Topic: Tampa Red Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Georgia Hound Blues

February 6, 1931, Chicago  (with Georgia Tom on piano)





I got my trunk all packed old Tampa's going to leave this town
Got my trunk all packed old Tampa's going to leave this town
Because the gal that I was loving she’s gone and throwed me down

Now folks she went and left me she never even said a word
Now folks she went and left me she never even said a word
It wasn't nothing I done it was something that the poor girl heard

Now I’m a good fellow but my ways are under ground
Now I’m a good fellow but my ways are under ground
And if you mistreat me mama I’ll hunt you like a Georgia hound

So if I find her I’m gon’ kill her and then I’m going to hang myself
If I find her I’m gon’ kill her and then I’m going to hang myself
And if she don’t have me she sure won’t have nobody else

I done bought myself a razor a rifle and a gatling gun
I done bought myself a razor a rifle and a gatling gun
Gonna cut her if she stands and I'm gon’ shoot her if she runs

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Delta Woman Blues

October 11, 1937 at the Leland Hotel in Aurora, IL  (Tampa on piano this time, Willie B. James, guitar)





I'm goin' back to the delta that's where I belong
I'm goin' back to the delta that's where I belong
If old bad luck and trouble don't keep me for to long

I rather be down in the delta than any place I know
I rather be down in the delta than any place I know
Because I don't feel happy no rather ? (other) place I go

My little woman in the delta sure was good to me
My little woman in the delta sure was good to me
Well she was just as kind hearted as one poor gal could be

I'm goin' back to the delta
Fall down on my knees
Gonna ask my delta woman
To forgive me if she please
I'm goin' back to the delta woo goin' to fall down on my knees
I'm gonna ask my delta woman to forgive me if she please

I've tested all of my women
From here to Mexico
But my woman in the delta
She's the sweetest gal I know
I've tested all my women woo from here to Mexico
But my little woman in the delta she's the sweetest gal I know

[Johnm]

Thanks for these transcriptions, Harry.  In "Georgia Hound Blues":
   * In verse one in the first two lines, he sings "Tampa's"
   * In verse two, he sings, "It wasn't nothing that I done, it was something that the poor girl heard", with the second "it" pretty swallowed.
   * Tagline of the last verse, he says "I'm"
I've already got "Georgia Hound Blues" up in Weeniepedia and will get "Delta Woman Blues" soon.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John,

But in 2.3 I think it's the following line;

It wasn't nothing that I done, it was something that the poor girl heard.

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Deceitful Friend Blues

From the same session as "Delta Woman Blues"





Well this world is so crooked that you don't know what to do
Well this world is so crooked that you don't know what to do
And if you try to hold up your hand everybody will be down on you

I got some friends who deceitful and they don't mean me no good
I got some friends who deceitful and they don't mean me no good
Well they would set a fire to me and burn me up if they could

Well I don't bother nobody wonder why they pick at poor me
I don't bother nobody wonder why they pick at poor me
Look like they'd rather see my body drifting in the deep blue sea

They have ate at my table even slept in my bed
They have ate at my table woo they have even slept in my bed
And they was jealous and deceitful wishin' that I was dead

So I ain't-a callin' no names so I have no blame to bear
I ain't-a callin' no names so I have no blame to bear
But I know 'em when I see 'em you can bet your life on that

[Johnm]

Yup, that's what I had, Harry.

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Wrong Idea

Still from the same session





You men won't like it when you hear this song
Do as I say and it may help you along
'Cause you got the wrong idea just as sure as you born
Don't blame your woman if things at home go wrong

You men got a habit that you know is wrong
Stay out cheating on your woman maybe all night long
But you got the wrong idea just as sure as you born
Don't blame your woman if things at home go wrong

When the cat goes away you know the mice is gonna play
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout that's why you hear me say
Men you got the wrong idea just as sure as you born
Don't blame your woman if things at home go wrong

You want your woman daily all alone by yourself
But how you expect to get it buddy when you got somebody else
Men you got the wrong idea just as sure as you born
Don't blame your woman if things at home go wrong

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Whoopee Mama

Still from the same session





I got a whoopee mama she makes whoopee all the time
I've got a whoopee mama she makes whoopee all the time
She stays full of dope and liquor and clowns all over town

Whoopee mama I sure been good to you
Whoopee mama I sure been good to you
But I've done got tired of the dirty way you do

My whoopee mama treat me like a slave
My whoopee mama treats me like a slave
I’m going to buy me an army special and put my baby in her grave

I work all the summer and I work all the fall
But even spend the winter in a dank of overhauls
Whoopee mama you’re so unkind to me
But I'm sure going to get you baby yes you wait and see

You told me that you loved me and I caught you in a lie
Smile the day you quit me mama that's the day you'll die
Whoopee mama I'm going to mow you down
I'm gon’ send your beautiful body to some lonesome buryin' ground

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Travel On

Still the same session but now Tampa on guitar





When you are doing
The best you can
And the one you loving
Don't understand
Don't get discouraged but keep-a tryin' and travel on

You're bound to worry
Every now and then
But keep on trying
You are bound to win
Don't get discouraged but keep-a tryin' and travel on

If you stay worried
Most all the time
Just try laughing
Instead of crying
Don't get discouraged but keep-a tryin' and travel on

Your darkest hour
Is just fore day
That's when your sorrows
Will vanish away
Don't get discouraged but keep-a tryin' and travel on

When you get worried
And feel so blue
Remember this song I
Have sung to you
Don't get discouraged but keep-a tryin' and travel on

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Seminole Blues

Last song from this session





My baby's gone won't be back no more she won't be back no more oh
My baby's gone she won't be back no more
She left this morning she caught that Seminole

I got the blues so bad it hurt my tongue to talk it hurt my tongue to talk oh
The blues so bad it hurt my tongue to talk
I would follow my baby but it hurt my feet to walk

She gimme her love even let me draw her pay she let me draw her pay yeah
She give me her love even let me draw her pay
She was a real good woman but unkindness drove her way

I've got the Seminole blues leaving on my mind leaving on my mind oh
Seminole blues leaving on my mind
I'm going to find my baby if I have to ride the blind

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Why Should I Care

Tampa Red was back in the same studio the following year.
I stick to straight blues so I skipped the songs he recorded with the Chicago Five.

March 14, 1938 at the Leland Hotel in Aurora, IL  (with Willie B. James, guitar)





No one to love me
No one to care
And the gal I'm loving
She don't play fair
She's gone and left me I shouldn’t worry why should I care

I got a mind to ramble I got a mind to leave this town
Oh the girl I've been a loving she's gone and throwed me down

How could she leave me
So cold in hand
She give my money
To another man
She's gone and left me I shouldn’t worry why should I care

Good luck is a fortune mama and it's bound to come my way
I'm down now baby but I will be up someday

She pawned my diamonds
My watch and chains
Would've pawned herself but
She felt ashamed
She's gone and left me I shouldn’t worry why should I care

Sometime I wonder mama who put the jinx on me
Well I ain't no bad fellow and I don't intend to be

She left me sinking
Down on my bed
Hoping and wishing
That I was dead
She's gone and left me I shouldn’t worry why should I care

Just as sure as you here mama that big boat whistle blows
I'm leavin' your city mama and I won't be back no more

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Got To Leave My Woman

From the same session





Meet me down in the bottom mama bring my shoes and clothes
Meet me down in the bottom mama bring my shoes and clothes
I ain't got very many but I got so far to go

And the only one thing that keep me so worried in mind
Now the only one thing that keep me so worried in mind
I've got to go leave the woman I love behind

Now I don't mind leaving but I got to be gone so long
I don't mind leaving but I got to be gone so long
They got me accused of murder mama and I ain't done nothing wrong

Big stars falling and it can't be long fore day
Big stars is falling and it can't be long fore day
Oh goodbye baby I must be on my way

When I write you a letter mama mama answer with a telegram
When I write a letter mama answer with a telegram
Cause I will not be contented mama until I get you where I am

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Crazy With The Blues

Tampa was back at the same studio again but now he took Black Bob (piano) with him.

June 16, 1938 at the Leland Hotel in Aurora, IL





I’m a stranger here you know my gal don’t want me round no more
If love don’t change I’m bound to go crazy with the blues

I’m blue and I’m evil and I can’t help myself
Because the gal I’ve been a loving she’s loving someone else

No consolation nowhere I go I walk and I worry from door to door
If love don’t change I’m bound to go crazy with the blues

A gypsy told me to leave my neighborhood
Because the gal I’ve been a loving she don’t mean me no good

I’m broke and hungry and grieving so what I go through with nobody know
If love don’t change I’m bound to go crazy with the blues

I tell my baby I have no sympathy
Because I ask her for favors she turns her back on me

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Love With A Feeling

From the same session





If you gonna love a woman love her with a thrill
Cause if you don't some other man will
You got to love her with a feeling
You got to love her with a feeling
You got to love her with a feeling
Or don't you love at all

No woman don't want that old halfway stuff
So when you turn her loose be sure she got enough
And just love her with a feeling
Love her with a feeling
You got to love her with a feeling
Or don't you love at all

You got to love with a feeling
You got to love her with a feeling
You got to love her with a feeling
Or don't you love at all

Now the gal I love she's nice and fat
She's got her way of loving and it's good like that
Because she love me with a feeling
Yeah she love me with a feeling
Yeah she love me with a feeling
Or she don't love at all

Now the copppers brought her in she didn't need no bail
She shook it for the judge and he put the cops in jail
Cause she shook it with a feeling
Yeah she shook it with a feeling
Yeah she loved with a feeling
Or she don't love at all

[Blues Vintage]

Tampa Red - Through Train Blues

This is the first recording of Tampa Red with a unknown tuba player.
It was on the B side of a Blind Lemon Jefferson Paramount. Probably for marketing reasons.
Tampa Red ended up releasing more 78s than any other blues artist in history.


May 1928 in Chicago, IL





I hate to hear that through train blow hoo hoo
I hate to hear that through train blow hoo hoo
Every time I hear it blowing I feel like riding too

The woman I love treat me so unkind
The woman I love treat me so unkind
Gon’ pack my grip and leave this lonesome town

I'm going away just to wear you off my mind
I'm going away just to wear you off my mind
And I may be gone baby a doggone long long time

I'm gon’ grab me a freight train ride until it stops
Gon’ grab me a freight train ride until it stops
Ain’t gon’ stay round here and be no stumbling block