Corrina, you are a pal of mine
Now she left me walkin', tear rollin' and cryin'

Corrina, Corrina, what's the matter now?
Corrina, Corrina, what's the matter now?
She wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't love me nohow

Goodbye, Corrina, oh, it's fare you well
Goodbye, Corrina, oh, it's fare you well
When I come back here, can't no one tell

CODA

All best,
Johnm
 

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor and his Washboard Trio recorded "Thirty-Eight And Plus" at their first session, the same day they recorded "Deal Rag" and "Corrine, Corrine". Walter Taylor sang and played washboard and kazoo, with John Byrd accompanying on guitar in G position, standard tuning and C. J. Anderson playing tenor banjo, and John Byrd and C. J. Anderson adding harmony vocals on the chorus. DG&R suggest that the title may be a mishearing of  ".38 and Plug", a gun and its ammunition. I'm not sure; I definitely find the chorus the hardest part to hear in this song and would appreciate corrections of anything I have wrong or that is missing. The fact that I don't have any real idea what the chorus is referring to doesn't help the transcription process! Here is "Thirty-Eight And Plus":



INTRO SOLO

I woke up this morning about a half-past four, told my gal I couldn't use her no more
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Look here, pretty mama, what you done done, you done made me love you now your man done come
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight plus

Say God made a woman, he made her mighty funny, the ring around her mouth are just sweet as any honey
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, oh, it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Say I got a key, shine like gold, the women all tell me satisfies their soul
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

KAZOO SOLO X 2

Oh, faro of mine, treat me right, think them women's goin' to be your size
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Goin' away, pretty mama, won't be back 'til Fall, if I don't get back then I won't be back at all
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Say the monkey and the baboon settin' in the grass, one said, "No." and the other 'un said, "Yes."
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Edited 8/20 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
Edited 8/21 to pick up corrections from banjochris and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[David Kaatz]

My take
Verses, 2, 3, 4, in the refrain, I don't hear the and, I hear: I know it's thirty-eight and plus. (Possibly one of the vocalists is slipping in an 'n but it's hard to be sure)

verse 3, refrain, 2nd half is: I know ohh, it's thirty eight and plus

verse 4: Oh fair of mine, treat me right, singin' women gonna [ ]

Dave

[Blues Vintage]

2.1 Look here, pretty mama, what you done done, you -done- made me love you now your man done come
4.1 Say I got a key, it shines like gold, the women all tell me satisfies their soul

Is the song about measurements?   So a 38 in the waist or something?

5.1 Oh fair of mine, treat me right, singin' when we gon’ to see your thighs

I'll keep listening to that weird 5.1;  sight or side or fight are other possibilities.


I don't see the video on the screen.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Dave and Blues Vintage. I am hearing an "and" in the title phrase in the places where I have it in the choruses. For some reason, in the last two transcriptions that I've posted YouTube videos for, the url has transferred but the video has not. I don't know why that happened but I've tried a couple of times to re-embed the video and only the url is coming across.

[banjochris]

Thanks for the help, Dave and Blues Vintage. I am hearing an "and" in the title phrase in the places where I have it in the choruses. For some reason, in the last two transcriptions that I've posted YouTube videos for, the url has transferred but the video has not. I don't know why that happened but I've tried a couple of times to re-embed the video and only the url is coming across.

It's a rather odd YouTube link, John, it has some kind of si= code at the end that they usually don't have – maybe you copied it from somewhere where someone else put in extra info. The usual format works and I fixed your post with it.
Chris

[banjochris]

Also I'm wondering if the last word in 5.1 is "size" – given the context, I'm assuming the thirty-eight might be a waist size.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for fixing the link and figuring out the problem with it, Chris. Using that information, I was able to go back and fix the other link I posted recently that wouldn't embed in the normal fashion, Lightnin' Hopkins' "Goin' Back to Florida". I will keep listening to "Thirty Eight And Plus" and try to make sense of that fifth verse. Thanks!

[Johnm]

Thanks for "size" at the tail end of 5.1, Chris. I believe that is right. I think I have that 5.1 line now. I think the title phrase might more plausibly refer to a bust measurement than a waist measurement. Re-listening, I also think the first word of the last line of the chorus is "they" rather than "there".

[banjochris]

Could definitely be a bust size – I was thinking with the "can't nobody use it" he was complaining about her weight. That line reading for 5.1 seems good to me.

[Blues Vintage]

I have to disagree with 5.1. I don't hear "think them" at all.

This is another possibillty

Oh, faro of mine, treat me right, singin' when we goin' to see your size

[Johnm]

I'm leaving it as is, Blues Vintage.