Topic: Hattie Hart Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I posted Hattie Hart's performance of "Coldest Stuff In Town", backed by Memphis Willie B. and Allen Shaw, over at the thread on youtube Country Blues performances, but it seemed a natural for picking up the lyrics, since it is such a strong performance by all concerned.  Both Willie B. and Allen Shaw are playing out of A position in standard tuning, and sound to be either flat-picking, or using thumb picks like a flat pick.  Hattie Hart sounds like a consummate pro, but my favorite moment in the song is when Allen Shaw comes in singing at the end--what a voice!  To my taste, he is one of the most tragically under-recorded singers in the blues, right up there with Ollie Rupert in that regard.  Here is the trio's performance of the song:



(Memphis Willie B:)  Hattie, Hattie, Hattie, what have you done to me?
Hattie, Hattie, Hattie, what have you done to me?
I believe to my soul you got a doggone stingeree

(Hattie:)  When I go out singin', I goes out all alone
When I goes out singin', I goes out all alone
I got a new way of singin' make a good woman lose her home

Singin' is my trade, I don't have to lie
Singin' is my trade, I don't have to lie
If you feel my stinger you want to until you die

It was soon this mornin' I heard my doorbell ring
It was soon this mornin' I heard my doorbell ring
I though Slim was workin' and he wasn't doin' a doggone thing

(Spoken, Hattie:  Ask Slim about it, Willie B.)
(Spoken, Willie B.:  What about it, Slim?)
(Spoken, Allen Shaw: I'll tell you directly. . . . Now I'm gonna tell you.)
(Spoken, Willie B.:  Bet's off, then)
SOLO

(Allen Shaw, singing:)  My name is Rex, I lives out West, Don't wanta be tangled up in that mess
'Nother drink, Hattie, pass the bottle around (Spoken, Hattie:  Here you are, Slim)
'Cause that jive you and Willie B. shootin', coldest stuff in town

All best,
Johnm







 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here's another tune from the dynamic trio of Hattie Hart, Memphis Willie B. and Allen Shaw, "I'm Missing That Thing".  As was par for the trio, it is excellently played and sung--wow!  Memphis Willie B. and Allen Shaw really work out, both playing in A position, standard tuning  Here is the track:



SOLO

My honey left me, 'way last Spring
Ever since then I've been a-missing that thing
REFRAIN:  Lord, I'm missing that thing, Lord, I'm missing that thing
Well, I hate to own it, baby, but I'm missing that thing

I miss it in the sunshine, I miss it in the rain
I miss it so bad, it gives me a pain
REFRAIN:  Lord, I'm missing that thing, Lord, I'm missing that thing
Well, I hate to tell it, baby, but I'm missing that thing

I miss it in the Spring, Summer and the Fall
I miss it in the winter time the worst of all
REFRAIN:  Lord, I'm missing that thing, Lord, I'm missing that thing
Well, I hate to tell you, baby, but I'm missing that thing

Oh, I miss it when it's hot, I miss it when it's cold
I miss it so bad, it can't be told
REFRAIN:  Lord, I'm missing that thing, Lord, I'm missing that thing
Well, I hate to tell you, baby, honey, but I'm missing that thing

Oh honey, I'm missing that thing, hear me talkin', I'm missing that thing
Mama barkin', I'm missing that thing, hear me cryin', I'm missing that thing
Oh, won't you come home, honey?  Honey, I'm missing that thing

I miss it when I'm right, I miss it when I'm wrong
I miss it, please, baby, all night long
REFRAIN:  Lord, I'm missing that thing, Lord, I'm missing that thing
Don't you hear me talkin', baby, I'm missing that thing

Doggone it, I'm missing that thing, hear me talkin', I'm missing that thing
Mama cryin', I'm missing that thing, I'm not lyin', I'm missing that thing
Won't you hurry, daddy, mama missing that thing

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here is what I believe to be the final track put out of Hattie Hart, Memphis Willie B. and Allen Shaw working together, "Happy-Go-Lucky Blues".  It once again has both guitarists working out of A, and I must say, it is amazing to listen to Willie B. and Allen Shaw working out of the same position, both working really busily and densely, and still managing to leave some space for each other by working different registers and grooving, so well.  Would that more shuffles were as tough-sounding as this one.  Apropos of that, the song's title is really kind of a poser, given its feel, the lyrics, and Hattie Hart's vocal delivery. 

Hattie Hart really was an ace singer, too.  She delivered all of the songs the trio did so strongly and with so much personality.  If I may make a suggestion to a fellow Weenie, Suzy, this song was made for you--I can really hear you singing it in my mind's ear.  Here is the performance:



I dreamed last night that my bed was falling down
I dreamed last night my bed was falling down
But it was just my daddy, makin' his midnight rounds

There is one thing, daddy, that I really don't think is right
One thing, daddy, I don't think is right
Lovin' your woman in the daytime, and your wife at night

There is two things, women, that will make me call your hand
Two things, women, will make me call your hand
And one is my money, the other is my man

I've been to the workhouse, and to the penitentiary and stayed a year
The penitentia', and stayed a solid year
If I go back again, baby, it'll be the 'lectric chair

I'm gonna leave here walkin', some mornin' so doggone soon
I'll leave walkin', some mornin' so soon
I'll reach my destination by this 'fore-day noon

All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Thought I'd post the lyrics to "I Let My Daddy Do That," since we were discussing it in the puzzler thread. I can't quite tell if she's singing "lets" or "let," it could just be the surface noise on the record, so I went with "let." If others hear "lets" I'll change it:



The people call me Mama Treetop, ?cause I?m slender and tall,
But when I get ready to get my ashes hauled,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
Because it satisfies my worried mind.

I?ve got a range in my kitchen, I?ve got a strict rule,
When it gets too hot I want my oven to cool,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
Because it satisfies my worried mind.

You can drink my liquor, wear my clothes,
But when it comes time of spendin? my dough,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
Because it satisfies my worried mind.

You can milk my cow, use the cream
But when it comes to lovin? me that will be in a dream,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
Because it satisfies my worried mind.

Spoken: Now keep a-churnin? till the butter come.

You crank my car, shift my gear,
But when any easy-ridin? goes on here,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
I lets my daddy do that,
Because it satisfies my worried mind.


Edited with corrections from Johnm, Stefan Wirz

[Stefan Wirz]

... this thread made me do a Hattie Hart discography
Online at http://www.wirz.de/music/hart.htm
BTW: The Vocalion 02855 label says "I lets my daddy do that" (not "I let ...", as DG&R 1997 tell us) and - besides - that's what I hear her singing ...

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for doing the transcription, Chris.  I do hear Hattie Hart singing "lets" throughout the rendition, as Stefan notes.  Cool to see the record label, too, Stefan, thanks for that!
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Thanks both of you! I made the change.

[Suzy T]

HEre's what I've got.  I didn't write out the refrain for each verse. I just cannot get the second line of the first verse, and not 100% sure about some of the rest. Any suggestions appreciated!  Happy New Year everyone!

Now you kept on a-bettin, that the dice wouldn?t pass
But it cost you Broke and hungry,  broke and raggedy at last (?)
REFRAIN: (Now) Won?t you be kind to me, I?ll be kind to you (2x)
Drop down daddy, (and) rock away my blues

Now it?s 25 cents a saucer , 75 cents a cup
But it?s  extra dollar papa, if you want to keep it up

Now shut your door papa, pull down your blinds
I?m here sweet daddy, and I mean to take my time

Now my daddy?s got a coil , like a rattlesnake
And every time he coils babe, I?m bound to shake

Now you know I like my lovin, then let me have a lot
Love me with your eyes and lips and everything you?ve got

[waxwing]

Hey Suzy

I think that line starts "Winter caught..." and then the way you have it.

Wax

[Suzy T]

Thank you John!  I think you are right about "Winter caught you" but I still am not sure about the rest of that line!

[David Kaatz]

That suspect line doesn't sound like "broke and raggedy at last" to me.
It might be: "papa, and raggedy at last"

D

[Suzy T]

I think that might be it!  Thank you David!

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Just made another painful find in D,G & R re Hattie Hart, who had those great trio cuts with Allen Shaw and Memphis Willie B. posted earlier in this thread. That trio, at the same September 13, 1934 session in which they recorded "Coldest Stuff In Town" and "I Let My Daddy Do That" had two unreleased titles: "Down Home Shake" and "Runnin' Wild Blues".
The very next day, Hattie Hart had a duo session with just the criminally under-recorded Allen Shaw which yielded  five unreleased titles: "Country Daddy Blues", "Take Your Time", "Are You Telling Me?", "Battle Royal Blues" and possibly "Barrel House Mama".
The day after that, working as a trio again, they recorded "Happy Go Lucky Blues", which was released, but on the following day, there was another trio session at which the following unreleased titles were recorded: "Mama, Ease Me Your Key", "Lucky Some Day", "Low Down Papa", "Drop Down Papa", "Didn't He Ramble", "Country Farm Blues", "Barrel House Mama" and "Home Breaker Blues".

So, out of that four day session, with a total of 20 titles, only four were released. Ouch! To add insult to injury, at sessions on the September 17 and 18, Allen Shaw recorded five titles joined by Memphis Willie B., two of which were the only recordings released under his name: "I Couldn't Help It" and "Moanin' The Blues". The three unreleased titles were "Married Man's Troubles", "Disagreeable Blues" and "Gamblin' Man".

I suppose it's possible that the unreleased titles were just weak tracks or were poorly delivered, but it's a bit hard to believe that, based on the calibre of the performances that were released. The trio sounds like a well-rehearsed, thoroughly professional unit, and comfortable in the studio, moreover. They may just have had the misfortune of recording in the middle of the Depression, when the company (Vocation) was a bit strapped. We'll probably never know the circumstances that led to the decision to scrap the tracks.

all best,
Johnm

[dj]

They may just have had the misfortune of recording in the middle of the Depression, when the company (Vocation) was a bit strapped.

I've never seen sales figures for Vocalion like those wh have for Victor for some years, but 78 Quarterly used to run a continuing series on the rarest jazz and blues records.  Both Allen Shaw's (5 extant copies) and Hattie Hart's (2 extant copies each) records made the list.  So I'd assume that for whatever reason - certainly not quality! - the sales just weren't there to justify more releases.  If you'll allow me a bit of an understatement, I'll just say "How unfortunate!"