Topic: Nolan Barrelhouse Welsh Lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

This is a tough one.


Dying Pickpocket Blues

Nolan Barrelhouse Welsh - Vocals, Piano

Ca. January 1929
Chicago, Illinois

Key of Bb





It was in New York City workhouse on a cold december day
It was in New York City workhouse on a cold december day
T'would be in a dirty cell where a dying pickpocket lay

And his buddy stood besides him with his lowdown drooping head
And his buddy stood besides him with his lowdown drooping head
Listen to the last words that the dying pickpocket say

He said tell my friend back in Cincy although I know she will feel blue
And tell my baby back in Cincy although I know she will feel blue
And I've got this ghost on a hammer and I cannot pull it through

Oh I’m long gone partner goin’ to a better land
Oh partner I’m goin’ to a better land
I ain’t gon’ picks no more pockets I’m gon’ be a regular man

Although she has been a real pal and she answered to all my calls
Although she has been a real pal and she answered to all my calls
Now I’ve ruined her health trying to spring me from this vault

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
I think I have a few of the lines:
   1.1, 1.2, It was in a New York City workhouse, ON A COLD DECEMBER DAY
   1.3 It was in a DIRE DESPAIR where the dying pickpocket lay

   2.1, 2.2 "BESIDES" both times

   5.3 NOW I've RUINED her health . . . .

I am not hearing the tagline to verse three at all, sorry.
All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks John, I made all those changes but "dire". I'm still hearing "dirty" but I'm not sure either.

[Johnm]

The mystery line is sounding like:
   And I'VE GOT THIS GHOST ON A HAMMOCK, and I can not pull it through.
to me, Harry. What in the world that would mean, I can not say.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

A few suggestions – the sound of this track on the Yazoo LP Barrelhouse Blues is substantially better than on the Document, if you have access to it. I'm not sure about that tagline to the third verse either, unfortunately, and will have to keep listening.

1.3 T’WOULD BE IN A DIRTY CELL, where A dying pickpocket lay
(he sings dirrrrr-ty, which makes it sound like there's more words there, but I think it's just "dirty")

3.1 He said tell my FRIEND back in Cincy…

4.1 I’M LONG GONE partner…
(no Oh at the beginning; his vowel sound is weird there; he might have started singing Oh and changed to I'm part way through, so maybe leaving Oh I'm is the best way to split the difference)

Chris

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Chris. I also replaced the source you mentioned.

Somehow it's logical that there is a ghost in a mystery line so I made that change.
I hear "hammer" not "hammock".

[banjochris]

Almost sounds like "dust on the hammer" to me, not that that makes any sense either!

[dj]

Possibly "and I've got this ghost goin' to Heaven..."?

[Blues Vintage]

That mystery line in 3.3 is transcribed in Jeff Todd Titon's "Early Downhome Blues" as:

That I got this dose on a hundred and I cannot pull it through


Also noting that the lyrics are a variant of the folk song "The Dying Hobo":

https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=337

https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1209

https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=0419

[Parlor Picker]

Having quickly read the heading of this post, I was amazed that there could be a blues in the Welsh language! Imagine my disappointment...

I don't speak that language, but it would have been interesting!!!!