Topic: Blind Blake Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here are the lyrics for Blake's song, "Doin' A Stretch", for which he was joined by pianist Alex Robinson.  Blake accompanies himself out of F position in standard tuning, and his playing has many nifty touches, as might be expected.  The song is an unusual 16-bar blues, with a raggy progression I don't recall encountering elsewhere.



   I had a fall, five to twenty-one
   When I get back we gonna have some fun
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch
   Baby, baby tell me the true facts
   Will you be waiting when I get back?
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch

   I told the warden you?d pay my fine
   It didn?t seem that he paid me no mind
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch
   The good things you have done I can?t forget
   If you quit me, baby, it?ll be my death
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch

   I love you, baby, whole heart and soul
   Stand by me ?til I get my parole
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch
   Be careful, baby, while I?m gone
   You can?t be good, I?ll be gone too long
   Up the river, daddy gonna do a stretch

   Goin? away, honey, I?ll be out all day
   If I know, sinner me
   Up the river, daddy do a stretch
   Baby, baby tell me the true facts
   You be waiting when I get back?
   Up the river, daddy?s gonna do a stretch

All best,
Johnm

[slideaway]

Diddy Wah Diddy No 2



diddy wah diddy no 2 blind blake

a gangster shot his pal today   as they carried him away
he said diddy wah diddy     he said diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means

police walked right up to him look who's there old two gun jim
mr diddy wah diddy           mr diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means

they took him to jail he began to shout
the judge said that wont get you out
mr diddy wah diddy     mr diddy wah diddy
i just found out  what diddy wah diddy means

the gangster said now that aint right
well ask that guy about my wife
my diddy wah diddy    my diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means

he told the judge you better let me free
get you some day you wait and see
mr diddy wah diddy    mr diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means

the judge said dont give me no sass
i'm gonna lock up your ass ass ass (BB says here - yass yass yass/or yess yess yes)
mr diddy wah diddy     mr diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wha diddy means

you've been down here scaring folks to death
i'm gonna send you where you can catch your breath
mr diddy wah diddy     mr  diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wha diddy means

the gangsters wife ran in the store
it doesnt make it  someone no more (this line is only one i am not sure about - it doesnt make her someone no more - i think he fluffed up/forgot the line?)
mr diddy wah diddy      ah mr diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means

the judge said lady i'm sorry for you
his diddy wah diddy days are through
mr diddy wah diddy   no more diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means'

the next time you see your honey call
diddy wah diddy will fix right up
his diddy wah diddy   he'll need a new diddy wah diddy
i just found out what diddy wah diddy means     

[joe paul]

Can you good people check what I've got here for Blake's Stonewall Street Blues? I've learnt the break from Ari Eisinger's lesson, and I'm trying to get the rest down smoothly. I think these lyrics are right or at least close - and I'm intrigued by the 'my natural hand' - I'm sure I've heard the expression in blues numbers before somewhere, can anyone think of any other examples?



Hey, hey, hey,
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
My Stonewall Street gal makes me feel this way

You called me in the morning, you called me late at night
You called me in the morning, you called me late at night
You swear that you love me but you sure don't treat me right

I got the blues so bad, can feel them with my natural hand
I got the blues so bad, feel them with my natural hand
I've been your dog ever since I've been your man

I'm gonna grab me a freight train, ride until it stops
I'm gonna grab me a freight train, ride until it stops
I aint gona stay round here and be your stumbling block

Thanks,

Gordon

[Gumbo]

I was going to joke about the hey hey lines being wrong but that third line is right!

Hey, hey-hey, hey
Hey, hey-hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey-hey,
Hey, hey, hey-hey, hey
My Stonewall Street gal makes me feel this a-way

I can't recall a natural hand lyric, but it's an intriguing phrase alright.

[joe paul]

Thanks, now I've got my 'hey's' all accounted for. Still wondering about the 'natural hand', maybe I should post a question elsewhere in the forum to get some more clues...

Gordon

[Johnm]

Hi Gordon,
I think the word "natural" as used in such a context is a kind of intensifier indicating special truth or verisimilitude.  I think Blake's saying he has the blues so bad he can actually feel them with his hand, like an object.  I know that in Jim Jackson's version of "Old Blue" he talks about Blue dying "like a natural man".
All best,
Johnm

[Blind Arthur]

"I got the blues so bad, feels like it?s my natural half", does this make sense?

[Stumblin]

Some words in I Was Afraid of That Pt.2 are proving elusive.
Here's what I've got so far:

Got a girl, she?s all wet, (?)
After everything she can get,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s got a way I can?t stand
Callin? me her monkey man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I met a girl who was hot,
?Hello, Papa, how much have you got??
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

Caught a train down to Tennessee,
And while I was gone my baby trifled on me,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

I went to see this place, have the blues, (?)
And while I was gone, my baby drink my booze,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Have no mention, xxx (?) the shack, (?)
Thought my lovin? would bring her back
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s a kitchen mechanic, that?s a treat,
She has the best Brown Betties that ever was made, (?)
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Some folks don?t know what a good girl is,
You oughta see that girl with her braid half riz, (?)
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Ashes to ashes, sand to sand,
Show me a woman xxx (?)
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I?ve been to Frisco, been to Maine,
Every place I go, all womens the same
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
They all want money, I was afraid of that.

Answers, on a postcard, to the usual address...

[uncle bud]

(removed italics for easier reading)

A few thoughts, though can't get everything yet:

"wet" sounds right to me.

3.1 I met a GAL...

6.1 Have no MANSION, LIVED IN A shack

7.1 She's a kitchen mechanic, that's HER TRADE

[Stumblin]

Thanks Bud,
So, with the amendments and without italics, what we have so far runs thus:
"xxx" represents my total failure to hear the words, "(?)" represents uncertainty, both is bad, mkay?

I Was Afraid of That Pt.2 (Blind Blake)
Got a gal, she?s all wet,
After everything she can get,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s got a way I can?t stand
Callin? me her monkey man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I met a gal who was hot,
?Hello, Papa, how much have you got??
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

Caught a train down to Tennessee,
And while I was gone my baby trifled on me,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

I went to see this place, have the blues,
And while I was gone, my baby drink my booze,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I have no mansion, lived in a shack,
Thought my lovin? would bring her back
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s a kitchen mechanic, that?s her trade,
She has the best Brown Betties that ever was made,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Some folks don?t know what a good girl is,
You oughta see that girl with her braid half riz (?)
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Ashes to ashes, sand to sand,
Show me a woman xxx (?)
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I?ve been to Frisco, been to Maine,
Every place I go, all womens the same
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
They all want money, I was afraid of that.

[banjochris]

I think "braid half riz" is right -- maybe in the sense of "hair half done".

The other missing line is definitely
"Show me a woman wouldn't drop a shuck on a man."

Judging from the lyrics of Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five's "Droppin' Shucks," it means cheating.
Chris

[Stumblin]

Thanks, Bud.
What we have so far runs like this:


I Was Afraid of That Pt.2
Got a gal, she?s all wet,
After everything she can get,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s got a way I can?t stand
Callin? me her monkey man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I met a gal who was hot,
?Hello, Papa, how much have you got??
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

Caught a train down to Tennessee,
And while I was gone my baby trifled on me,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

I went to see this place, have the blues,
And while I was gone, my baby drink my booze,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I have no mansion, lived in a shack,
Thought my lovin? would bring her back
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s a kitchen mechanic, that?s her trade,
She has the best Brown Betties that ever was made,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Some folks don?t know what a good girl is,
You oughta see that girl with her braid half riz,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Ashes to ashes, sand to sand,
Show me a woman wouldn't drop a shuck on a man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I?ve been to Frisco, been to Maine,
Every place I go, all womens the same
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
They all want money, I was afraid of that.

Is this a definitive interpretation, or do other contributors have alternative hearings?
Bring it!
 

[Johnm]

Hi Stumblin',
I've got a couple of little things, not like the hard stuff that's already been figured out.
 
2.1 She's got a way THAT I can't stand

5.1 I went to see this place, HAD the blues

7.2 She HAD the best Brown Betties that ever was made.

That's it.
All best,
Johnm

[Stumblin]

Hi Stumblin',
I've got a couple of little things, not like the hard stuff that's already been figured out.
 
2.1 She's got a way THAT I can't stand

5.1 I went to see this place, HAD the blues

7.2 She HAD the best Brown Betties that ever was made.

That's it.
All best,
Johnm

Okay then, here we go:

I Was Afraid of That Pt.2
Got a gal, she?s all wet,
After everything she can get,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s got a way that I can?t stand
Callin? me her monkey man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I met a gal who was hot,
?Hello, Papa, how much have you got??
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

Caught a train down to Tennessee,
And while I was gone my baby trifled on me,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wanted money, I was afraid of that

I went to see this place, had the blues,
And while I was gone, my baby drink my booze,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I have no mansion, lived in a shack,
Thought my lovin? would bring her back
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

She?s a kitchen mechanic, that?s her trade,
She had the best Brown Betties that ever was made,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Some folks don?t know what a good girl is,
You oughta see that girl with her braid half riz,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

Ashes to ashes, sand to sand,
Show me a woman wouldn't drop a shuck on a man,
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
She just wants money, I was afraid of that

I?ve been to Frisco, been to Maine,
Every place I go, all womens the same
I was afraid of that, I was afraid of that,
They all want money, I was afraid of that.

Our work here is done...

[Blind Arthur]

I?m trying my best with one of those newly discovered titles...of both takes, I like #2 most so let me have a try, I can?t remember having seen these lyrics in this thread yet
(If they rather belong to an "Irene Scruggs lyrics" thread feel free to move, of course.)


Married Man Blues (take 2, uniss.) - Irene Scruggs acc. by Blind Blake, g, humming, scatting

When a man says he loves you better than he loves himself, (2x)
He don?t mean you no good, he?s tol? that same lie to somebody else.

For just plain old love don?t run this wicked ol? world today, (2x)
[Blake : You?re right about that, sister!]
If you got troubles and no money, nobody wants you when you?re old and grey.
[Blake : No, we won?t, no, really don?t!]    <=not sure with this line

Borrowed love ain?t nothin? but you single women love a married man, (2x)
It may do for a while but it?s bound to jam you at the end.

If I could only see my married man today, (2x)
I?d catch the first train goin?anywhere, even to Atlanta GA.  

You say bad luck and trouble, times ain?t like it used to be,
You say that bad luck and trouble, times ain?t like they use to be,
Borrowed love has jammed ev?rybody and now it?s ?bout to jam poor me.



Corrections, additions?