Topic: Blind Willie McTell lyrics

[banjochris]

Savannah Mama B.W.McTell 1933

Goin back to Savannah baby, write my initials on the wall
Goin back to Savannah mama, write my initials on the wall
Cause you know Georgia women don?t mean me no good at all

From a few months ago, but I saw this as I was reading today's new post. I'm pretty sure the last line is "'Cause THESE NORTH Georgia women don't mean me no good at all."
Chris

[Gumbo]

... and such good suggestions they are too! Corrected.

a couple of suggestions:

Yeah Hello sister give me 2-8-9

HELLO CENTRAL give me 2-8-9

Y'hello sugar but sug?that's you

HELLO sugar BUNCH, IS THIS you?

take time sugar needs? my misery

take time sugar AND EASE my misery

[pete12string]

And the second take.

All for now.
John C.

Broke Down Engine No. 2 [Take 1] and [Take 2]:
Who are these two versions by?

[Gumbo]

And the second take.

All for now.
John C.

Broke Down Engine No. 2 [Take 1] and [Take 2]:
Who are these two versions by?

They're by Buddy Moss, Pete

[Gumbo]

Bell Street Blues
April 23rd 1935 with Curley Weaver




I live down in Bell Street alley just as drunk as i can be
I live down in Bell Street alley just as drunk as i can be
seem like those Bell Street crow janes done got rough with me

I drink so much Bell Street whiskey they won't sell Mctell no more
I drink so much Bell Street whiskey they won't sell poor boy Mctell no more
I'm got the cans and glasses, boys, laying all around my door

This Bell Street whiskey make you sleep all in your clothes
This ol' Bell Street whiskey make you sleep all in your clothes
and when you wake up next morning feel like you done laid outdoors

you can get booze down on Bell Street for two bits and half a throw
you can get booze down on Bell Street two bits and half a throw
it'll make you say that your mother an father an the judge break out the jailhouse door

Ah, Play it now
Play it about that Bell Street whiskey
I know you wild about cause I done seen you down there
you won't stay out of Bell Street alley

walked in my room, the other night
man come in, he want to fight
took my gun, my right hand
hold me people I don't want to kill no man
when i said that he rapped me cross my head
the first shot I fired then the man fell dead
Bell Street whiskey drove me to the county jail
got me laying back here on my bunk
nobody in the world'll go my bail

EDITED to include corrections from dj

[dj]

1.3:  Seem like THEM BELL STREET crow janes HAS done got rough with me

2.3:  I'M got the cans and glasses, boys, laying all around my door 

3.1:  THIS bell street whiskey make you sleep all in your clothes
3.2:  THIS ol' bell street whiskey make you sleep all in your clothes

During solo:  (Spoken) AH, PLAY IT NOW
   PLAY IT ABOUT that Bell Street whiskey
   I know you wild about cause I done seen you DOWN there
   You won't stay out of Bell Street alley

[Gumbo]

good ears dj - thankee - I'm making the changes now

[maddoggirl]

The line "Make you say your mother and father..." etc. didn't sound right to me, but listening to the other version he recorded (Bell Street Lightning, more or less the same, but recorded 2 years previously) made me realise that McTell probably misspoke in this recording. The alternate version line is "It'll make you cuss out the judge in the courthouse." which reads a lot clearer.

[frailer24]

Could anyone be able to find the words for the "King Edward Blues"? Thanks a million.

[Gumbo]

Start us off there frailer! If you post what you have so far all sorts of helpful folks will down tools and add suggestions and informative discussion!

[Stuart]

It's not in Michael Taft's concordance, but here's the link for those who may not be familiar with his site:

http://www.dylan61.se/taft.htm

Not 100% reliable, but useful none the less.

[frailer24]

Here's what I can remember so far:

Tell me honey, now tell me please,
Is my lover not hard to please?
I'm getting groggy in my knees,
Baby and it must be love.

Funny feelin' reaches up my spine,
My head like cherry wine,
Makes me think the world's all mine,
Baby and it must be love.

I hear church bells ringin',
I see pigeons clear,
I hear the birdies singin',
(?) there's no birdies there

[Gumbo]

My apologies, frailer, I didn't realise you didn't have access to a recording. I don't have it either. Hearing the youtube of it I hear it's a version of Honey, It Must Be Love from Pig n Whistle Red CD, which is a nice surprise - great song!

here's the vid

[banjochris]

It's the Library of Congress (and first) recording of the song, from 1940. Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.

King Edward Blues

McTell: I'm singin' a song that I made myself off the notable, honorable King Edward. "Baby It Must Be Love."

Lomax: Wait, wait a minute. This is Blind Willie ? McTell, playing at Atlanta, Georgia.

Tell me honey, now tell me please
Is my lover now hard to please
I'm gettin' groggy in my knees
Baby and it must be love.

A funny feelin' reaches up my spine,
To my head like cherry wine,
Make me think the world's all mine,
Baby and it must be love.

I hear the church bell ringin'
I see visions clear,
I hear the birdies singin',
I know darn well there's no birdies there.

I don't like your shirts and ties
They don't seem to harmonize
They don't match them big brown eyes,
Baby and it must be love.

Spoken: Beat it out.

Can be a rich man, a poor man, a beggar man, king
It'll make you give up everything,
Every time you feel that sting,
Honey it must be love.

Made a preacher lay his bible down,
Made a rabbit hug a hound,
Made King Edward give up his crown,
Baby and it must be love.

I hear the church bell ringin'
I see visions clear,
I hear the birdies singin',
Know darn well there's no birdies there.

I don't like your shirts and ties
They don't seem to harmonize
They don't match those big brown eyes,
Mama and it must be love.
Baby and it must be love.

[frailer24]

Thank you, Chris! And Gumbo, no apology needed.