Topic: Kid Cole Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
We recently had Kid Cole's "Niagara Fall Blues" in the Miller's Breakdown thread, and I thought we might as well see if we could get his two remaining titles that are not already transcribed and entered in Weeniepedia done. He played "Hard Hearted Mama Blues", which was recorded on May 28, 1928 in Chicago, out of F position in standard tuning. That makes two out of his four recorded titles played out of F position, an unusually high percentage. Boy, does this song have a complicated lyric scheme, and he's really cramming the words in there! Here is "Hard Hearted Mama Blues":



INTRO

For now it's loving's, really, really wor-worryin' me, Lord, wor-worryin' me
Lovin', it's really wor-worryin' me, hmmm-hmmm-mmm
And that cruel-hearted lovin', it's gonna be the death of me, hmmm-hmmm-mmm

Prison, sure don't wanta make it my home, Lord, make it my home
Prison, sure don't want to make it my home,
I'm a good-hearted poor boy, just a long way from home

Tell me cruel-hearted, mama, what's on your hard-hearted mind, Lord, hard-hearted mind
Tell me cruel-hearted, mama, what's on your hard-hearted mind
Says you keep me in trouble, so worried and bothered, all the time

And I love my, little baby, tell you just how I know it, Lord, just how I know
I love my, little baby, tell you just how I know
I will worry if I mistreated poor her, baby in the fro-host and snow

And it's blues, woke me for my telephone, Lord, my telephone
Blue blues, woke me for my telephone
I got a long dist' call, my baby, "Daddy, I ain't comin' back home."

The two women, I'm lovin' deep the bottom my heart, Lord, the bottom my heart
Two women I'm, lovin' deep the bottom my heart
That's one in Cincinnati, Marika Wise that broke my heart

Tell me cruel-hearted, mama, what you want your daddy to do, Lord, your daddy to do
Tell me cruel-hearted mama, what you want your daddy to do
How come they you say you murder me, baby, and you leave me, too

And I'm goin' away, and baby, cryin' it won't be long, Lord, it won't be long
I'm goin' away, and baby, cryin' it won't be long
And take your Bible, pretty mama, and read the days your daddy's gone

HUMMED VERSE

Edited 12/28 to pick up corrections from Harry

All best,
Johnm 

 

[Blues Vintage]

2.1 Reason, I Prison sure don't wanta want make it my home, Lord, make it my home
2.1 Reason Prison, sure don't want to make it my home,

4.1 And I love my, little baby, I'll tell you just how I know it, Lord, just how I know

6.3 That's one in Cincinnati, Marika Wise who that broke my heart

7.3 How, 'cause come you they say you murder me, baby, and you leave me, too

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catch, Harry, "prison" is sure enough right. He does say "wanta" though. I will make the change.

[Blues Vintage]

I did some editing in my post above.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the additional catches, Harry. I have made the changes.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Kid Cole recorded "Sixth Street Moan" at the same session at which he recorded his other three songs, but for this song he was joined by Sam Jones on harmonica, with the guitar accompaniment played out of G position in standard tuning. Sam Jones quotes "Reveille" twice in his last solo, which is a one-chorder. Here is "Sixth Street Moan":



INTRO SOLO

And it's run here, mama, sit on your daddy's knee
And it's run here, mama, sit on your daddy's knee
'Cause I'm sure gonna tell you, how you treated me

HARMONICA SOLO

And you was drunk last night, mama, baby, and the night before, doggone it, don't you hear me talkin' to
You were drunk last night, pretty mama, and the night before
You're going to miss your kid man, from rappin' on your door

HARMONICA SOLO

And it wasn't for the watchman, mama, the brakeman, too
And it wasn't for the watchman, mama, the brakeman, too
I would grab me a big old freight, ramble this whole world through

HARMONICA SOLO

And I'm goin' away, mama, baby, cryin' it won't be long, doggone it, don't you want to go along, and I'm
Goin' away, brownskin, and it won't be long
And I swear you're gonna miss your Kid Cole, baby, baby, when I'm gone

HARMONICA SOLO X 2

All best,
Johnm