Hi all, Peetie Wheatstraw accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning for "Police Station Blues". I sure wish he had backed himself on guitar for more of his recordings, for his piano-accompanied songs tend to be very repetitious. His singing was expert, and evolved into probably as heavily stylized an approach as the blues has ever seen, abounding in mannerisms. Those mannerisms make transcribing his lyrics challenging, for me, at least, so I'd appreciate correction/corroboration on any of the bent bracketed passages below. Here is his "Police Station Blues":
INTRO
Well now, well, mama, that is some old rainy day Whoo-whoo-mm, babe, I say, some old rainy day Well, well, now, you're gonna be sorry, whoo-whoo, babe, now you walked away
Well, well, sun just rose, mama, now, just above the trees I said, now, when the sun rose, mmm-mmm-mm, just above the trees Well, now, I went to the police station, asked them, "Hey now, give me my little girl, please."
Now, now, now, your days are lonesome, mama, your nights so dreadful long, whoo, cryin', and I mean it Whoo-whoo-mmm, babe, now your nights so dreadful long Well, well, been so many lonesome days, whoo-whoo, well, babe, since I been gone
SOLO
Well, babe, 'morrow's Sunday, whoo-whoo-mm, babe, day, your next day was Christmas Eve, whoo-whoo, well, knows I mean it I say, honey, now tomorrow's Sunday, whoo-whoo, next day was Christmas Eve Well, we'll haven't got a present, mama, placed on your little Christmas tree
Baby, now when are you gon' give me, whoo-whoo-mm, mama now, that you promised me, Lord, I'm cryin', know now I mean it Whoo-whoo-mmm, mama, now that you promised me Well, well, now I don't see why, baby, now, you so hard on me
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 30, 2016, 04:44:29 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, "Long Time Ago Blues" is from pretty early in Peetie Wheatstraw's recording career, 1934, and he played it on guitar, working out of E position in standard tuning, where he seems to have had pretty much a set piece accompaniment that he used for several songs. His guitar playing had exciting time-keeping and a sort of "bundle of nerves" quality that seems like it must have really influenced Robert Johnson. Here is "Long Time Ago Blues":
INTRO
It was one morning, long time ago Mm-hmm well, brown, sayin', a long time ago Well, that day I got in trouble, hmm, well, brown babe, now I've gotta go
I gotta leave here, now I can't stay here no more Ooo-hoo, well, brown, sayin', now I can't stay here no more Well, these troubles, they have got me, mmm, well, Lord, and I gotta go
Ain't it hard to have you a home, and you can't go there no more? Now, ain't it hard to have a home, and you can't go there no more? Well, but now I've got in trouble, well now, brown babe, and I got to go
SOLO
Well, babe, I got up this morning, babe, I walked out in the street I was sayin' I got up this mornin', mama, I walked out in the street And, you know, I met a man, ooo well, brown, he was tryin' to raise a fuss with me
Well now, you know that's the reason, I'm away from home today Mmm-mmm well, that's the reason, I'm away from home today Well, well, well, troubles, they have caused me, hoo well, brown, that I'd be away today
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: February 14, 2018, 05:24:16 PM by Johnm »
Peetie Wheatstraw - voc, piano possibly Charlie Jordan - guitar
We used to have luck in the valley but the girl had to move way out of town We used to have luck in the valley but the girl had to move way out of town Some moved in the alley ooh-well-well because Third Street‘s going down
I had a girl on St. Louis Avenue but Third Street she hung around I had a girl on St. Louis Avenue but Third Street she hung around But the law got so high/hot ? ooh-well-well until Third Street's going down
I wake up one mornin' my face all full of frown Wake up one mornin' my face all full of frown I nothin' about my baby ooh-well-well Third Street's going down
The city hired Mr. Keeler to put a highway through that part of town I said the city hired Mr. Keeler to put a highway through that part of town The law told the girls to move ooh-well-well why because we're tearing Third Street down
« Last Edit: March 15, 2020, 03:38:01 PM by harry »
That's some interesting guitar playing, and the solo seems to veer off into different territory to my ear. If I remember correctly, Peetie was the High Sheriff of Hell. Is there a weenie thread focused on St. Louis players? If not there should be. So many great players.
Peetie Wheatstraw - Vocals, Piano Unknown - Guitar
September 28, 1931 Chicago, Illinois
Key of G
This winter baby gon' be ice and snow You know my little mama gonna be sleeping on your floor Baby now you gotta reap baby just what what you sow
Remember last winter you drove me from your door Darling mama it was in the ice and snow Baby now you gotta reap baby just what what you sow
You left me baby because I was cold in hand You taken my money and sit down with your other man Baby now you gotta reap mama just what what you sow
I did more for you then you understand You can tell by the bullet hole mama now here in my hand Baby now you gotta reap baby just what what you sow
Now you pawn your diamonds baby now you sell all your clothes Out the door then mama baby there's no place to go Baby now you gotta reap baby just what what you sow
« Last Edit: September 14, 2020, 02:27:54 PM by harry »
Peetie Wheatstraw - Vocals, Piano Charlie McCoy - Guitar
September 11, 1934 Chicago, Illinois
Key of G
When a man is out working working hard all his life Some lowdown rascal always try to steal his wife But here I am hard working man I'm doing the best I can
I hate to hear New York Central whistle blow Every time she whistle to the roundhouse I got to go Here I am hard working man I'm doing the best I can
I don't know hardly baby what to do Don't want to hurt your feeling either get mad with you But here I am hard working man well I'm doing the best I can
You got up this morning with a rag around your head Asked you to cook my breakfast babe you went back to bed But here I am hard working man I'm doing the best I can
Went out this morning could not make no time Didn't have no blues but I was all worried in mind But here I am hard working man now I'm doing the best I can
I'm a hard working man and try to do things that’s right When my woman sees that on me I ain't going to work tonight And here I am hard working man now I'm doing the best I can
« Last Edit: September 23, 2020, 05:21:29 PM by harry »
I know what Thomas means, I think, Harry. That guitarist is flat picking in G, standard tuning, something Charlie Jordan never did (on record, at least) and something that Charlie McCoy did on many, many occasions. I'd call that a good identification. I'm not aware of Charlie Jordan ever accompanying in any way other than obvious fingerpicking. All best, Johnm
Hi all, I don't know anything about what session Peetie Wheatstraw's "You Can't Stop Me From Drinking" came from, nor who the players on the song were, but I just found it on youtube, and was amazed by the harmonica playing. It sounds like Rhythm Willie--he's the only harmonica player I've heard from around that time with this kind of sound. There's some really good uptown guitar playing, too. I suspect Peetie Wheatstraw only sang on the cut, since the piano is not doing the thing he always did when he played piano. Any information on the personnel is much appreciated as will be help with the tagline of the next-to-last verse. Here is "You Can't Stop Me From Drinking":
INTRO
You can't stop me from drinkin', it ain't no use to try You can't stop me from drinkin', it ain't no use to try Because the way you treated me, hoo-hoo-well-well, I'm gonna drink until I die
You can't stop me from running around, also from havin' my balls You can't stop me from running around, also from havin' my balls Because I am tired, hoo-well-well, of the other man kickin' in my stall
HARMONICA SOLO
You can't stop me from talkin', to the brown walk up, down the street You can't stop me from talkin' to the brown that walk up and down the street Because you are chasin' these babies, hoo-well, like a policeman on his beat
You can't stop me from drinkin', whenever I feel so blue You can't stop me from drinkin', whenever I feel so blue If you ever have been mistreated, hoo-well-well, you will be drankin' [sic] too
Edited 9/30 to pick up corrections from harry
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: October 01, 2020, 06:23:49 AM by Johnm »
Thanks for the personnel information, Harry. I'm glad it was Rhythm Willie--it would be scary to think of two people sounding like that. I agree with your no "babe" on the hoo-well mannerism and will fix those. On the line, it sounds to me more like Because you are chasin' THESE BABIES Changing the word before the mystery phrase from "have" to "are" made all the difference. His girl friend is chasing all of the other women on the street away, rousting them like a cop. All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: September 30, 2020, 06:59:37 PM by Johnm »
Hi all, Peetie Wheatstraw recorded "All Alone Blues" at a session in New York City on March 15, 1932, accompanying himself out of E position in standard tuning. He did not record a lot of solo guitar numbers, and all of the ones I've heard thus far use essentially the same accompaniment, which is fine, because it's always exciting and dynamic playing. I'd really appreciate some help with these lyrics, I know what I have for the front end of verse two is a mess--I'll get them as close as I can, but Peetie's vocals were so stylized, he swallowed a lot of his enunciation. Here is "All Alone Blues":
INTRO
Well, babe, here I am, babe, I'm all alone, by myself Well, babe, here I am, mama, I'm all alone by myself Well, my sweet woman have quit me, aw, then again she's goin' with somebody else
Well, well, my little woman, she's fast now, as a passenger train Hoo-hoo-oo, and now she's fast as a passenger train Well, she will tell you, "Go and get your woman, buddy, I have gone and got my man."
Well, well, babe, your best friend, better not go break up your happy home Hoo-hoo-oo, your best friend, mama, done gon' break up your happy home Well, won't see your mistakes, little mama, baby, hoo-hoo, well, Lord, until your daddy's gone
SOLO
Well, now, my Mama she told me, when I was a child Hoo-hoo-uh, Mama, now she told me, when I was a child She said, "Son, now you is too big a devil, uh-now to be so foolish and wild."
Too late, too late, too late, mama, now you drove me from your door Hoo-hoo, babe, now you drove me from your door Well, well, now, I says, "You did not want me, mama, baby, honey, I can't use you no more."
CODA
Edited 11/12 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 12, 2022, 02:47:45 PM by Johnm »
Hi John, I'm afraid this is going to be of little if any help but I'm hearing an extra word between 'now' and 'ride' in the first line of the 2nd verse but I've no idea what it is. For what it's worth, I'm hearing the missing word in the second line as starting with an f but again I can't make out what it is. All the Best, Ned
verse 1 Well, my sweet woman have quit me, I bet, I guess she's goin' with somebody else ah then again she's goin' with somebody else
verse 2 Well, well, my little woman, she's fast now as a passenger train Hoo-hoo-oo, and now she's fast as a passenger train
verse 3 Hoo-hoo-oo, your best friend, mama, donenow gon' break up your happy home Well, won't see your mistakes little mama baby, hoo-hoo, well, noLord, until your daddy's gone
verse 5 Well, well, now, I says, "You did not warn me, mama, baby, honey, I can't use you no more."
Sounds like want instead of warn but not sure.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2022, 02:33:12 PM by Blues Vintage »
Hi all, Peetie Wheatstraw recorded "Can't See Blues" in New York City two days after recording "All Alone Blues". On those two days, March 15 and March 17, 1932, he recorded four of the six solo guitar numbers he was ever to record. "Can't See Blues" was played out of E position, standard tuning, like the others, but for this one song, Peetie Wheatstraw did not capo up as he did for the others. Here is "Can't See Blues":
INTRO
Well now, when I wake up this mornin', mama, and I could not hardly see Then I wake up this mornin', babe, I could not hardly see Well, well, my little woman quit me, baby, now you know that was worryin' me
Now I've got the blues, I been had them all along Got the blues, I been had them all along Well, so now if I could find me a pistol, mama baby, won't have the blues very long
Well, now, it was one mornin', just about half past four Hoo-hoo-uh, was one mornin', baby, now it was 'bout half past four Well, when my sweet woman told me, "Daddy, now I don't want you no more."
SOLO
Well, well, one of these mornin's, mama now and it won't be long I said, one of these mornin's, baby, now it won't be long Baby, now, you gon' call my name, hooo-hoo-uh, mama, and I will be gone
These days now is growin' on, and the ground is covered over, doggone snow Say now, your day is growin' on, ground is covered up with doggone snow Well, now I'm playin' the blues, baby, then I'm not gonna play no more
CODA
Edited 11/13 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and Johnm
All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 13, 2022, 11:10:47 AM by Johnm »
Hi all, Peetie Wheatstraw recorded "Keyhole Blues" at a session in Chicago on September 7, 1934 at which he also recorded "Long Time Ago Blues". those two songs were the last of his solo guitar-accompanied songs, and he played "Keyhole Blues" in E position, standard tuning as he had all the others. Here is "Keyhole Blues":
INTRO
I had a dream last night, that my house was burnin' down Hoo-hoo, well, brown, that my house was burnin' down But now, I woulda should had a ladder, mm-well, brown, they's on thei' 'fore-day round
Well, well now, I went to the gypsy, to have my fortune told I say, now, I went to the gypsy, mm-well, to have my fortune told Uh, now, this person done told me, mm-well, well, my, this woman, she had a sweet jellyroll
Now, I went to another gypsy, just about seventy years old I say now, I went to another gypsy, she was just about seventy years old Well now, she told me to go back home, mm-well, brown, and peep through my keyhole
SOLO
I went back home, I did what the old gypsy said Said, now I went back home, and did what the old gypsy said When I peeped through my keyhole, mm-well I found another tappin' in my bed
Then I did like the black cat when it told the white cat, to just, "Go cross-town and clown." I did like the black cat when it told the white cat, says, "Go cross-town and clown." I say, and the white cat, he's told the black cat, " You'd better set your black self down."
CODA
Edited to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and Johnm Edited to pick up correction from MarkC, 11/15 All best, Johnm
« Last Edit: November 15, 2022, 03:00:47 PM by Johnm »
1.3 But now I woulda should had a ladder, mm-well, brown, and is on his 'fore day round
Possibly "lantern", makes more sense to carry that on a 'fore day round but the sound works more for "ladder". "Ladder" would be of more use on a fire I know.
2.2 I say, and thennow I went to the gypsy 2.3 mm-well, babe, this woman,mm well well my little woman she had a sweet jellyroll
4.3 I found another persontappin' in my bed
5.3 I say, and the white cat And then the white cat
Thanks for the suggestions, Blues Vintage. I agreed with some, but not all of them. I have made the changes I agreed with, and found a few other changes I wanted to make that we both missed the first go-round.
I hear that line slightly differently in the first phrase, and I do think there is a "little" or something similar sounding, with 2 syllables, before "woman".
"Uh, now, this person HAVE(or HAS) told me, mm-well, well, my LITTLE woman, she had a sweet jellyroll"
"This person" doing the telling, is the gypsy.
Marc C - Yes, the more people who are listening and providing opinions, the more likely these transcriptions will be accurate and the more likely they will be respected. That is always true with this kind of work. Thanks for your input.
Wax
Logged
"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
I believe if you all re-listen, there is in fact only one syllable in between "my" and "woman", and in that single syllable, Peetie Wheatstraw enunciates "this" with perfect clarity. He's not using the word "my" as a possessive here, but more as an exclamation, like "my, oh my".
I did re-listen and I do hear it as you described, altho, I would say "perfect clarity" is a stretch. There is a little trace sound, either 'this-eh woman' or 'this w-woman' that fools the ear if not following very tightly, 'cause it's sung so fast.
I still think he sings HAS or HAVE instead of 'done' in the first phrase of the line.
Wax
Logged
"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
Hi waxwing, I don't think so with regard to "have" or "has". There is neither a "v" sound or a lazy "s" sound like a "z" at the end of that verb. It concludes with an "n" sound and rhymes with "run". It's a perfectly common usage, "done told me" as in Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's "Blues In the Night"--"My mama done told me . . .."
Listening again I hear the 'n' loud and clear, at the end of 'per-SON' right before HAS or HAVE. He accentuates that second syllable of 'person' and then there is a very faint HAS or HAVE before 'told' . So faint that the difference between the fricative 'v' and the sibilant 's' is indiscernible to my ears. I would see 'have told' or 'has told' are about as common usage as 'done told.
Wax
Logged
"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