Topic: Marshall Owens' "Try Me One More Time" and "Texas Blues"

[hylaphone]

hello friends,

can anyone offer any hints to these lyrics? its one of my favorite blues songs ever, but i can't decipher anything past "woke up this morning.." and the chorus..
thank you
micah

[Slack]

Hi Micah, another tough case to crack. 

A start:

Woke up this mornin'
In my shoes (?)
And to the one that I
Can't use you

chorus

Woke up this mornin'
In my Blues (boots?)
This time I want that
Can't use me

chorus

Woke up this mornin'
In my Blues (boots?)
I find out knockin'
On my back door

chorus

Woke up this mornin'
In my (rhymes with lies)
Can't use the one (?)
Tell you any lies

chorus

Woke up this mornin
'bout the break of day


Mama told me
Daddy told me too


OK, I need to go do something else - it's tough!  Anyone play this?  Great song.

cheers,
slack

[Alexei McDonald]

Giving it a quick listen through, it seems to me that there's a counting motif in here.   I hear two, three, four and five in there as the rhyming words, so...

Woke up this morning just about two
[Got] Another woman and I can't use you

chorus

Woke up this morning just about three
Got another woman that can't use me

chorus

Woke up this morning just about four
I found [her] knocking on my back door

chorus

Woke up this morning just around five
Can't use the one that tells [so] many lies

chorus

Woke up this morning 'bout the break of day
[...] me my pillow where my fair brown lay

chorus

Mama told me, Daddy told me too
[They] grin in your face, ain't no friend to you

Chorus

[Slack]

Giving it a quick listen through, it seems to me that there's a counting motif in here.

Excellent - good work!

[hylaphone]

Woke up this morning just about four
I found [her] knocking on my back door

i think i hear 'brown' in this line...either 'high' or 'my' 'brown knocking on my back door'
anyway, i'm astounded you could understand all these words!!
thank you!
micah

[Alexei McDonald]

You might be right about that - I can hear "My brown knocking" if I listen at it squinty-eared.   Also I now think that the start of the 5th verse is "hugged me a pillow", but I'm still not very sure.   Anyway, glad I could help.

[Prof Scratchy]

Probably entirely wrong - but this is what I hear on this one....Happy New Year!
Prof S

Woke up this morning, 'bout half past two
Got another woman so I cain't use you

Chorus: Try me.....etc

Woke up this morning, 'bout half past three
Brown skin woman got that jinx on me

Chorus

Woke up this morning, 'bout half past four
My brown knockin' on my back door

Chorus

Woke up this morning 'bout half past five
Can't use you woman, you tell too many lies

Chorus

Woke up this morning, 'bout the break of day
Hugged me the pillow where my fair brown lay

Chorus
Repeat Chorus after instrumental break

Mama told me, papa told me too
Women grin in your face ain't no friend to you

Chorus

[GhostRider]

Hi all:

I finally got around to listening to this tune seriously and I think it's great. I gather (from the "Adventure in Spanish" thread) that its in Spanish (capoed to B).

Does any one know the I, IV and V chord position fingerings that he uses? I've worked out a neat (I think) version of the tune in G standard, but would like to try the tune in Spanish.

Alex

[Johnm]

Hi Alex,
For the most part, when Marshall Owens is playing in G, he is just playing the open strings, but he does play melody notes simultaneously on the first and fourth strings at the second and third frets, much as Charley Patton did on "Pea Vine" and Skip James did on "Special Rider".  For C, he plays X02010, and he resolves the C to a G7 that is especially pretty--X03000.  For his D7 chord, he uses 0X0210, but also goes to 0X4210.  This is one of my very favorite tunes in Spanish.
All best,
Johnm

[cmr]

Hi all,
I am looking for the lyrics to  "Try Me One More Time", by Marshall Owens.  It's a wonderful 16 bar blues in open G tuning.  I've been concentrating on open G tuning for the past few weeks.  Thanks to everyone.  Charlie R.

[GhostRider]

Charlie:

Already done by Weenies.

http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?amp;Itemid=74&topic=825.0

Alex

[cmr]

Alex

Thanks for the link. Why am I surprised that its already done.  How did you find the link? Is there somewhere I can search for the lyrics before I make a request.  Did you use the "search" function on the left navbar?  Cheers, Charlie R.

[GhostRider]

Charlie:

I remembered the topic, but I found it again by typing "Try Me One More Time" into the Search box.

Alex

[GhostRider]

Hi all:

Here's a reference to an intersting article on Marshall Owens:

http://paramountshome.org/articles/mowens1.pdf

In this article there is speculation that "Try Me One More Time" is played on a partially or completely double-coarsed guitar.

Alex

[uncle bud]

Ended up playing this this afternoon. No one ever transcribed the chorus in this thread, and while it may seem obvious enough (or wrong), I hear most of the occurrences of the first two lines starting with some variation of "Cryin'". Anyway, here's my attempt at an updated transcription, adding my own variations to the several in this thread already.  Here is "Try Me One More Time":



Try Me One More Time - Marshall Owens
Spanish tuning, capoed up

Woke up this morning, just about two
Got another woman and I can't use you

Cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Woke up this morning, just about three
She's got another [one/woman] now she can't use me

She's cryin', try me one more time
She cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Up this morning, just about four
I found her knockin' on my back door

She was cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Woke up this morning, just about five
Can't use you woman, tell too many lies

She was cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Woke up this morning, 'bout the break of day
Huggin' that pillow where my fair brown lay

She was cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
She said take me back, try me one more time

Mama told me, Daddy told me too
Girls that grin in your face ain't no friend to you

If they're cryin', try me one more time
Cryin', try me one more time
Take me back, try me one more time

[Johnm]

Thanks, uncle bud, for going back to the lyrics to this song.  I've played it a very long time, and have never had the lyrics remotely right.  Starting the refrain with "cryin'" is a big step in the right direction.  Going from there, I think I've heard some other refinements.  I feel like a key is that she didn't say the same thing in every refrain.
All best,
Johnm

REFRAIN 1.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"
REFRAIN 1.3 She said, "Take me back AND try me one more time"

VERSE 2.2 She's got another woman, now she can't use me

REFRAIN 2.1 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"
            2.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"

VERSE 3.2 I found her knockin' onTO my back door

REFRAIN 3.1 SHE WAS, "TRY, try me one more time"
REFRAIN 3.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"

VERSE 4.2 Can't use you woman, YOU tell too many lies

REFRAIN 4.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

REFRAIN 5.2 SHE CRIED, "JUST try me one more time"

REFRAIN 6.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

REFRAIN 7.1 BUT SHE CRIED, "Try me one more time"
REFRAIN 7.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

[Johnm]

Hi uncle bud,
I was wondering if you'd had a chance to re-listen to "Try Me One More Time" to see if you thought any of the changes I suggested are on the money.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

Hi John, gave a listen and I think all suggestions are on the money, with the possible exception of REFRAIN 3.1, where I am still hearing "She was CRYIN',..." for the time being, but will listen some more.

[Cleoma]

You guys are the greatest.  It is inspiring to see the level of detail that you are examining and I think it is admirable! 
Suzy

[uncle bud]

Thanks Suzy, though I think the prevailing opinion would be that we are nuts. 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here is a version of "Try Me One More Time" with the changes listed below incorporated into the lyrics.

REFRAIN 1.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"
REFRAIN 1.3 She said, "Take me back AND try me one more time"

VERSE 2.2 She's got another woman, now she can't use me

REFRAIN 2.1 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"
            2.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"

VERSE 3.2 I found her knockin' onTO my back door

REFRAIN 3.1 SHE WAS, "TRY, try me one more time"
REFRAIN 3.2 SHE SAID, "TRY, try me one more time"

VERSE 4.2 Can't use you woman, YOU tell too many lies

REFRAIN 4.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

REFRAIN 5.2 SHE CRIED, "JUST try me one more time"

REFRAIN 6.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

REFRAIN 7.1 BUT SHE CRIED, "Try me one more time"
REFRAIN 7.2 CRIED, "Try me one more time"

Try Me One More Time - Marshall Owens
Spanish tuning, capoed up

Woke up this morning, just about two
Got another woman and I can't use you

Cryin', "Try me one more time"
She said, "Try, try me one more time"
She said, "Take me back and try me one more time."

Woke up this morning, just about three
She's got another woman, now she can't use me

She said, "Try, try me one more time"
She said, "Try, try me one more time"
She said, "Take me back, try me one more time"

Up this morning, just about four
I found her knockin' onto my back door

She was cryin', "Try me one more time"
She said, "Try, try me one more time"
She said, "Take me back, try me one more time."

Woke up this morning, just about five
Can't use you woman, you tell too many lies

She was cryin', "Try me one more time"
Cried, "Try me one more time"
She said " Take me back, try me one more time."

Woke up this morning, 'bout the break of day
Huggin' that pillow where my fair brown lay

She was cryin', "Try me one more time"
She cried, "Just try me one more time"
She said, "Take me back, try me one more time."

Cryin', "Try me one more time"
Cried, "Try me one more time"
She said, "Take me back, try me one more time"

Mama told me, Daddy told me too
Girls that grin in your face ain't no friend to you

But she cried, "Try me one more time"
Cried, "Try me one more time,
Take me back, try me one more time."

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Since Marshall Owens was one of those fine musicians who only ended up recording two titles, I thought it would be nice to transcribe his other title, "Texas Blues".  Like "Try Me One More Time", it was accompanied by Owens in Spanish tuning, and it's a real beauty.  Owens employs a lot of the interior linear movement on the fourth string that Buddy Boy Hawkins utilized in Spanish tuning.  Marshall Owens sounds like he may have been an older man when he recorded, based on his vocal tone.  I have most of these lyrics right, I think, but I'm missing part of the tagline of the first verse, and I'm not certain of a couple of other places.  I would very much appreciate some help.  Here is "Texas Blues":



   I'm going back to Texas, hear that wild ox moan
   I'm going back to Texas, hear that wild ox moan
   Aw, that is why, baby's left this mornin'

   Someday you're gonna be sorry, honey, you done me wrong
   Someday, baby, honey, you done me wrong
   'Cause you'll miss your old Daddy, honey, and I'll be gone

   Mmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmmmmmmm
   Mmmmmm, mmmmmmm,mmmmmmm
   Mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmm

   Baby, baby, you don't know my mind
   Oh baby, baby, you don't know my mind
   When you think I'm lovin' you, I'm a-leavin' all the time

   Lord, I woke up this mornin', just about the break of day
   I woke up this mornin', just about the break of day
   I was huggin' that pillow where my fair brownie lay

   Mmmmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmmmmm, mmmmmm
   Mmmmmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmmmmmm
   Mmmmmmmm, mmmmmmmm, mmmmmm

Edited 12/10 to pick up corrections from dj

All best,
Johnm
 

[dj]

Hi, John,

I think the last line in the third verse is "'AWW that is why, baby's LEFT this MORNIN'".

Also, the first line of the third verse is " Baby, baby, you don't know my mind" (omit "I mean you"). 

[Rivers]

What's the best CD to get for Marshall Owens? I have nothing at present.
On the iTunes preview of Shanachie's Alabama Blues the audio quality of the source material doesn't sound so hot, lots of noise, even for me.

[Stuart]

I only have his cuts on the JSP set, "The Paramount Masters," so I have nothing to compare them to.

http://www.amazon.com/Paramount-Masters-Various-Artists/dp/tracks/B0001LGVYW/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1

But at $17 from Amazon, you get a pretty good collection for your money.

[uncle bud]

Alabama Blues is the out-of-print (I believe) Yazoo CD. Rich Nevins had another go at the record on the Blues Images Calendar Vol. 4, which is still probably available through the website. It is probably the best version, but this is just one of those records that's in bad shape to start with. Paramount furniture in the shellac. Still great music.

BTW, just checking B&GR, Marshall Owens had two more titles listed, Texas Blues Part II and Seventh St. Alley Strut. On the latter, the credits list him playing mandolin banjo and Ben Curry playing guitar. Surely the reverse? And boy, wouldn't I like to hear that record, which I assume is untraced.

[Rivers]

Thanks guys.

[dj]

I have Owens' two songs both on the Blues Images disc and on Document 5165 - Alabama: Black Secular & Religious Music.  To me, the Blues Images version is a bit more pleasing to the ear, while the Document version is a bit thinner but clearer (easier to hear the words and instruments).  I believe there's only one Owens record known to be in existence, and that's in bad shape.  So the differences are all in the mastering, not in the source.   

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help with the lyrics, dj.  I was really having a tough time hearing that tagline on the first verse, and after listening with your suggested fix in my mind it was as clear as day.  I've made the changes.  I hadn't really thought about it that much, but that record is kind of whupped.
All best,
Johnm

[dj]

Marshall Owens sounds like he may have been an older man when he recorded, based on his vocal tone.

Good guess.  According to family, Owens was born around 1880.  So he would have been in his early 50s when he recorded in 1932.  He died in 1974 at the age of (around) 94.

[uncle bud]

Marshall Owens sounds like he may have been an older man when he recorded, based on his vocal tone.

Good guess.  According to family, Owens was born around 1880.  So he would have been in his early 50s when he recorded in 1932.  He died in 1974 at the age of (around) 94.

Did anyone ever track him down in the 60s?

[dj]

According to Ken Romanowsky's notes to the Document CD, Don Kent "stumbled upon" information concerning Owens' whereabouts shortly after his death.  Surviving family was interviewed, but it was too late to interview Marshall Owens himself.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
One of the interesting things about Marshall Owens' vocal/instrumental phrasing on "Texas Blues" is that while it looks like a straight 12-bar blues when you look at the lyrics, he didn't play it that way.  Marshall Owens shortened up the instrumental response time at the end of each vocal phrase by two beats, much as Booker White did for his blues that were recorded in his great sessions for Lester Melrose.  So it is that Marshall Owens' form for "Texas Blues" looks like this, assuming four-beat measures except where otherwise indicated.

   |    I    |    I    |    I +2 beats    |

   |   IV   |  IVm |    I +2 beats(V7)    |

   |   V7   |   I     |   I + 2 beats    |

Owens gets a distinctive effect, too, by anticipating the V7 chord on the sixth beat of the last measure in the second phrase, very straight-up-and-down, square on the beat.  He varies his phrasing for the hummed verses, in which he plays the first phrase as a conventional four measures of four beats each.

Marshall Owens utilized a beautiful voicing for his IVminor chord that I don't think even Buddy Boy Hawkins used.  He (Owens) goes from his IV chord, fingered X-0-2-0-1-X to a IVm Major 7, fingered
X-0-1-0-0-X, and boy, is it pretty.  It gives the song a really special cast there.  It's interesting, I've heard a lot of people cover "Try Me One More Time", and I've never heard anybody cover "Texas Blues".  It's a beauty.
All best,
Johnm

[Prof Scratchy]

Not very good, but I did have a go.....:
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=2351.msg17810#msg17810

[uncle bud]

Not very good, but I did have a go.....:
http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=2351.msg17810#msg17810

I beg to differ. That's totally cool! Real nice version, IMO.

[Johnm]

Well there you go, it has been covered, and very nicely by Prof. Scratchy.  I agree with uncle bud, a very nice job, Allan, and you got all that timing stuff like rolling off a log.  Well done!
All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Me three - really nice professor!

[Prof Scratchy]

Thanks, folks - hard to believe that was nearly 6 years ago...

[Parlor Picker]

Scratchy strikes again!

[Lignite]

Sorry to come into this thread so late, boys, but I just finally discovered this great tune. It seems to work pretty well on the banjo too in a C tuning gCGCE (one Uncle Dave seemed to use alot). Great key to sing it in too since the G tuning is capoed up to B by Marshall. F chord is 0-2-0-1. C7 is 0-3-00 and G7 2-0-2-1. Not as pretty as the guitar accompaniment but effective and fun nonetheless.