Topic: Irene Scruggs Lyrics

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Doug, I have made both the changes you suggested. I think that with "You the man!" Blake was engaging in a little ironic self-admiration.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I made the change to "say".

[Stuart]

At the end of verse two, I believe he says, "Ooh, Lord help me" with "me" being very faint.

In the solo, where you have "Oh, sing it to me Darlin'" I hear "Oh, sing it to me Child" (With the final "d" of "Child" dropped).

I listened to the recording on the Blues Images Vol 12 CD which is a little cleaner using VLC Media Player.

She also recorded it with piano accompaniment (but it's not nearly as much fun):

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Stuart. I re-listened and made both the changes you suggested.

[David Kaatz]

A typo in the second verse, last line that says "go" instead of "got"

[banjochris]

Few more little suggestions, John (and I'm listening to the Blues Images version also):

3.3 should end with 'cause IT'S just what I want

4.1 ...SETS over on the hill
4.2 the vocal aside is (PLENTY soda water in it, you know)

5.2 REFRAIN starts AND you got...

[Johnm]

Thanks, Dave and Chris, for the catches. I've incorporated them all in the transcription.

[Blues Vintage]

Edited 6/8 to get corrections from Doug, Blues Vintage, Stuart, David Kaatz and banjochris

Talk about a team effort.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
There are three takes of Irene Scruggs singing "Married Man Blues" with Blind Blake accompanying her out of dropped-D tuning up on youtube, and none of them appear in DG&R. This is the second take. As the rendition goes along, Blake gets increasingly rambunctious and ends up delivering vocal obligato responses that are simultaneously comical and jazzy. I'd appreciate help with Blake's spoken comment at the end of verse two, and I'm not certain about "borrowed" vs. "foreign" love. Here is "Married Man Blues, Take 2:



INTRO

When a man says he loves you better than he loves himself
When a man says he loves you better than he loves himself
He don't mean you no good, he's told that same lie to somebody else

For just plain old love don't run this wicked old world today
For just plain old love don't run this wicked old world today (Spoken, Blake: You're right about that, sister.)
If you've got troubles and no money, nobody wants you when you're old and gray (Spoken, Blake: Sure don't, honey, plenty don't!)

Borrowed love ain't nothin' but you single women lovin' married men (Blake hums)
Borrowed love ain't nothin' but you single women lovin' married men (Blake scats)
It may do for a while, but it's bound to jam you at the end (Blake scats)

If I could only see my married man today (Blake trumpet impression)
If I could only see my married man today (Blake scats)
I'd catch the first train going anywhere, even to Atlanta, GA (Blake scats)

You say bad luck and trouble, times ain't like it used to be (Blake scats in double time)
You say that bad luck and trouble, times ain't like they used to be (Blake scats in double time)
Borrowed love has jammed everybody, and now it's 'bout to jam poor me (Blake harmonizes with end of line)

Edited 6/27 to pick up corrections from Stuart and MarkC
Edited 6/29 to pick up corrections from banjochris
All best,
Johnm
 

[Stuart]

Hi John: Re: Married Man Blues Take 2

It sounds like he might possibly be saying, "Put it on, Honey, Spread it on." But again, it's unclear, even at lower speeds.

As an FYI, here's a link to take 3. Take 2 and take 3 are on Blues Images Vol. 7.

[MarkC]

Married Man:

Sounds more like “borrowed” to me.

Borrowed love has jammed everybody, and now it's ‘bout to jam poor me

[Johnm]

Thanks, Stuart and MarkC for the help. I agree, Stuart, that the second missing word in Blake's spoken comment is "spread" and have made that change. I also agree with both of your changes in the last verse, Mark, and have made those changes. Any other thoughts for the word that begins Blake's second spoken comment? 

[MarkC]

Throw it on? Show it on?

[Johnm]

I think it is "show it on", Mark. Thanks! I've made that change.

[banjochris]

Sorry I've been away for a couple days. Pretty sure the start of that comment is "Sure don't, honey" and the end of it might be "plenty don't."
Chris