Topic: Shirley Griffith Lyrics

[Laura]

I agree, Scott.  His singing is completely chilled out, yet powerful at the same time.  He gets some really pretty melodies on the guitar in lots of the songs, too.

I was playing around with his "Going Away Blues" today, so here are the lyrics for that:

------------------------------------
Shirley Griffith
Going Away Blues

I woke up this morning with the same things on my mind
'cos she keeps me worried and bothered all the time

Well I love my baby, tell the world I do
I don't love nobody in this whole round world but you

Well looky here, pretty mama, what do you want me to do?
You must want me to lay down and die for you

I'm goin', I'm goin' and your cryin' won't do no good
Babe, the more you cry, baby, it's gonna help me on my way

Well the blues ain't nothing but a good woman on your mind
She'll keep you worried and bothered all the time
-------------------------------------------

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Shirley Griffith played "Back To Bed" on his Blue Goose album.  The song is in E position, standard tuning, and has an infectious signature lick.  Shirley's singing is powerful, as usual.

Woke up this morning, went right back to bed
I woke up this morning, went right back to bed
I had the blues so bad, I couldn't rest easily here

Goin' away to, wear you off my mind
I'm goin' away to wear you off my mind
And I'm goin' away just to wear you off my mind

Who in the world told that ugly lie?
Wonder who in the world told that ugly lie?
Must've been the rising eagle, sure gon' rise and fly

Love my baby, tell the world I do
I love my baby, yes, God knows I do
I don't love nobody, whole round world but you

Goin' away, won't be back 'til Fall
I'm goin' away, I won't be back 'til Fall
And if I happen to meet my good gal, won't be back at all

Goin' to the river, buy me a rockin' chair
Well, I'm goin' to the river, I'm gonna take my rockin' chair
And if the blues overtake me, rock on 'way from here

That's your woman, you better buy you a lock and key
If that's your woman, you buy you a lock and key
Because it's the only way you can keep her away from me

All best,
Johnm

 

[banjochris]

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".

Just reading over this thread and listening to some Shirley Griffith -- I'm pretty sure he's singing "tee-nicey mama, great God almighty."

There are several singers who sing this in this song, Lightnin' Hopkins for one and I know I've heard others sing it. "Tee-Nicey" I would assume is a variation on "teeny-tiny" -- Googling it looks like the most common spelling is "teeninecy" or variations of that. Bill Gaither's version is "Tee-Ninecy."

I believe there's someone in the Charlie Patton biography who has "Tee-Nicey" as a nickname, some relative of Patton's.
Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks for that information, Chris.  I'll re-listen to the recording and will make the change, I'm sure.
All best,
Johnm

[Sudsbury]

Thanks Scott  -- was looking for lyrics to River Line Blues, and found them here.
Cheers,
Sudsbury

[Mr.OMuck]

Shirley Griffith is as important to me and my development as a player as almost anybody. His Prestige album Saturday Blues was one of the first I bought at 16 or 17. There is an intimacy to his music that is hard to find elsewhere.
He has a slightly introverted quality that made me feel privileged to have him share it with me/us. Much of my repertoire derives from that album right into the present.I was fortunate enough to see him play here in New York in the early '70's and that same sense of internalization pervaded his performance.

[Mr.OMuck]

Btw I 've always heard it as "She's not your Mama,.... Great God amighty"