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Jack Kelly & His South Memphis Jug Band Lyrics

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uncle bud:
Will Batts recorded Country Woman in August 1933 for Vocalion, probably with Jack Kelly and Dan Sane on guitars. They were playing out of Spanish tuning, and discussion of the musical accompaniment can be found here.

I have some trouble spots in the lyrics. Line 3 of the first verse is not clear to me. The first option I include is from a transcription on the internet, though I am not sure I buy it. The 2nd option is my guess. Other spots in square brackets as well. Any help appreciated!



Country Woman Blues - Will Batts
Spanish tuning

I've got two women in the country, I've got two women stays in town (yeah, boy)
I've got two women in the country, I've got two women stays in town
Reason I can fiddle it so careful, 'cause nar' don't dog me around

Say, you may be brownskin woman, great God, your hair long as my arm (all right, sing it)
Say, you may be brownskin woman, great God, your hair long as my arm (yeah)
Can't do the bedspring poker, you sure done lost your home

(Well, play it, boy!)

[Know] the short-haired woman waitin' for to carry your troubles on
Make you think through the daytime, trouble you all night long (Why?)
She make you think you right, when you know darn well you wrong (yeah, boy)

I don't want no jealous-hearted women, great God, makin' up my bed
I don't want no jealous-hearted women, great God, makin' up my bed
Man, she put somethin' in your mattress, make you wish you was dead

Rivers:
I think you have it right,

Reason I can fiddle it so careful, 'cause ne'er don't dog me 'round

Who knows what that means  :P

Plus I think he's phrasing the first & second lines of verse 1:

"I'm got two women in the country..", rather than "I've.."

Reminds me of Minnie's classic first line "Is anybody seen my pigmeat on the line...', messing with the verb tenses.

Johnm:
Uncle bud, I think the phrase in 1.3 is, "Reason I consider it so careful".  The only reason I know that is because Frank Basile pointed it out to me--I wasn't hearing it either.  I think Frank Stokes used the line in one of his songs with fiddle.
All best,
Johnm

banjochris:
UB -- I'm hearing "fiddle" in 1.3 and "nar' none" for the other bit in brackets. I think he means he can get away with having four women because none of them bother him about it.
Chris

Gumbo:
i'm hearing "fiddle it so careful cause now none dog me 'round"

Also in verse 1 I hear "I'm" in each instance rather than "I've" (EDIT as Rivers already pointed out)

v3 " 'nuther short haired"

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