Topic: Charlie Patton lyrics

[uncle bud]

Yeah, I'm just hearing two syllables on the AND so that rhythmic effect of the line is steady.  But I'll be listening more for other stuff so will keep it in mind.

[frailer24]

Well, I have tried on my own to work out the lyrics to "Devil Sent The Rain", and can't make heads or tails after the first line! I have been using a battered copy of "Founder of The Delta Blues". I admit, I need help and a lot of it.



 Thanks, Larry

[dj]

The first line of Devil Sent The Rain is, appropriately enough:

Good Lord sent the sunshine, Devil he sent the rain

(Edited to correct the first two words on further listening)

[Gumbo]

I can help with the second line but after that I'm stumped 

EDIT actually the other verses aren't too bad just that last line of verse one
this is what i hear


Devil Sent The Rain

Good lord sent the sunshine devil he sent the rain
Good lord sent the sunshine devil he sent the rain


you don't know sure don't know my mind
you don't know me sure don't know my mind
I don't show you my ticket you don't know where i'm gwine

follow you sweet mama to the buryin ground
follow sweet mama to the buryin ground
I don't know I loved her till they eased her down

I been to the great ocean been to deep blue sea
I been to the ocean deep down in the deep blue sea
I  didn't see nobody look like my sweet mama to me

one of these mornings ye know it won't be long
one of these mornings no it won't be long
you gonna be mistreated have to leave your home

I'm goin' away mama don't you want to go
I'm goin' away mama don't you wanna
I'm goin' away mama don't you wanna

[dj]

can't make heads or tails after the first line

Wow, I totally misread that.  I thought it was the first line you couldn't get.   

[LeftyStrat]

i've oft understood the second line of the verse to be:

I'm gonna be there (down?) tomorrow, on that mornin' train (swing?).

It'd be foolish of me to assert that this is definitely right, but may I'm close at least??

[Gumbo]

i've oft understood the second line of the verse to be:

I'm gonna be there (down?) tomorrow, on that mornin' train (swing?).

It'd be foolish of me to assert that this is definitely right, but may I'm close at least??

that's pretty much what I hear too
I'll be there 'morra on tha' mornin' swing

 

[dj]

For the second line of the first verse, I hear "I will be there tomorrow, Lord I'm on this way"  "Will" is purely speculative, as I think what comes out of Patton's mouth is "ah".  It could be (w)i(ll) or (g)o(n') or something else entirely.  Also, what I've transcribed as "this way" actually sounds more like "the sway" or "thus way", and I'm just trying to make sense of the vowels and consonants I hear.  Does that muddy the water's enough?

Why oh why didn't Patton's parents send him to Miss Featherby's School Of Elocution?         

[Gumbo]

probably they suspected what might happen if they did!

after repeated listening trying to hear your transcription dj, i now don't hear mornin'.

is wain (wagon) a word that would have been current in Patton's time?

I can hear "honey I'll be there 'morra, haul 'em (her?) on this wain"

it fits with the burial theme

[dj]

After a bunch of close listening, I think it's ""Lord I'll be there t'morra', Lord I'm on this way"

[uncle bud]

Here are some corrections (for Weeniepedia format), changes and some different thoughts on the last line of the first verse.

Devil Sent The Rain

Good lord sent the sunshine devil he sent the rain
Good lord sent the sunshine devil he sent the rain

Good Lord sent the sunshine, devil he sent the rain
Good Lord sent the sunshine, devil he sent the rain
I believe that I'm gonna ride on a -- on a muddy [s?]

OR

I believe that my rider on a muddy [s?]

The last word sure does sound something like swing, but not sure what that would mean.

you don't know sure don't know my mind
you don't know me sure don't know my mind
I don't show you my ticket you don't know where i'm gwine

You don't know, sure don't know my mind
You don't know, baby, sure don't know my mind
I don't show you my ticket, now you don't know where I'm gwine

follow you sweet mama to the buryin ground
follow sweet mama to the buryin ground
I don't know I loved her till they eased her down

Followed sweet mama to the buryin' ground
Followed sweet mama to the buryin' ground
I didn't know I loved her till they eased her down

I been to the great ocean been to deep blue sea
I been to the ocean deep down in the deep blue sea
I didn't see nobody look like my sweet mama to me

I been to the ocean, deep down in the deep blue sea
Been to the ocean, deep down in the blue sea
I didn't see nobody looked like my sweet mama to me

one of these mornings ye know it won't be long
one of these mornings no it won't be long
you gonna be mistreated have to leave your home

One of these mornings, you know it won't be long
One of these mornings, baby, know it won't be long
You gonna be mistreated and will have to leave your home

I'm goin' away, mama, don't you want to go
I'm goin' away, mama, don't you wanna --
I'm goin' away, mama, don't you wanna --

[Rivers]

Why oh why didn't Patton's parents send him to Miss Featherby's School Of Elocution?       

I've often wondered that very thing myself dj. No research hits so far on Google.

[Drew.MS.Blues96]

Hey guys i hear I Love My Stuff
but i can't understand some words
Can You Help Me Please
Thanks



I love my stuff babe : I want to give it *a hop*
And my rider's got the shivers : swear it just won't stop

Oh I know she want it hard babe : sure don't want it chawed
It would break my heart : if *the need* no more

And I keeps on telling my rider : well she was *shivering* down
Lord that jelly‑baking strut : will make a monkey‑man leave his town

Oh the light burning dim : *terrible near*
It must a‑be the devil : inside this barrel of gin

Oh I'm going to leave Mississippi now babe : before it be too late
It may be like Twenty‑Seven Highway : swear it just won't wait

Oh I once had a notion : Lord I believe I will
I'm going to go to the river : and stop at Dago Hill

[Drew.MS.Blues96]

Have you hear Jersey Bull Blues
Its impossible for me
I play blues and I'll wonder play this song, but the lyric is....... Oh my god.... 



JERSEY BULL BLUES

If you got a good bullcow : you ought to keep your bull bull at home
Say may come along a young heifer : and just tow your bull from home

Oh my bull's in the pasture babe : Lord where there's no grass
I swear every minute : it seems like it's going to be my last

And my bull got a horn : long as my arm

I've an old five pound ax : and I'll cut two different ways
And I cut my little woman : both night and day

I've an old five pound ax : and I just dropped in your town
I got women now behind me : just try that old ax on down

And I remember one morning : between midnight and day
I were way upstairs : throwing myself away

TELL ME SOMETHING THANKS

[Drew.MS.Blues96]

There are some unissued song of Charley Patton
you will never find ?
I shiver just thinking about
Beyond those of Charley Patton, there are also those of Willie Brown
write or comment thanks

Charley Bradley's Ten Sixty-Six Blues

Southern Whistle Blues (with Bertha Lee, credited as "Patton and Lee" in the Vocalion files)

My Man Blues (as "Patton and Lee")

You're Gonna Miss Me, Honey (as "Patton and Lee")

Stoop Down

I've Got A Mother Up In Kingdom (as "Patton and Lee")

Ananaias (as "Patton and Lee")

Listen What She Said (as "Patton and Lee")

Till The Day Is Done (as "Patton and Lee")

Black Cow Blues

Dog Train Blues (credited as "Bertha Lee", Patton plays guitar

Oh Lord, I'm In Your Hands (as "Patton and Lee")



Recorded on February 1, 1934:

God's Word Will Never Pass Away (as "Patton and Lee")

Bed Bugs and Snakes

The Delta Murder

Whiskey Distillery (as "Patton and Lee")

Move Your Trunk