Thank you Slack
As interesting as the discussion of the 8 bar format has been, it seems to be a red herring in relation to the topic. Elder Green and Alabama bound sound melodically similar, to my ear. There is also a similarity in the rhythm of the words.
Also Blind Lemon Jefferson (or more likely Mayo Williams) filed a copy of his unissued recording 'Elder Green's In Town' in 1927, two years before Patton's recording (and two years after Charlie Jackson).
As MtZion points out, Paul Oliver connects the two songs (Patton's and Alabama Bound) in Saints and Sinners.
The lyrics of Blind Lemon's version, from the pdf previously linked, use both phrases!!
Elder Green?s in town,
Elder Green?s in town,
He?s got it printed all over his old automobile,
he?s Alabama bound.
Don?t worry me,
don?t worry me
When I get drunk and all down and out,
don?t worry me.
I?ve got a high brown,
and she?s long and tall,
Lawd, lawd, lawd, lawd, boys,
she?ll make a panther squall.
Elder Green don?t care,
Elder Green don?t care,
He?s gonna tear down the old Church of God and build a barrelhouse there.
And the lyrics of Papa Charlie Jackson's version
Elder Green's in town,
and he's going around
And he's telling all the sisters and the brothers he meets,
he's Alabama bound
I find it hard to believe they are not related.
Edited to add Jackson's verse.
As interesting as the discussion of the 8 bar format has been, it seems to be a red herring in relation to the topic. Elder Green and Alabama bound sound melodically similar, to my ear. There is also a similarity in the rhythm of the words.
Also Blind Lemon Jefferson (or more likely Mayo Williams) filed a copy of his unissued recording 'Elder Green's In Town' in 1927, two years before Patton's recording (and two years after Charlie Jackson).
As MtZion points out, Paul Oliver connects the two songs (Patton's and Alabama Bound) in Saints and Sinners.
The lyrics of Blind Lemon's version, from the pdf previously linked, use both phrases!!
Elder Green?s in town,
Elder Green?s in town,
He?s got it printed all over his old automobile,
he?s Alabama bound.
Don?t worry me,
don?t worry me
When I get drunk and all down and out,
don?t worry me.
I?ve got a high brown,
and she?s long and tall,
Lawd, lawd, lawd, lawd, boys,
she?ll make a panther squall.
Elder Green don?t care,
Elder Green don?t care,
He?s gonna tear down the old Church of God and build a barrelhouse there.
And the lyrics of Papa Charlie Jackson's version
Elder Green's in town,
and he's going around
And he's telling all the sisters and the brothers he meets,
he's Alabama bound
I find it hard to believe they are not related.
Edited to add Jackson's verse.