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In 1968, Wells returned from a State Department-sponsored tour of Africa and told a Newsweek correspondent, "We got to one place and they had banners saying 'Welcome Home, Junior'. I told 'em, man I said, this ain't my home, I live one block north of the Loop. Then they asked me what I thought of black power. I said black power is me making it with Aretha Franklin." - from Larry Cohn's Nothing But The Blues

Author Topic: Frank Stokes Lyrics  (Read 96749 times)

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Offline GhostRider

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Frank Stokes Lyrics
« on: February 25, 2004, 04:29:23 PM »
Howdy:

I've wanted to add a Frank Stokes song to my repetoire for some time, I've finally settled on "It Won't Be Long". It has a great dance beat and enough left hand shenanagans to keep it interesting.

There were two takes of this song released, with few words in common, I don't know which one this is.



IT WON'T BE LONG NOW
Frank Stokes
1928

Acoustic guitar
Key of C
Capo I

(1) Instrumental

(2) Come on mama, you'll miss me from rollin' in your arms
??? miss your babe roll in your arms
You'll (never?) miss your good man and (done?) caught the train and gone

(3) Instrumental

(4) I looked in the sun and the sun was shinin' on
I looked (???) in the sun and the sun was shinin' on
You'll never miss your friend, 'till the last town (ain't gone???)

(5) Instrumental

(6) If you don't want me mama, why don't you tell me so (x2)
So I won't be hangin' 'round your door no more

(7) Instrumental

(Eight) Instrumental

(9) (???) this morning, when I wake up outa my bed
Early this morning, when I wake up outa my bed
(???) up my good gall, these are the words she said

(10) Instrumental

(11) Instrumental

(12) You can tell a good man, when he's away from home
You can tell a good man, lawd, when he's 'way from home
He have a bad luck deal, something of his own

(13) Now what make Memphis women, love around (???) (x2)
'Cus they always stand round, doin' work everywhere you go.

I love that last line (if correct).

I was able to convert the song to an .mp3 file (thanks for the info, frankie), but it was 3.11 MB, 4x the upload limit.

All the best,
Alex
« Last Edit: July 13, 2020, 06:25:33 AM by Johnm »

Offline Slack

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Franks Stokes
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2004, 06:04:51 PM »
Hi Alex, I'll look for the tune (wish I were better organized!).  In the meantime, in CDex, try this:  Select The "Configure" icon (looks like a gear in the lower right portion of the screen), choose the Encoder Tab, Select "bitrate min" = 32kps, select "Mono".  ...and see what size mp3 you end up with.

cheers,
slack

Offline Slack

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Franks Stokes
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2004, 08:18:19 PM »
Alex,

I found my copy on Yazoo, but the words are different - it must be a different take.  Are you working from a Document CD?

Offline frankie

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Franks Stokes
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2004, 08:38:15 PM »
There were two takes of this song released, with few words in common, I don't know which one this is.

I think I must have the other take - there isn't a single verse in common!

Slack's on the right track with the bitrate setting - if you set it for a lower rate, you'll end up with a smaller file (with poorer sound quality, but good enough, I think, for what we're trying to do).

Offline GhostRider

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Re: It Won't Be Long Now by Frank Stokes
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2004, 08:56:42 AM »
Frankie and Slack:

You guys are geniuses (genii?). 800 KB on the nose. Now, let's see if this works.

BTW, I got this version fron a 2 CD compilation called "A Portrait of Vintage Blues". 48 tracks for less than $30 Canadian. Terrific sound quality. Get this compilation (check out "Organ Grinder").

[attachment deleted by admin]
« Last Edit: March 09, 2004, 09:57:41 AM by pyrochlore »

Offline uncle bud

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2004, 09:30:58 AM »
Hi Alex,

What label is it on?

Offline GhostRider

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Re: It Won't Be Long Now by Frank Stokes
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2004, 10:02:15 AM »
Hi UB:

The CDs are on a label called Gallerie (Great Britian I think) The release # is Gale 436.

Contains (among others) High Water
Everywhere, a great Josh White spiritual, KC Blues by the Memphis Jug Band, Jealous Hearted Man by Buddy Moss, Drop Down Mama by Sleepy John Estes.

And Organ Grinder.

Alex
« Last Edit: March 09, 2004, 09:59:07 AM by pyrochlore »

Offline frankie

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2004, 08:42:29 PM »
Nice job on the mp3, Alex - gotta love freeware that works!? Frank Stokes can be hard to figure out - he seems to like cramming a lot of words into a small amount of space.? Listening to this left me wondering if this is an unissued take of this tune...

Quote
??? miss your babe roll in your arms
You'll (never?) miss your good man and (done?) caught the train and gone

Now you'll miss your babe roll in your arms

The end of the verse sounds to me like he sings:

You'll never miss your good man and he caught the train and gone

That's my story, anyway .? Sounds like it ought to be 'til...

Quote
I looked (???) in the sun and the sun was shinin' on

I looked up in the sun...

Quote
You'll never miss your friend, 'till the last town (ain't gone???)

You'll never miss your friend, 'till he left town and gone

Quote
(???) this morning, when I wake up outa my bed

??? indeed...? sounds like he starts to say "when", then tries to not say it...? I dunno...

Quote
(???) up my good gall, these are the words she said

This sounds like one of those lines where he crams as many syllables into one small space as he can - sounds to me something like:

I've got a letter for my good gal, these are the words it said

Whew...?

Quote
Now what make Memphis women, love around (???) (x2)
'Cus they always stand round, doin' work everywhere you go.

This is a lovely line:

Now what make Memphis women love a rounder so?
Now what make Memphis women love a rounder so?
'cause he always stay in trim, do his work everywhere he go

and Stokes does look like a pretty fit guy, doesn't he?

For what it's worth, he uses a similar line to open Memphis Rounder's Blues:

Now what make Memphis women love a rounder so?
Now what make Memphis women, baby, love a rounder so?
'cause he takes his time, do his work everywhere he go

Offline Slack

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2004, 09:42:55 PM »
Yes, good work on the MP3, you're an Audio pro now. Good to know about that freebie Pgm.

I hear a few differences. Frankie is right, he crams lots of words.

Quote
Quote
miss your babe roll in your arms
You'll (never?) miss your good man and (done?) caught the train and gone

Now you'll miss your babe roll in your arms
The end of the verse sounds to me like he sings:
You'll never miss your good man and he caught the train and gone
That's my story, anyway .? Sounds like it ought to be '

Now Ma-Mama miss me from rollin in your arms
Now you'll miss your babe roll in your arms
You'll never miss your good man caught the train and gone

Quote
Quote
I looked () in the sun and the sun was shinin' on
I looked up in the sun...

I looked up at the sun and the sun was shining warm (x2)
You'll never miss your friend, 'till he left town and gone

Quote
Quote
() this morning, when I wake up outa my bed
indeed...? sounds like he starts to say "when", then tries to not say it...? I dunno...

To me it sounds like he says "Well it's early this morn..." the ifrst time and just "Early this morning... " the 2nd time through.

Quote
() up my good gall, these are the words she said

Sounds to me like:
I'd rather look up my good gal...
« Last Edit: April 19, 2005, 10:12:52 AM by Johnm »

Offline frankie

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2004, 04:47:08 AM »
Quote
I looked up at the sun and the sun was shining warm (x2)
You'll never miss your friend, 'till he left town and gone

Agreed, Slack - in the clarity of morning, I'm definitely hearing this...

Quote
() up my good gall, these are the words she said

Listening again this morning, it sounds more like:

I got a letter from my good gal, these are the words she said.

Offline Slack

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2004, 06:42:27 AM »
Quote
I got a letter from my good gal, these are the words she said.

And!  it makes sense. ;)

cheers,

Offline frankie

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2004, 10:22:16 PM »
Quote
And!? it makes sense. ;)

A bonus!? Ain't it sweet when it works out that way?

Offline GhostRider

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Re: It Won't Be Long Now by Frank Stokes
« Reply #12 on: February 29, 2004, 04:10:50 PM »
Hi all:

The version so far.

And thanks. I never would have gotten "warm" or "Rounder" in a million years.

IT WON'T BE LONG NOW
Frank Stokes
1928

Solo acoustic guitar
Key of C
Capo I

(1) Instrumental

(2) Come on mama, you'll miss me from rollin' in your arms
 Now you'll miss your babe roll in your arms
You'll never miss your good man and he caught the train and gone

(3) Instrumental

(4) I looked in the sun and the sun was shinin' warm
I looked (up?) in the sun and the sun was shinin' warm
You'll never miss your friend, 'till he left town and gone.

(5) Instrumental

(6) If you don't want me mama, why don't you tell me so (x2)
So I won't be hangin' 'round your door no more

(7) Instrumental

(Eight) Instrumental

(9) One of these this mornings, mama, when I wake up outa my bed
Early this morning, when I wake up outa my bed
I got a letter from my good gal, these are the words she said

(10) Instrumental

(11) Instrumental

(12) You can tell a good man, when he's away from home
You can tell a good man, lawd, when he's 'way from home
He have a bad luck deal, somethin' of his own

(13) Now what make Memphis women love a rounder so (x2)
'Cause they always stay in trim, doin' work everywhere he go.

How's that look,
Alex
« Last Edit: June 25, 2011, 09:16:52 AM by Johnm »

Offline frankie

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #13 on: February 29, 2004, 06:36:41 PM »
Solo (?) acoustic guitar

Hi Alex - just wanted to say that I think it's Stokes alone on this tune.

Offline GhostRider

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Re: It Won't Be Long by Frank Stokes
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2004, 01:07:14 PM »
Hi frankie:

After repeated listening, I agree with you.

Alex

 


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