Topic: Charlie Patton lyrics

[Gumbo]

It could it be thusly:

6.2 Why should i worry, AN' CARE FOR STRIFE

[dj]

Gumbo's almost got it.

6.2 Why should I worry, TAKE CARE FOR STRIFE

[waxwing]

Thanks for the help. I made the changes in all cases. Great catch on "terrible day", Johnm. "Well the" is pretty hard to tell, either way, but "well" is sorta more Charley I think. I also changed the "and" to "but" in 3.3.

Wax

[waxwing]

BTW, isn't there a thread on songs where the title doesn't appear in the song? If so Some Summer Day would qualify.

Wax

[jayala407]

New to the forum so be kind...

I was wondering of anyone transcribed Charlie's "Hang it on the Wall" dittie?   I went through the forum and didn't come across it.

[waxwing]

Welcome to Weenie Campbell, jayala.

We sorta have a protocol for lyrics here at Weenie. It's in this topic: http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6575.0, which is a sticky at the top of the Lyrics board, but basically we ask you to give it your best shot, key in what you come up with, and then folks will help out with the difficult parts or with parts where they might feel you're in error. It let's folks know you're actually sincere and willing to put in the initial work, and not just looking for a freebie.

Transcribing lyrics is actually fun work, at least to me. I just set the song on repeat and get what I can on each verse as it plays through. I might run it through a slowdown app like Transcribe! to make it a little easier, but that's not necessary. Slowly the verses fill in and it may take a few repetitions, but, like anything, the more you do it, the faster you become. And, if you're planning on singing the song, the bonus is that by the time you've finished transcribing you practically know it by heart.

Wax

[Pontius2000]

I love Charlie Patton so much

Jim Lee Blues

Went away, up the river
Some 40 miles or mo'
I think I heard that big Jim Lee, he blowed

She blowed, so lonesome
Like she weren't gone blow no more
Blowed just like my baby gettin onboard

Im a poor, ole boy
And a long way from home
Its calling me to leave my plumb good home

My mama, she is dead
And my father well could be
Ain't got nobody to feel and care for me

If you, don't want me
Just give me your hand
I'll get a woman quick as you get a man

Got a kid, on the wheeler
And a bouncer on the plow
Gotta plumb good man bringing down the Johnson bayou

I lay, my head
In a deceitful woman's arms
And she lays her nappy head in mine

When i, got arrested
What you reckon was my fine?
Say they give all coons $7.29

Takes one, of shine
Don't pay me no mind
'Cause I don't let no coons in mine

Well that big, Jim Lee
Keeps backin up and down
She's sandbar stuck, man she water bound

[Johnm]

Hi Pontius2000,
Welcome to Weenie Campbell!  I'm going to merge your post with a pre-existing Charlie Patton lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Hi Pontius2000 --

One correction I'd suggest is Patton's fine -- it's eleven twenty-nine, which was a sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days. Just shy of a year, so they could keep you working for the county rather than send you to a state prison. And as John says, welcome!
Chris

[CoolDrinkOfWater]

New guy here

Pretty sure the line in "Going To Move To Alabama" is "I'm going to move to Alabama, may god give me a home"

Who knows with Charley though.

[waxwing]

Hi all,
I just listened to this tune again to hear if what I've understood the lyrics to be still sounded right to me.  I think they do.  What I hear for the last line of the lyric is:
   "To make sure she be your home"
"Sure" is pronounced like "shore" and "she" refers to the state of Alabama itself, I think.  The two syllables in question have never sounded like "Georgia", or even "Georgie" to me.  I hear an "sh" sound at the front end of both syllables, not a "j" sound.  And the chorus sometimes says, "Have you been to Alabama?"  I think he's trying to track the woman down, not avoid her.  What do you think?
All best,
Johnm

Always liked Johnm's interpretation of this.

Wax

[David]

Hi all,

Recently I' ve been listening to Charley patton for a while, and found myself hesitant about the third line of the first verse of High Water Everywhere part 1.

- The Calt-Wardlow bio suggests "An' no telling what the water, done to (Joe Lee's?) town."
- John Fahey's book offers "Well I tell the world the water done struck through this town"
- on the net I found "Lord I'll tell the world the water done crept through this town"

Comparing all these and listening to the line a couple of times led me to think that it's actually: "And I'll tell the world the water done jumped through little town", but not being a native speaker of English I'd be glad to get reinforcement or be corrected.

Thank you in advance!

[Johnm]

Hi David,
Welcome to Weenie Campbell!  I merged your post with a pre-existing Charlie Patton Lyrics thread.  I don't have an opinion at this time with regard to the lyric interpretation you posed, but other posters may.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Hi all,

Recently I' ve been listening to Charley patton for a while, and found myself hesitant about the third line of the first verse of High Water Everywhere part 1.

- The Calt-Wardlow bio suggests "An' no telling what the water, done to (Joe Lee's?) town."
- John Fahey's book offers "Well I tell the world the water done struck through this town"
- on the net I found "Lord I'll tell the world the water done crept through this town"

Comparing all these and listening to the line a couple of times led me to think that it's actually: "And I'll tell the world the water done jumped through little town", but not being a native speaker of English I'd be glad to get reinforcement or be corrected.

Thank you in advance!

I hear "jumped through this town" although pronounced more like "thi' town" but I think you basically have it. And welcome!
Chris

[David]

Thank you!