Topic: Big Maceo Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Just Tell Me Baby


Big Maceo - Vocals
Johnny Jones - Piano
Tampa Red - Guitar
Ransom Knowling - Bass
Odie Payne - Drums

April 14, 1949
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in G
Guitar in standard tuning





INTRO

Just tell me baby, why you so mean to me
Just tell me baby, why you so mean to me
You’s a mean mistreater, as evil as you can be

You told me that you loved me, and I believed in you
You told me that you loved me, and I believed in you
Now, you have left me, baby, what am I goin’ to do

GUITAR/PIANO SOLO (Spoken: Yeah, yeah, yeah)

I was your friend, it been many years ago
I was your friend, it been many years ago
If you didn’t want me, baby, you should have told me so

[Blues Vintage]

Hi all,
I recently found Big Maceo's recording of "Poor Kelly Blues", from 1941, on youtube and was surprised to discover that R. L. Burnside's "See What My Buddy Done" was a cover of it.  For Big Maceo's recording, he was joined by Tampa Red, and hearing those two musicians work together, I find myself thinking that they are the equal of any piano/guitar blues duet that ever recorded.  The song has a striking set of lyrics and a pretty unusual phrasing scheme.  For most verses, the flow is: A for the first four bars, the first half of A for the second four bars and the second half of A for the final four bars.  It's an indication of the seriousness with which the duo took that song and the story it tells that they chose not to interrupt the flow of the song with a solo.  Here is "Poor Kelly Blues":



INTRO

I went up on the mountain, to see what poor Kelly done, he killed his woman, and didn't even 'tempt to run
Up on the mountain, just to see what poor Kelly done
Well, he killed his woman, and he didn't even 'tempt to run

When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door, with a .32-20, and a .44
When I found poor Kelly, he was standing in the door
With a .32-20 and a hard-hitting .44

I asked him, was he sorry, he said, "No, buddy, no, just can't stand the way she was treatin' me anymore.
Just couldn't stand the way she was doin' me, anymore.
She's a dirty mistreater.  She won't jive me no more."

He said, "I know I love her, better than I did myself.  She misused me for somebody else.
She know I loved her better than I did myself.
Still, she tried to misuse me for somebody else."

"I know they gonna get me,", he said, "but I know I don't care.  They may even send me to the electric chair.
I know they gonna get me, but, baby, I don't care.
There's one consolation, they won't leave my woman here."

All best,
Johnm     

I'm playing this song but one thing bugs me.

In the 4th verse 4.1 he's singing   I know I love her
In the 4th verse 4.2 he's singing   She know I loved her

Both make sense but did Maceo really meant to sing this or did he mess up I and she by accident?

[Johnm]

Hi Blues Vintage,
The way he sings the entire verse makes me think he sang it exactly the way that he intended to sing it. He starts out testifying to his own love, and in the second line indicates she was aware of that love, too. He has no hesitation or stuttering or attempting to right a mistake. That's just how it strikes me, anyway.
 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Maceo recorded "Why Should I Hang Around?" at a session in Chicago on December 19, 1941 for which he was joined by Tampa Red on guitar and Alfred Elkins on imitation bass. Big Maceo accompanied himself in Bb and Tampa Red sounds as though he was accompanying him out of G position in standard tuning, capoed up. As usual, Big Maceo's singing is just great. Here is "Why Should I Hang Around?":



INTRO

I just don't know, what's this all about? (Spoken: What is it all about, boys?)
I just don't know, what's this all, all about?
The woman I love, is trying to put me out

She says she didn't want me, why should I hang around?
Hey-ey, why should I hang around?
And that if I hang around, I would be jailhouse bound

I love that woman, more than she will ever know (Spoken: Yes, I love her!)
Hey-ey baby, more than you will ever know
But if you drive me away, I won't be back no more

I stole that woman, stole her from my best friend
Yeah-eah, see-ee from my best friend
But that old fool's so darn lucky, he's 'bout to get her back again

CODA

All best,
Johnm 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Maceo recorded "My Last Go Round" at a session in Chicago on July 28, 1942, accompanied by Tampa Red playing slide (sparingly) in Vestapol and Clifford Jones on drums. Maceo played the piano in G. For some reason, the record was not originally issued by Bluebird and was first released in the re-issue era. Maybe it was because Maceo sang different endings to a couple of the second lines of his verses--there are no obvious glitches apart from that. Here is "My Last Go Round":



INTRO

Babe, I'm on my last go-round, and I hate to say goodbye
Babe, I'm on my last go-round, but it's time to say goodbye
Since you did what you wanta do, baby, and I guess you satisfied

Since you got me grievin', babe, and I'm scared to say goodbye
You got me grievin', baby, and I'm scared to say goodbye
Well I got to leave you, baby, and it ain't no use to cry

You started me to drinkin', baby, drinkin' both night and day
And you started me to drinkin', baby, and runnin' from town to town
You know I had a good woman, but you made her throw me down

SOLO

Hey, you made me drunk on Sunday, just to play me for your clown
Baby, you make me drunk on Sunday, just to play me for your clown
Ba', you know I meant you all the good, but you tryin' to tear me down

CODA

All best,
Johnm
 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Maceo recorded "Bye, Bye, Baby" in Chicago on December 14, 1941, backed by Tampa Red and an almost inaudible Alfred Elkins on imitation bass, accompanying himself on piano in B flat. Here is "Bye, Bye, Baby":



INTRO

My baby treat me so mean, I don't know right from wrong
My baby treat me so mean, I don't know right from wrong
I'm here today, but tomorrow I may be gone

I have so much trouble, until I don't know what to do
I have so much trouble, until I don't know what to do
The way you treat me, baby, is coming home to you

Because I'm dogged around, baby, and driven from door to door
Yea-eah, baby, and driven from door to door
But I raise my hand, I won't be dogged no more (Spoken: Now boy, let's get that thing!)

SOLO

So goodbye, baby, yes, I'm leavin' now
So bye-bye, baby, babe, I am leavin' now
Because you don't mean, me no good nohow

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Thanks to Blues Vintage, who corrected the key of "Bye, Bye, Baby" to B flat. Thanks for the catch!