Topic: Cannon's Jug Stompers Lyrics

[Suzy T]

And, I did a little looking and found that Nashville was the site of Tennessee state penitentiary from 1831 to 1992. 

[Blues Vintage]

"Joilet Bound" by Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie has the same lyrics.

[Stuart]

It appears that "Nashboro" ("Nashborough") was not a mispronunciation, but a reference to Nashville. I did a superficial search and according to the Wikipedia entry, "Fort Nashborough was the stockade established in early 1779 in the French Lick area of the Cumberland River valley, as a forerunner to the settlement that would become the city of Nashville, Tennessee." There was also a "Nashboro Records."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Nashborough

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashboro_Records

My guess is that although it wasn't the official name, some people continued to use it interchangeably with Nashville.

Edited to reflect Wax's correction of 4/18/20. Thanks, Wax! I stand corrected. 

[waxwing]

Stuart, I'm pretty sure Viola Lee Blues is considered to have been written by Noah Lewis, and it is most definitely his strong younger vocal. Not to mention the jug continues under. So no evidence whether Gus, himself, uses Nashville or Nashborough.

Wax

[Stuart]

Thanks for the correction, Wax. I'll modify my post to reflect it.

[Dr Pryor]

Hi, I'm working on a translation of that song into French.
Could it be that the last verse of the Rooster's crowing blues rather says:
"They'll take your baby from you, get right in your bed and grin."
Eric

[Dr Pryor]

Dear all,

Still working on my translation project. One of your contributors posted the whole "Last chance blues" lyrics and there is one line I do not understand:

Then I give you my money, baby, but that don't do no good
I give you my money, baby, but that don't do no good
I think I'm startin' to round to workin', that's just what I should

Can someone tell me what would be the meaning of "to round" in that context?

All the best,
Eric

[banjochris]

Chris beat me to part of this, but here's what I get:

I said hey baby, I'll give you your LAST CHANCE
I said hey hey baby, I'll give you your LAST CHANCE
All you do to wear THOSE dresses, but you want to wear my pants

Says I give you my money, baby, but that don't do no good
I give you my money, baby, but that don't do no good
I think I'm STARTIN' TO 'ROUND TO WORKIN', that's just what I should

That last line seems to be a mis-singing of "startin' around to workin'".

Bringing up an old part of the thread. Was just listening to this again and I think that last line might be:

I think I'm JUST WISE to workin', that's just what I should.

In other words just learning or getting accustomed to working.
Chris

[banjochris]

I just posted about this in the Cannon's lyrics thread. I'm hearing that last line differently – see what you think.
Chris

[banjochris]

Hi, I'm working on a translation of that song into French.
Could it be that the last verse of the Rooster's crowing blues rather says:
"They'll take your baby from you, get right in your bed and grin."
Eric

Pretty sure it's "face" not "bed" – both the sound and from the idea of "grinning in someone's face" when you mean them harm.
Chris

[Dr Pryor]

Hi Chris,

Sorry, I sometimes post in the wrong place. From The Rooster crowing blues, verse # 5, you are positive about:
"They'll take your baby from you, get right in your face and grin"
Is there a special meaning to "get right in your face" (not litteral)? Or is it just "jumping in someone's face"?

From The Last Chance Blues verse #3, I think, like you do, that it can't be:

"I think I'm startin' to round to workin', that's just what I should"

Your proposal: "I think I'm startin' around to workin', that's just what I should"

What about the Herwin Records complete works transcription which seems in resonance with the general tone of the song:
"I think I'll start you out to workin', that's just what I should"?
(admitting that there are many mistakes in their efforts)

[banjochris]

"Get right in your face and grin" means in this case to be openly pretending to be your friend. So after betraying you, the person is still pretending to be your friend, adding insult to injury.

My proposal for the last line of Last Chance is "I think I'm just wise to workin', that's just what I should." I explained in a post on the Cannon's Jug Stompers lyric thread.

Chris

[Dr Pryor]

Thanks for making it clear!

[Dr Pryor]

Sorry I'm getting obssessed with that Last chance blues (what a masterpiece)...

Have you listened carefully to both versions of the song? There is a Beale Street Boys version and a Cannon's Jug Stompers version, both from 1929. One is sung alone and the other partly in unison.

Listening to both version - and taking into account that it's not my native language - I'm sticking to:
"I think I'll start you out to working"

I do hear the sound "ou" and the meaning seems in line with the general idea. Don't know if that's a cultural possibility, but at the same time in France, I could easily imagine a "chanson réaliste" threatening to put a woman at work, which would have meant to put her on the street and force her to have paid relations with other men.

Whattaya thinkaboutit?

[banjochris]

I think you're right – "start you out to working" I hear very clearly on the Cannon and Woods version, and now I hear it on the band version too. It also has the merit of making sense!
Chris