Topic: Mississippi John Hurt Lyrics

[uncle bud]

I've been playing this one lately. Lots of fun.

Re. Hurt not remembering it. He did employ some of the guitar accompaniment and solo work for the version of "Trouble, I've Had It All My Days" that appears on the DC Blues Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 1 set. It's not exactly the same accompaniment but it's close. You can hear it a little bit in the version on Legend as well. Less so in some of the other recorded versions I think.

[ScottN]

Thanks again Johnm.
For consideration:
"made" a good man vs "make" a good man change his mind

And

brown won't "lay" you down vs "let" you down

Thanks again for transcribing the lyrics

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, ScottN.  I re-listened and made the changes.  Incidentally, if you have these songs transcribed, you can post the lyrics, too.  I don't have to have first crack at them, by an means.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Re: Big Leg -- how unusual is it for both the first two lines of a blues to start on the IV chord? He only does it in the sung parts, but it isn't that common, I don't think.
Chris

[Johnm]

You're right, Chris, it isn't that common.  A couple of others that do that are "Monday Morning Blues" and "Goin' Down Slow", at least as performed by Mance Lipscomb.  It's a funny set-up, and makes the form like the last 12 bars of a 16-bar blues in which the first line had been left off.
All best,
Johnm

[ScottN]

Corinna Corinna from Mississipi John Hurt Today
D position - interesting that he also plays a version out of C position



I left Corrinna, way across the sea
Lord, I left Corrinna, way across the sea
She wouldn't write me no letter, she don't care for me

Oh Corrine, where you been so long
Oh Corrinna, where you been so long
(guitar only - no vocal line)

Corrinna Corrine, where'd you stay last night
Oh Corrinna, where'd you stay last night
Come in this morning, clothes [don't / aren't?] fittin you right

(instumental)

Oh Corrine, where you been so long
Oh Corrinna, where you been so long
(guitar only - no vocal line)

(instrumental)


Any help on the final line in the third verse - my ears aren't picking it up...

Thanks - ScottN

[ScottN]

Stagolee - Mississippi John Hurt (Rediscovered or Immortal album)
...the song that made me want to learn to fingerpick the guitar...

D position

(noodling / tuning over first part)
Stagolee was a bad man...Ah, they goes down in the coal mine one night...
rob the coal mine...there's gamblin down there...
and they placed themselves just like they wanted to be...
so they wouldn't hit each other when they was shootin...
money lying all over the floor...
There's one bad guy down there, he thought he was, that was Billy T'Lyon...
so he had a big forty-five laying down by the side of him...
when they got [placed]...why Stagolee spoke to him he says
Ah, boys, look at the money lying down here on the floor...
Says what would we do if old Stagolee and them was to walk in here...
This guy picked up his forty-five he says Ah, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, says
Stag's gun won't shoot a bit harder than this one...'bout that time Stag knocked his hat off...
and his partner, takin care of the rest...when he knocked his hat off he, he kinda remembered
that was Stagolee and he commenced beggin like this

(guitar verse starts)
[Policin'] Officer  [could be police and officer / police n officer - the voiced syllable after police I never got]
How can it be
You can 'rest everybody but cruel Stagolee
That bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

He said Stagolee, Stagolee please don't take my life
Says I got two little babe and a darlin lovin wife
He's a bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(instrumental)
Here's the answer Stagolee give him

What I care about your two little babe, darlin lovin wife
Says you done stole my Stetson hat, I'm bound to take your life
It's a magic hat, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

Boom Boom, Boom, Boom went a forty-four
When I spied poor Billy Lyon
He's lying down on the floor
That bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

Gentlemens of the jury, what you think of that
Says Stagolee killed Billy Lyon 'bout a five dollar Stetson hat
He's a bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

Standing on the gallows, Stagolee did curse
The judge said let's kill him, 'fore he kills some of us
He's a bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

Standing on the gallows, his head was way up high
At twelve o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die
He's a bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

Said [policin'] officer, how can it be
You can 'rest everybody but cruel Stagolee
That bad man, old cruel Stagolee

(Instrumental)

If anybody can figure out the "police" / "policin'" / "police and" officer line my mind would rest easier at night.

Thanks - ScottN

[Johnm]

Way to go, Scott, thanks for posting these transcriptions.  I'm away from my John Hurt that includes these tracks, but if they're not finished up by the time I get a chance to listen I'll help as much as I'm able.
All best,
Johnm

[ScottN]

Some other interesting MJH Stagolee versions:

Most versions simply have "Police Officer" without the extra syllable after "police"
The Library of Congress Vol 2 Disc 1 version has virtually no variation from the basic lyrics
Interesting at one point it has back to back instrumental breaks

Just listened closely to the version on "Discovery" - a couple of little twists
"darlin little lovin wife" vs usual "darlin lovin wife"
and
"At twelve o'clock they hung him" vs usual "they killed him"

Thanks - ScottN

[ScottN]

Thanks John - I'm currently working on Trouble I've Had All My Days - I think you have already transcribed another MJH in D (See See Rider) in you MJH Vol 1 video - in the booklet it notes it's from Rounder 1100 (which I don't have).  I can transcribe what you have in the booklet if you would like (I don't want to plagarize your work though).

Thanks - Scott

 

[Johnm]

Sure, post away, Scott.  The lyrics may require some editing.  I think standards of accuracy have gotten tighter around here than they were when I transcribed the lyrics for that video.  Where they might be wrong, though, I'm sure folks will be able to make them right.
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
John Hurt played "Blessed Be The Name" out of C position in standard tuning.  His playing on it is reminiscent of Libba Cotten's first passes through "The Sweet Bye And Bye" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", very straight-up-and-down, and with little of his characteristic syncopation.



   If you don?t like your sister, don?t you carry ?er name abroad
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Just take her in your bosom and carry ?er home to God
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   REFRAIN:  Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the name
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the name
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   If you don?t like your brother, don?t you carry ?is name abroad
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Just take him in your bosom and carry ?im home to God
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   REFRAIN: Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the name
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   If you don?t like your preacher, don?t you carry ?is name abroad
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Just take him in your bosom and carry ?im home to God
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   REFRAIN:  Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the name
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Oh, blessed be the name, blessed be the name
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

   If you don?t like your deacon, don?t you carry ?is name abroad
   Blessed be the name of the Lord
   Just take him in your bosom and carry ?im home to God
   Oh, blessed be the name of the Lord

All best,
Johnm

[GhostRider]

Re: Big Leg -- how unusual is it for both the first two lines of a blues to start on the IV chord? He only does it in the sung parts, but it isn't that common, I don't think.
Chris

Chris:

Willie Mae by BB Broonzy and Risin' River Blues by George Carter are the same. Maybe we should start a new thread to compile other tunes with this feature, as it is a form I like a lot.

Alex

[Gumbo]

Nobody's Dirty Business
recorded on Valentines Day, 1928. His first release on Okeh.



Ain't nobody's dirty business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but mine
Ain't nobody's dog gone business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but my own

Some of these mornings gonna wake up crazy gonna grab my gun kill my baby
nobody's business but mine
Ain't nobody's dog gone business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but my own

Some of these mornings gonna wake up boozy gonna grab my gun gonna kill ol' Suzie
nobody's business but mine
Going back to Pensicola gonna buy my baby a money molder
nobody's business but my own

say baby did you get that letter take me back i'll treat you better
nobody's business but mine
Ain't nobody's dog gone business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but my own

Ain't nobody's dirty business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but mine
One of these mornings gonna wake up crazy gonna grab my gun gonna kill my baby
nobody's business but mine
Ain't nobody's dog gone business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but my own

Ain't nobody's dirty business how my baby treat me
nobody's business but my own

EDIT to add discographical data and venerable Stefan Wirz link. and to add correction from Johnm

[Rivers]

Nobody's Dirty Business
Going back to Pensicola buy my baby a money mole ?

Curious, it does sound like 'money mole'. The line appears in the 1928 recording and he sings the same thing.