Topic: Willie Baker Lyrics

[dj]

Hi, John,

What I hear for the lines in question is:

  'f I would jus' even, step through a crack
  She would have some man, fight me in my back

i.e. if Willie went even just a step down the dark alley, Betty would have some other man waiting to attack him from behind.

And:

  But don't come in a party, 'cause I gots only one

Where "in a" is elided together to sound almost like one word.

And I have to 'fess up about this song:  I owned the CD for a good two years before I realized the refrain wasn't "Ain't it a good thing to have foldin' money"!
   

[Johnm]

Thanks so much, dj.  I just gave your suggestions a listen and they sound right on the money (and make sense, too, which is not necessarily a given with some of the stuff I've heard).  I will make the changes.  I don't know if other people care about such things, but with "Ain't It A Good Thing?" transcribed, we now have all of Charley Lincoln and all of Willie Baker's lyrics transcribed.  If we get George Carter's (only 4 titles, I believe) and Barbecue Bob's many titles, we will have the entire Atlanta 12-string school transcribed, apart from Willie McTell, who I think stands apart from these other four, anyway.
Re your original hearing of the refrain, I couldn't count how many times I've misunderstood the refrain of a song, as in Creedence's "There's a bathroom on the right."
All best,
Johnm 

[David Kaatz]

Just was listening to this song during dinner, and my wife wondered what was meant by "Long and tall, like a cannonball"?  I don't know.  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dave

   I woke up this mornin', my good gal was gone
   I woke up this mornin', my good gal was gone
   Stood by my bedside, I hung my head and, hung my head and moan

   I walked down the street, I couldn't be satisfied
   I walked down the street, I couldn't be satisfied
   I had the No No Blues, I couldn't keep from, I couldn't keep from cryin'

   'Tain't none of my business, but it sure ain't right
   'Tain't none of my business, but it sure ain't right
   Take another man's gal, walk the streets all, walk the streets all night

   Take a mighty crooked woman to treat a good man wrong
   Take a mighty crooked woman to treat a good man wrong
   Take a mighty mean man, take another man, take another man's home

   I'm a stranger here, I just blowed in your town
   I'm a stranger here, I just blowed in your town
   If I ask for a favor, don't turn me, don't turn me down

   I'm long and tall, like a cannonball
   I'm long and tall, like a cannonball
   Take a long tall man, make a good gal, make a good gal squall

   If I mistreat you, I sure don't mean no harm
   If I mistreat you, I sure don't mean no harm
   'Cause I'm a motherless child, don't know right from, don't know right from wrong

   I ain't no gambler, and I don't play no fool
   I ain't no gambler, and I don't play no fool
   I'm a ramblin' roller, jelly-bakin', jelly-bakin' fool

   She low and squatty, right down on the ground
   She low and squatty, right down on the ground
   [She like the way the mama, took my kidman, took my kidman down]

   I'm a stranger here, I come in on this train
   I'm a stranger here, I come in on this train
   I long to hear some, good gal call my, good gal call my name

All best,
Johnm

[LeftyStrat]

Hmm...."long and tall like a cannonball"...

Could that be referring to a train?  Just a guess off the top of my head. Perhaps likening his height (or, after a second look and listen to the lyric, dare I say at the risk of sounding crude, his "length") to the length of a "cannonball" (e.g. Wabash?) train?  

Perhaps someone with a bit more knowledge and coherence (tis nigh 4am here) can further elaborate, back me up, or correct me.

Lefty

[Richard]

My guess is probably yes. The next line didn't need an explanation then 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Willie Baker doesn't get a lot of mention here but he sure was good.  I have gone back to this thread and added videos from youtube of all of his songs, so if you'd like to give him a listen, go to it!
All best,
Johnm