Topic: Blind Blake Lyrics

[joe paul]

No Dough Blues, things seem right except the very last line. I couldn't make it out for the life of me, then I found a transcription on the internet but it doesn't make much sense, or does it? Coal, sure.... Cold kitchen range? Some double meaning?



It's a hard, hard time, good man can't get no dough
It's a hard, hard time, good man can't get no dough
All I do for my baby don't satisfy her no more

I ain't got no job, now you goin' put me down
I ain't got no job, now you goin' put me down
You goin' quit me baby for a hard-workin brown

Times is so hard now, maybe things will change some day
Times is so hard now, maybe things will change some day
And when I get a job, maybe you will change your way

Don't quit me baby 'cos I can't find no work to do
Don't quit me baby 'cos I can't find no work to do
All the dirt you done to me is comin back home to you

I used to be a joker, now I'm gonna make a change
Used to be a joker, now I'm gonna make a change
I'm goin get me a job, keep callin' your .... keep coal in your cold kitchen range   ()

Two requests in one afternoon - think I need to start helping out on these threads too.
Oh, and Ghostrider Alex, I like Walkin' Across the Country, didn't know that song. Thanks. How's it going learning it?

Gordon

[Gumbo]

that's what i hear - keep coal in your cold kitchen range.

he's gonna earn some money so he can put fuel in the stove. the poor girl hasn't had any heat in her stove for so long he's gonna actually gonna go out and work. Who says love is dead?

here is a Stanley no.9 kitchen range:





Double meaning? perhaps .. perhaps ...

Of course I don't mean to imply that her stove is necessarily that big!

[joe paul]

Thanks! I didn't know the expression 'kitchen range'. And yes, what a gentleman, what a sacrifice for his woman.

[GhostRider]

Howdy:

In my quest to play more tunes that relate to me personally, I've started to learn "A New Style of Lovin'". The first part of this tune (on the Document Blind Blake Vol. 3) is possibly the most whupped I've ever tried. The first verse especially bad. Again I don't have a functioning CD drive, so if anyone could post the .mp3, I'd appreciate it.



A New Style of Lovin'
Blind Blake
Standard tuning, Key of C

Intro
(spoken) Aw, this new style of lovin' everybody crazy about

1)My sweetie asked me t'other day
I only (?) croon my way.
Chorus:
Lord this new style of lovin, they all crazy 'bout
And if you'll be my sweet mama, I'll show you what it's all about

2) I had a gal I used to love for myself
I tried to quit her and she killed herself
Chorus:

3) Instrumental break

4) I saw a crowd on the corner, I wondered what could it be.
Nothin' but the women tryin' to get to me
Chorus:

5) Walkin' through the depot, suitcase in my hand.
Women runnin' in cryin', hollarin' "Be my man!".
Chorus:

6) This new style of lovin', Lord, must be the best.
The women in this town just won't let me rest.


See what I mean?

Thanks,
Alex

Note: Picked up corrections from banjochris below. Thanks

[banjochris]

First line almost sounds like it starts: "My sweetie asked me t'other day"

6.1 I'm pretty sure is: This new style of lovin' lord must be best

What a crazy break on that tune!
Chris

[Gumbo]

Low Down Lovin' Gal recorded September 1928
Some help needed in verses 8, 10 and 12



Intro: It is funny, one and one is two, two is one and then they marry. About a year later there is two and one to carry. That's what happened to me and my gal.

listen folks, to my moan
gonna tell you 'bout Sally Jones
she's that everlovin' gal o' mine

I'm a man play one gal
and that's my lovin Sal
she's that everlovin' gal of mine

she stepped out i could see
she tried to two time me
she's that everlovin' gal of mine

so I thought that I'd find out
what this mess was all about
Watch that everlovin' gal of mine

she was tall, she was thin
preached prohibition but sipped her gin
two faced everlovin' gal of mine

thought I'd catch her when I walked in
find her lovin' my brother Jim
socked her jaw, that everlovin' gal of mine

he pulled a gun said she was through
i'm gonna Chicago you, a two gun fool
that everlovin' gal of mine

he tried to shoot, gun wouldn't go
I said that's all i want to know
get that gun, that everlovin' gal of mine

we got married had a baby lamb
but that baby looked like her ice man
it look sad for that everlovin' gal of mine

When the rooster saw the eggs and they was red
he walked across the road and knocked the peacock dead
I tried to do that to that everlovin' gal of mine

she's gone away, boys, and I am glad
making another poor fool sad
that low down everlovin' gal of mine

Six men are in jail, face turned to the wall
but that gal was the cause of it all
she's a heartbreakin'
everlovin gal of mine

EDITED to pick up corrections from Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi Gumbo,
I think the first place with questions marks is:
   "GET that gun!", that ever-lovin' gal o' mine
I think the second place is:
   "SIX MEN ARE iN JAIL, FACE TURNED to the wall
   But that gal was the cause of it all
   She's a heart-BREAKIN', ever-lovin' gal of mine
I think you have "peacock" right in the earlier verse.
Henry "Rufe" Johnson, who recorded for Peter B. Lowry's Trix label did a terrific version of this song.  It's worth seeking out, as is all of his music.
All best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

Thanks John. They sound good so I edited them in.
Henry Rufe Johnson sounds great! Hadn't heard him before and found a couple of tracks on Youtube. Bo Carter's re-write is the reason I bought your Carter dvd and it may eventually be the reason my fingers start working properly!

[Johnm]

Well, that's pretty neat, Gumbo, and you could do a lot worse than to spend some time studying Bo or Blake.  So many great players to work on!  Best of luck with your playing.
All best,
Johnm

[bird to whistle]

I have lived on water and I have lived on land,  (2x)
I ain?t find no woman, better fight with one man.

I think that last line of Sun to Sun is "I ain?t find no woman, satisfied with one man."

It makes more sense in that line, and in the context of the previous lyrics.

[uncle bud]

I agree, bird, that's definitely what he's singing.

[bird to whistle]

What A Low Down Place The Jailhouse Is




I'm here in jail, feeling mighty bad,
jailhouse blues is the worst I've ever had.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

Lord it's hell to sit here like a rat in his hole,
eating cornbread from the floors and beans out of a bowl.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

Iron bars all around me iron chains on my feet,
I'll give half my life, be out on the street.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

I still was a fool to go and break the law,
no other fool to stop that woman in my dough.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

I asked for mercy the judge give me ten years,
I'll never forget that woman when I get out of here.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

There's a man in my cell who stabbed his wife,
only got thirty days to enjoy his life.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

? on the floor
? to stay in to be his dog

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

That cold morning air keeps your skin cold,
know about that I ain't that bad off.

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

You can cry if you want to you can weep and woo,
but God don't care if you die in this room

Why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

If I ever get out I swear on my soul,
I never lose my head over no more jell roll.

But I say why didn't somebody tell me what a lowdown
place the jailhouse is?

[GhostRider]

Two requests in one afternoon - think I need to start helping out on these threads too.
Oh, and Ghostrider Alex, I like Walkin' Across the Country, didn't know that song. Thanks. How's it going learning it?

Gordon

I actually think I got it, after a few years.

Alex

[banjochris]

Some suggestions for "What a Lowdown Place..."

I still was a fool to go and break the law,
no other fool to stop that woman in my dough.

I SURE was a fool to go and break the law,
I SURE WAS A FOOL TO SOCK THAT WOMAN IN HER JAW.

I asked for mercy the judge give me ten years,
I'll never forget that woman when I get out of here.

I asked for mercy the judge give me A YEAR,
I'll never SPEAK TO that woman when I get out of here.

? on the floor
? to stay in to be his dog

HE'S ALWAYS HOLL'IN, MOANIN' on the floor
JUST THE SAME, TO THE 'LECTRIC CHAIR HE WILL GO

That cold morning air keeps your skin cold,
know about that I ain't that bad off.

THAT POOR MAN YELLS, HE CHOKES AND COUGHS,
OH GOD, GLAD I AIN'T THAT BAD OFF

You can cry if you want to you can weep and woo,
but God don't care if you die in this room

You can cry if you want to you can weep and WAIL,
THE GUARDS don't care if you die in this JAIL.

Chris

[bird to whistle]

Excellent work, thank you banjochris.