Country Blues > Country Blues Lyrics
J.T."Funny Papa" Smith's Lyrics
GhostRider:
Howdy:
I am such a fan of Funny Papa Smith, a guitarist and singer out of Oklahoma who recorded 22 sides 1930-31 and more (all unreleased) in 1935.
FPS was a great, great composer of original blues lyrics and a terrific singer, with great phrasing (necessary to sing the word-rich verses he was so fond of composing).
As well he was a very inventive guitar player with a terrific flair for improvisation, especially in the Key of A Standard.
FPS's first recording was the two sided "Howling Wolf Blues", recorded in Sept., 1930. From what I've read this was a significant hit and gave FPS the nickname the Howlin' Wolf (long before that-other-guy grabbed the nickname).
Howling Wolf Blues - No. 1
1930
Standard Tuning, Key of A
Capo I (Bb)
Spoken Intro:
Well, here I am, got the blues about little old Victoria, the Howlin' Wolf.
Guess I'll drop a few lines.
1) I'm that wolf that everybody been tryin' to find out where in the world I prowl (x2)
Nobody ever gets a chance to see me, but they all hear me when I howl
2) (Now) I howl to my baby with her mother standing by her side (x2)
And that's the reason I'm howlin', I'm tryin' to be satisfied.
3) I even prowled for you baby, when you was down and couldn't stand up on your feet (x2)
Now you walk by the Lone Wolf and act like you don't want to speak
4) What made you quit me (baby), I love you and I did three years ago. (x2)
Take me back and I'll quit prowlin' and I won't ever howl no more.
5)(Aww) Preacher told me (that) God would give a black man most anything he do (x2)
I ain't black but I'm dark complexioned, look like He ought to forgive me too.
6) (Looks, Seems) like God don't treat me like I'm a human kind. (x2)
Seems like he wants me to be a prowler and a Howlin' Wolf all the time.
Coda
Alex
GhostRider:
Hi:
The other side of FPS's first release is:
Howling Wolf Blues - No. 2
1930
Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo I (Bb)
Instrumental introduction
1) Baby here I am, down on my bended knee (x2)
Ask you take me back and forgive me, do that for me if you please.
2) (And) When you hear me howlin' mama, (I mean) howlin' at your door (x2)
Come on and give me what I want, mama, then you won't hear me howl no more.
3) Ever since you quit me me mama I ain't wanted nobody else (x2)
'Fore I'd rather be with nobody than I'd rather be howlin' by myself.
4) (Now) I done howled and howled 'till I (wore, made) my tonsils sore (x2)
And when I howl this time mama, I never will howl no more.
5) (Now) Here I am in Chicago, doin' the best I can (x2)
If I hear from my baby, I like to fool and go howlin' back south again.
6) Ahhhh, mama listen at me howl. (x2)
Watch the roads dark at night and you liable to see me prowl.
Coda
Love that last line!
Alex
GhostRider:
Felicitations:
Funny Papa Smith recorded "Heart Bleeding Blues" the day after he recorded "Howling Wolf Blues"
This is an incredibly sharp saga of heartbreak and despair. The last two verses remind me of Lonnie Johnson-type evil woman tunes.
Heart Bleeding Blues
1930
Standard tuning, Key of C
Capo I (C#)
Instrumental introduction
1) My heart is bleeding (baby) and it's all on account of you. (x2)
And your the one who stopped the bleeding, what in the world are you going to do?
2) (Baby) You told me that you love me (and, 'cus I know) you have been nice and kind. (x2)
And I've asked the Lord above me to change your evil mind.
3) No one knows how much trouble and how much help they need (x2)
Until the woman they love foresakes them and leave them with a heart to bleed.
4) Ever since I found you, I loved you from the start (x2)
'Cus I know you can't see me bleedin' 'cus I'm bleedin' down in my heart.
5) If my heart keep on bleedin' I'll buy me a shotgun and some shells (x2)
Anywhere I find you and your lover that's where we all three falls in Hell.
6) All I've got to do is kill you and go off and hide somewhere (x2)
I know your going straight to hell, I hope to meet you over there.
Coda
Dark!
Alex
Johnm:
Hi Alex,
Good on you for getting the ball rolling with J. T. Smith's lyrics! As we've often observed, he was an exceptionally strong and inventive lyricist. I'm particularly a fan of "Fool's Blues" and "Seven Sisters Blues", which has some really creepy verses. Keep up the good work!
All best,
Johnm
GhostRider:
Greetings:
J.T. Smith recorded "Good Coffee Blues" the same day as "Heart Bleeding Blues"; this was the last song he recorded at this first "session" (he would return to the studio 5 weeks later).
"Good Coffee Blues" is double (single) entendre tune with lots of grindin'. As Slack would say, one for the wimin.
FPS usual good diction falls down a bit here and there and some of these lyrics I can't get. Help would be appreciated.
Good Coffee Blues
1930
Standard tuning, Key of D
Slightly sharp.
Instrumental introduction.
1) (I) Heard you say this mornin', (mama), that your head was throbbin' through and through. (x2)
Come on let me make you some coffee, let me show you what my cof' 'ill do.
2) Pull off your house shoes mama (and) lay down on the bed. (x2)
I won't be but a few minutes w'I'll kill that old headache dead.
3) Don't rise, take your time lady, go down easy 'n' slow (x2)
Then when you have a headache again, come back to me baby and I'll give you some more.
4) Instrumental verse
Spoken: Your coffee-grindin' papa's in town. Lord that good coffee.
5) Now Folger makes coffee, Maxwell makes coffee, White Swan makes coffee, Arbuckle he makes coffee.
But I make coffee so good, it will make you bite your tongue.
Been all over the world grindin' coffee mama, come on let me grind you some.
6) (Now) When your friend want coffee (please) send (all) your friends to me (x2)
I swear I give them good coffee and won't give 'em no rotten tea.
Coda
FPS was obviously no Englishman.
Alex
Note: Editted to reflect dj and BJ comments below.
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