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Author Topic: Shirley Griffith Lyrics  (Read 2649 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« on: January 10, 2014, 09:16:56 AM »
Hi all,
Shirley Griffith recorded "Shaggy Hound Blues" for Nick Perls on the Blue Goose album, "Mississippi Blues", backing himself out of E position in standard tuning.  By the time he was recorded, Shirley had lived just about his entire adult life in Indianapolis, but he was born in Mississippi, first learned music there, and was very strongly influenced by the music of Tommy Johnson and Ishmon Bracey, in particular. 
Shirley's version of "Shaggy Hound Blues" is a very spooky, ominous-sounding number with an unusual structure.  It is discussed at length in the "Vocal Phrasing--The Long and the Short of It" thread, in this post:http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=951.msg60710#msg60710.  Bayrum78 has also recorded a version of the song on the Back Porch.



I've got two little puppy, one's a shaggy hound
Got two little puppy, one's a shaggy hound
It takes all them dogs to run my women down

I woke up this morning, same thing's on my mind
Woke up this morning, same thing's on my mind
'Cause you keeps me worried and bothered all the time

Run up on old Shimmy, in her morning gown
Run up on old Shimmy, in her morning gown
I run up on old Shimmy, she was right down on the ground

If I feel tomorrow like I feel today
If I feel tomorrow, like I feel today
Well, some lonesome graveyard may be your restin' place

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: January 10, 2014, 09:18:25 AM by Johnm »

Offline jpeters609

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2014, 11:13:59 AM »
John, I hear:

I've got two little puppy, one 'lil shaggy hound
Got two little puppy, one's 'lil shaggy hound

I do hear a kind of slurred "s" at the end of "one" in the second line, but I still think he's talking about three dogs!
Jeff

Offline Johnm

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2014, 11:45:40 AM »
Jeff, I listened over again several times, and I'm continuing to hear it as I transcribed it.  I hear "one's" in the second half of both lines followed by "a", pronounced "uh", and the only difference between the two lines being the omission of "I" at the beginning of the second line.  It would be odd, I think, for Shirley to pronounce "little" so clearly as a two-syllable word with the t sound in the middle in the front half of the line and as "li'l" in the second half of the line.  I'm going to leave it as is.
All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: January 10, 2014, 03:11:04 PM by Johnm »

Offline jpeters609

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2014, 12:30:47 PM »
It's a great tune no matter what, but I still hear (mis-hear) "I've got two little puppy, one 'lil shaggy hound" in that first line! My ears are getting old.

But I may be predisposed to hearing it this way, as other versions of the song tend to separate the puppies from the hounds, as it were. Ishmon Bracey sings, "Now I got four-five puppies, got one shaggy hound" on his version of Saturday Blues, and Shirley himself sings "I've got four-five puppies, got one shaggy hound" with J.T. Adams on the "Indianapolis Jump" album. I'll admit I've mis-heard lyrics before, simply because I expected to hear them a certain way. This may be another one of those times for me!
Jeff

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2014, 04:00:05 PM »
Saturday Blues



Now you tell me mama do you think that's right you kid all day and run to me at night
You sure kid all day and run to me at night
You sure kid all day and run to me at night

Now my regular woman totes my pocket change and my sometime woman wants to do the same
Don't you ever let my regular catch you here
You better not let my regular catch you here

Boy it ain't no tellin what she might do now she might cut you she might shoot you too now
She might cut you she might shoot you too
Lord she might cut you she might shoot you too

'Cause she's the meanest woman that I ever seen and when I asked for water she give me gasoline
Now asked her for water give me gasoline
Lord I asked for water give me gasoline

Now if you want your woman to look like the rest you'll buy High Brown powder Palmer's Skin Success
You'll buy High Brown powder Palmer's Skin Success
Buy her High Brown powder Palmer's Skin Success

I've got four five puppies I've got one shaggy hound it takes all them dogs to run my women down
It takes all them dogs to run my women down
Takes all them dogs to run my women down

Now you tell me mama do you think that's right you kid all day and run to me at night
You sure kid all day and run to me at night
You sure kid all day and run to me at night

Now if you want your woman to look like the rest you'll buy High Brown powder and Palmer's Skin Success
You'll buy High Brown powder Palmer's Skin Success
Buy her High Brown powder Palmer's Skin Success


Thanks,
            Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:18:30 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2014, 04:10:07 PM »
Riverline Blues



Way down way down way down the Riverline Lord
If I get worried I'll be hard to find

Well I'm goin some place I ain't never been before
Over in France on the killin floor

Way down way down way down the Riverline Lord
Eatin where the sun don't never shine

Well I'm goin to the river I'm gon' sit down on the ground Lord
Sit right there til the boats come down

Give me water when I'm thirsty give me whiskey when I'm dry Lord
Woman when I'm worried to Heaven when I die

Way down way down way down the Riverline Lord
If I get worried I'll be hard to find

Well I've got something I ain't never had before Lord
Thirty-two twenty great long forty-four

Well I'm goin I'm goin and your and your cryin won't make me stay Lord
More you cry help me on my way

Way down way down way down the Riverline Lord
If I get worried I'll be hard to find


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:19:09 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2014, 11:16:52 AM »
Hard Pill To Swallow



Wasn't that a hard pill to swallow filled my heart with pain
Wasn't that a hard pill to swallow filled my heart with pain
Now don't you hear me talkin people I ain't no lyin man

I woke up this mornin looked up at the sun
I thought about a what my baby had done
That was a hard pill to swallow fill my heart with pain
Now don't you hear me talkin people I ain't no lyin man

I walked down the corner a to the paper stand
I caught my woman makin love to a man
Wasn't that a hard pill to swallow it filled my heart with pain
Now don't you hear me talkin people I ain't no lyin man

The police walked up and I didn't even run
And now I'm servin my time my baby's out havin her fun
Well ain't that a hard pill to swallow fill my heart with pain
Now don't you hear me talkin I ain't no lyin man

Solo

I was in prison a servin my time
When I come back home I heard a baby cryin
Wasn't that a hard pill to swallow fill my heart with pain
Now don't you hear me talkin people I ain't no lyin man

Outro


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:19:58 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2014, 11:29:22 AM »
My Baby's Gone



My baby's gone and she won't be back no more
My baby's gone and she won't be back no more
She left me this morning and she rode that M and O

When my baby left she bought a ticket just as long as she was tall
When she left she bought a ticket just as long as she was tall
She didn't know how much I loved her or she wouldn't have left at all

My baby's gone and she won't be back no more
My baby's gone and she won't be back no more
She left me this morning and she rode that M and O

Cryin my baby left me she wouldn't even shake my hand
And when she w she wouldn't even shake my hand
She said that's alright daddy some day you will understand

Yeah she's gone and she won't be back no more
Yeah she's gone and she won't be back no more
She left me this morning and she rode that M and O

Yes I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
Yes I rolled and I tumbled and I cried the whole night long
And I rolled this mornin and I didn't know right from wrong

Outro


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:21:22 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2014, 12:01:43 PM »
Bye Bye Blues



Intro

Cryin bye and bye baby bye and bye
And bye your(?) baby won't you bye and bye
Cryin bye and bye ah baby won't you bye and bye

Cryin goin away won't be back til fall
I'm goin away Lord and baby won't be back till fall
If I meet my good gal ah baby won't be back at all

Cryin sun gonna shine in my back door some day
Sun gon shinin' in honey my back door some day
And the wind gon change em ah baby blow my blues away

Cryin two train runnin runnin side by side
Two train runnin'in baby runnin side by side
You got my woman now I know you're satisfied

Solo

Cryin bye and bye baby bye and bye
And bye bye your and baby won't you bye and bye
Cryin bye and bye ah baby won't you bye and bye

Cryin gon wash my face in the Gulf of Mexico
Gon wash my face in the doggone Gulf of Mexico
Gon to eat my breakfast some doggone thousand mile below

Outro


Thanks,
            Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:22:03 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2014, 04:47:11 PM »
Big Road Blues



Intro

Cryin ain't goin down that(?) big road by myself now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Lord ain't goin down that big road by myself
If I don't care you care somebody else

Cryin the sun gon shine in my back door someday now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Lord sun gon shine in my back door someday
And the wind gon change and gon blow my blues away

Baby what make you do me like you do do do like you do do do don't you hear me now
What make you do me like you do do do
Now you think you gon do me like you done poor Cherry Red

Take the poor boy's money now sure Lord won't take mine now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Take the poor boy's money now sure Lord won't take mine
Take the poor boys money now sure Lord won't take mine

Cryin ain't gon be your low down dog no more now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Lord ain't gon be your low down dog no more
And I ain't gon be your low down dog no more

Cryin what good is a bulldog he won't bark or bite now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
What good is a bulldog he won't bark or bite
What good i' oooh woman if she won't let youuu stay all nigheee(t)

Baby what make you do m' like you do do do like you do do do don't you heare now
What make you do me like you do do do
Now you think you gon do me like you done poor Cherry Red

Take the poor boy's money now sure Lord won't take mine now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Take the poor boy's money now sure Lord won't take mine
Take the poor boy's money now sure Lord won't take mine

Cryin the sun gon shine in my back door some day now don't you hear me talkin pretty mama
Lord sun gon shine in my back door some day
Lord there gon come a wooo wind gon blow myyyyy blues away


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:22:43 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2014, 05:01:08 PM »
Maggie Campbell



Now who's that yonder comin down the road comin down the road mmm
Who's that yonder comin down the road
Well it look like Maggie baby m but she walk too slow

Now I'm goin away won't be back til fall won't be back til fall mmm
Goin away now won't be back til fall
If I meet my good gal well I won't be back at all

Now sun gon shine in my back door some day my back door some day mmm
Sun gon shine in my back door some day
And the wind gon change um baby gon blow my blues away

Solo

Now see see rider see what you done done see what you done done mmm
See see rider see what you done done
You done made me love you now you tryin to put me down

Now ain't gon be your low down dog no more low down dog no more mmm
Ain't gon be your low down dog no more
Cause I been dog ever since I been your man

Mmm goin away won't be back til fall won't be back til fall
Goin away now won't be back til fall
If I meet my good gal well I won't be back at all

Mmm who's that yonder comin down the road comin down the road mmm
Who's that yonder comin down the road
Well it look like Maggie baby but she walk too slow

Cryin sun gon shine in my back door some day my back door some day mmm
Sun gon shine in my back door some day
And the wind gon change um baby gon blow my blues away

Outro


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:23:24 PM by Johnm »

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2014, 09:55:36 AM »
Meet Me In The Bottom



Hey meet me in the bottom bring me my boots and shoes tonight you mama great God almighty
Meet me in the bottom bring my boots and shoes
I got to leave town mama and I ain't got no time to lose

I love my baby yes God knows I do tonight you mama great God almighty
Love my baby yes god knows I do
I don't love nobody in this whole round world but you

Solo

Well the woman I love she 'bout five feet from the ground tonight you mama great God almighty
Woman I love she 'bout five feet from the ground
Yes she's tailor made and she ain't no hand me down

I'm gon love my baby yes God knows I do tonight you mama great God almighty
I love my baby yes God knows I do
I don't love nobody in this whole round world but you

Solo

Hey meet me in the bottom bring me my boots and shoes tonight you mama great God almighty
Meet me in the bottom bring my boots and shoes
I got to leave town mama and I ain't got no time to lose

Solo

I love my baby yes God knows I do tonight you mama great God almighty
I love my baby yes god knows I do
I don't love nobody in this whole round world but you

Outro


Thanks,
           Scott
« Last Edit: July 07, 2020, 01:24:04 PM by Johnm »

Offline Laura

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2014, 11:02:11 AM »
Thanks so much for doing all these, Scott.  I've nothing to contribute currently but I've been listening to him all day, inspired by your marathon transcribing effort :D

Offline Johnm

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2014, 11:05:26 AM »
I'll echo Laura's thanks, Scott.  I think in "Meet Me In The Bottom" the tag at the end of the opening line of each verse may be "TONIGHT, you mama, Great God almighty".
All best,
Johnm

Offline ScottN

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Re: Shirley Griffith Lyrics
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2014, 12:05:26 PM »
Hi John and Laura - thanks, he sure is great to listen to. I just wish there was more available.  I love the driving bounce to his playing.  And his singing really draws me in.  Although most of his verses seem like seem pretty set, the inflection and emphasis makes them sound continually fresh to my ears, even when he repeats verses within the same song.  Also, even though most of his material is covers, he seems to reshape them all into sounding like his own.

Thanks again and John, I incorporated your suggested change to Meet Me In The Bottom.

Scott

 


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