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Author Topic: Edward Thompson Lyrics  (Read 5164 times)

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Offline frankie

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Edward Thompson Lyrics
« on: September 01, 2004, 10:19:00 AM »
Been listening & working with the four tunes of his on Yazoo's Alabama Blues, conveniently loaded on the juke as well.  Each of them is in a different key:

Seven Sister Blues:  A
Florida Bound:  E
West Virginia Blues:  D (poss. Drop D, although he seems to suffer from pathological sixth string avoidance on this one)
Showers of Rain Blues:  G

Only one of them (Showers of Rain) adheres to what one might think of as a "standard" structure.  The others elongate the form by repeating the change to the IV chord, which gives those songs an archaic sound.  He's got a great ear for interesting sounds and varies the tone of his attack during the course of the song.  Maybe my favorite moment is the end of the break on Florida Bound (over the A chord), where it sounds like he's picking right next to the bridge - a sharp, shimmery sound in the treble combined with a crunchy bass...  excellent!

There's another tune by him on the juke (from the Paramount Masters set) - an eight bar blues in E called Up On The Hill Blues.  Haven't been able to check that one out closely, yet.

The tunes:  Here is "Seven Sister Blues":



Seven Sister Blues

Coal black woman, fry no meat for me
A coal black woman can't fry no meat for me
You know black is evil, that gal may poison me

I got a new way of spelling sweet old Tennessee
New way of spelling sweet old Tennessee
New way of spelling sweet old Tennessee
Double T, double N, double T, double S you see

Well she rolled and tumbled and cried the whole night long
Rolled and tumbled, cried the whole night long
Rolled and tumbled, cried the whole night long
She received the message that the man she loved was gone

How'd she cry?

Said my love like water, it turns off and on
Love like water, it turns off and on
Love like water, it turns off and on
When you think I'm lovin' I done turned off and gone

When the dead wagon rolled up with the rumblin' sound
Dead wagon rolled up with the rumblin' sound
Dead wagon rolled up with the rumblin' sound
Said I know by that my gal were graveyard bound

Florida Bound  Here is "Florida Bound":



I'm going to Florida, where I can have my fun
I'm going to Florida, where I can have my fun
Lay down in the green grass, look up at the sun

Said "Mr. Redcap porter, help me with my load."
"Redcap porter, help me with my load."
"Redcap porter, help me with my load."
"Told your steamboat captain, Let me get on board."

Got a letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
Letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
Letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
You can't blame me for leaving, Lord I'm Florida bound

If your home in Florida, what in the world you doing up here?
Home in Florida, what you doing up here?
Home in Florida, what you doing up here?
Oh where will you be this time another year?

My mama told me, papa told me, too
Mama told me, papa told me, too
Mama told me, papa told me, too
Don't you let them bell-bottoms make no fool of you

West Virginia Blues  Here is "West Virginia Blues":



Going to West Virginia
Going to West Virginia
Going to West Virginia where the brown I love, Lord
Going to West Virginia where the brown I love
Going to West Virginia where the brown I love
Ain't nobody stop me but the Lord above

I hate to see, Lord
I hate to see, Lord
I hate to see the evening sun go down, Lord
I hate to see the evening sun go down
I hate to see, Lord, the evening sun go down
Lord, it make me think I'm on my last go-round

My brown done caught me
My brown done caught me
My brown caught me this morning soon, Lord
My brown caught me this morning soon
My brown done caught me this morning soon
Lord, I go so far to get my loving done

She used to love me
She used to love me
She used to love me, she love me no more, Lord
She used to love me, she don't love me no more
She used to love me, she don't love me no more
Got another man, she don't love me no more

She used to rock me
She used to rock me
Used to rock me in the morning soon, Lord
Used to rock me in the morning soon
She used to rock me in the morning soon
Got another man, she don't rock me no more

Old black dog
Old black dog
Old black dog, baby, when I'm gone, Lord
Old black dog, baby, when I'm gone
Old black dog, baby, when I'm gone
Come with my money, "Baby, where you been so long?"

See them peaches
See them peaches
See them peaches hanging in that tree, Lord
See them peaches hanging in that tree
See them peaches hanging in that tree
Say you know that brown gonna be the death of me

Showers of Rain Blues  Here is "Showers of Rain Blues":



Don't mistreat me, mama, because I'm young and wild
Don't mistreat me, mama, because I'm young and wild
Say you must remember you once have been a child

Mama, don't ever drive a stranger from your door
Mama, don't ever drive a stranger from your door
He may be your best friend, baby, you don't know

Now I love my brownie, don't care what she do
I love my brownie, don't care what she do
Some one of these days, she gonna love me too

I went to the station in a shower rain
I went to the station in a shower rain
I seen the brown I love when she caught the northbound train

Going up on the mountain, look down in the sea
Going up on the mountain, look down in the sea
Must be the whales and fishes doing the shivaree

-- edited to add tenderfoot's suggestion for Seven Sister Blues

Offline Johnm

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2004, 02:59:46 PM »
Hi Frank,
You're right about Edward Thompson, he was great and versatile.  To have recorded so few sides and to have them all be in different keys/positions makes you feel like he was seriously under-recorded.  He also sounds nothing like Ed Bell/Barefoot Bill, so it kind of makes you wonder if Alabama in the '20s and '30s had a similar degree of musical variety to Mississippi's in that period, that simply went un-recorded for the most part.  It seems likely.
I figured out "West Virginia Blues" and found it to be really tricky, especially in the thumb-work.  It has a very driving, straight up and down feel, sort of like Robert Wilkins's, "I'll Go With Her, and similarly has some jerky syncopations which can really be elusive.  I had prepared "Seven Sisters" for the class on "A" blues at Port Townsend, but didn't end up having enough time to get to it.  Maybe next time.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Montgomery

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2004, 03:47:54 PM »
Thanks Frankie, for deciphering the first line of Seven Sister.  I've racked my brains over it for several years.  I could only hear "Coal black woman, follow me for me," which of course I knew was wrong.
I've always been amazed at Thompson's range (and also how unmistakeable his sound is regardless of the key in which he's playing) and also wondered what else he was capable of.
Perhaps the strangest recordings from Alabama (though recorded in Chicago) are the ones by Moses Mason.

Offline frankie

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2004, 06:18:41 PM »
Listening again, I think you're right about 'Coal black woman' - definitely clearer the second time he repeats it.

One of the things I like best about him is the way he seems be able to make just enough use of conventions to make things sound familiar, but still manages to find an interesting riff or turn of phrase that makes it all sound fresh.  It's amazing that both he and Tom Dickson weren't recorded more thoroughly...  what a bummer.

Offline waxwing

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2004, 07:27:22 PM »
And, in case anyone else was wondering, the sixth song is: When You Dream of Muddy Water. All six are available on DOCD-5165, Alabama Black Secular & Religious Music 1927 - 1934. All of ET's sides were recorded in '29. You guys just keep turnin' me on to deeper and deeper stuff. Keep it up. Like I keep sayin', I'm just a pup with this stuff.
All for now.
John C.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
George Bernard Shaw

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”
Joseph Heller, Catch-22

http://www.youtube.com/user/WaxwingJohn
CD on YT

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2004, 08:01:19 PM »
And, in case anyone else was wondering, the sixth song is: When You Dream of Muddy Water. All six are available on DOCD-5165, Alabama Black Secular & Religious Music 1927 - 1934. All of ET's sides were recorded in '29. You guys just keep turnin' me on to deeper and deeper stuff. Keep it up. Like I keep sayin', I'm just a pup with this stuff.
All for now.
John C.

This collection which includes Wiley Barner, Moses Mason, Edward Thompson, Slim Duckett & Pig Norwood (excellent name), Marshall Owens, and Tom Bradford should show up on the Juke in the next couple days.

Offline frankie

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2004, 05:53:26 AM »
Lyrically, I think my favorite songs are Florida Bound and Showers of Rain Blues.  He wraps interesting words around fairly standard topics in blues verse, like these two verses from Florida Bound:

Quote
Got a letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
Letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
Letter from my daddy, bought me a piece of ground
You can't blame me for leaving, Lord I'm Florida bound

If your home in Florida, what in the world you doing up here?
Home in Florida, what you doing up here?
Home in Florida, what you doing up here?
Oh where will you be this time another year?

These are all about moving on, leaving, transience...  but manage to address the topic in a different way.  They also ring true, as if they come directly from snippets of conversation.

Another favorite verse is from Showers of Rain Blues:

Quote
I went to the station in a shower rain
I went to the station in a shower rain
I seen the brown I love when she caught the northbound train

Losing a loved one to a train is hardly new in blues, but the words ET uses to set the scene put one right in the moment, imo.

Offline tenderfoot84

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2006, 11:57:04 AM »
hey frankie,
i think the last line in the 1st verse of seven sister blues should be that gal may poison me, rather than that just may poison me.
it's a tiny point but the vocal on this song is soooo cool i think that a long drawn out "gal" fits.
i'm loving trying to play this song. edward thompson is one of my favourite players and i only have this and up on the hill - another masterpiece!!!
Cheerybye,
David C

Offline tenderfoot84

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2006, 11:43:03 PM »
here's a ridiculously sketchy Up On The Hill Blues:  Here is "Up On The Hill Blues":



1. oh lord {} oh i'm goin up on the hill
now my brown done quit me, but i love her still

2. hummed verse


3. the brown i love like the god up above
well if she been {} i couldn't hardly walk

4. when you see you come mama i hate just the way you do
goin up the country {} the whole day through

5. {} one thing baby have i done wrong
meet in the bottom one day too long

6. {} shinin down to the tree
oh my brown {} packing up to leave

7. says i love my brown like a schoolboy loves his pie
and if that ain't loving, hoping i may die

8. my {} come runnin', hollerin' holding up (his?) hand
mama clothes all mussed up, don't let him hurt my man

9. says i'm on my knees pray to the lord above
the boss-man quit me {} (drown?) my love

if you've ever heard any of these verses elsewhere let me know because this seems like another edwards lyrical gem to me. what i can piece together at least. this guy was so original. where is the best place to locate all his sides? does anyone know ANYTHING about edward thompson?
« Last Edit: August 22, 2022, 02:51:37 PM by Johnm »
Cheerybye,
David C

Offline frankie

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2006, 12:52:38 PM »
Hi David - thanks for the correction on Seven Sister Blues.  I changed the original post in the tread.  I've been listening on and off to Up On The Hill Blues and while there are definitely holes in what I can make out, I can suggest at least these changes to what you have:

2nd line of verse 4: 

Goin' up the country, girl I can't take you

verse 5:

It ain't but one thing, baby have I done wrong
meet in the bottom one day too long.

verse 6:

Don't the moon look pretty shining down through the trees
Don't my brown look lonesome packing up to leave.

verse 8:

My baby come runnin', hollerin' holding up (his? yup, sounds like "his") hand
Mama clothes all mussed up, "Don't let him hurt my man!"


Offline tenderfoot84

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2006, 06:15:59 AM »
hey frankie,
you've got very good ears for this game! i'm now convincing myself that he's singing "holding up both hands" but maybe not! can you play this song - i'm not really getting it together.

i love that verse with the moon shinin down through the trees. it's now an all-time favourite. thanks!

i like your stuff on the back porch btw. espec. rambler blues and snigglin blues. i'm trying to get barefoot bill's hard luck blues - it's really fun trying to grasp the phrasing/feeling of barefoot bill.

Cheerybye,
David C

Offline frankie

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Re: Edward Thompson
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2006, 07:51:49 AM »
Hi David - that is a nice phrase...  I'm pretty sure that it shows up in other tunes, at least one by Charlie Patton uses it - "Poor Me" maybe?

Glad you like the tunes.  Florida Bound is in there somewhere, too...  I struggled a lot with Snigglin' Blues and just started picking it up again after having not played it since I worked it out.  I think there's a version of Ed Bell's Mamlish Blues that needs to be coaxed out of Prof Scratchy!

I haven't yet worked out Up On The Hill Blues, but it's basically an 8-bar blues in E:

I - V - IV - IV - I - V - I/V - I

Sounds like ET likes to play the V (B7) with the 5th of the chord in the bass (F sharp - 2nd fret, 6th string).  The vocal melody is prettier than most 8-bar blues, perhaps, and it seems like it'd be a fun song to sing.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Edward Thompson Lyrics
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2012, 04:28:39 PM »
Hi all,
Edward Thompson's "Up On The Hill Blues", that Frank alludes to in the last post, is a real beauty.  It's an 8-bar blues played out of E in standard tuning with a really nice melody and a kind of dark cast, partially as a result of Thompson using a minor V7 chord in the 6th bar of the form, a Bm7 with its fifth, F#, in the bass.  The version I have is from the "Paramount Masters" set on JSP.  I wonder if this is one of those records that there is only one known copy of in the hands of collectors, for it is thoroughly whupped.  Some of these lyrics are quite difficult to hear, but if we could collaboratively figure it out, that would be great.

   I'm goin' down in Deep Bottom, babe, I'm gonna fall right in
   Lord, my girl done quit me, but I love her still

   Mmmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm, hmmmm
   Mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm, hmmmmm

   [And the brown I love] shine these eyes up [her door]
   [But it's feelin' so good] I couldn't hardly go

   It's the thing you got, mama, ain't just the way you do
   Goin' up the country, but I can't take you

   SOLO

   It ain't but one thing, baby, that I done wrong
   Stayed in Deep Bottom one day too long

   Don't the moon look pretty, shinin' down through the trees?
   Don't my brown look lonesome, packin' up to leave?

   SOLO

   Says, I love my brown like a schoolboy loves his pie
   And if that ain't lovin', hopin' I may die

   My baby come runnin', hollerin', holdin' up those hands
   [                                                                                 ]

   SOLO

   Set down on my knee, prayed to the Lord above
   Says, "Lord, please send me back the brown I love."

Edited 1/16 to pick up corrections from Gumbo

All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: January 16, 2012, 10:31:19 AM by Johnm »

Offline Gumbo

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Re: Edward Thompson Lyrics
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2012, 05:04:27 PM »
     I'm wadin' out in deep BOTTOM, babe, I'm gonna fall right in
   Lord, my girl done quit me, but I love her still

      [If? THE BROWN I love] shine these eyes up above
   [But it's feelin' so good] I couldn't hardly go

   It ain't but one thing, baby, THAT I done wrong
   Stayed in Deep Bottom one day too long

   My baby come runnin', hollerin', holdin' up those hands
   [  HOLLER GOOD LORD, MISTER, DON"T LET EM ?? MY MAN     ]                                                                   


edit - it's interesting to compare the previous transcription by Tenderfoot and Frankie from 2006 above
   
« Last Edit: January 10, 2012, 05:08:45 PM by Gumbo »

Offline Johnm

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Re: Edward Thompson Lyrics
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2012, 10:32:40 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions and help, Gumbo.  For some reason, I misunderstood your post when I first read it.  I've incorporated a number of your suggestions.
All best,
Johnm

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