Topic: Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles Lyrics

[maddoggirl]

Now, this is a tricky little sonofabitch  I've been puzzling this one out for months now, so I decided it's time to sit down and really take a stab at it.

This Wilmer Watts and Frank Wilson recording is clearly related to Uncle Dave Macon's "Roll Down The Line", as the subject seems to be similar (the leasing of black convicts), but the words are very different. I've always found it intriguing when a song is sung from a sympathetic black perspective by a white singer - Cruel Slavery Days by the Buck Mountain Band is another good example (and far easier to decipher ). any help appreciated - I've attached a link which hopefully works.

Edited to include the astute suggestions of Johnm and Gumbo.  Here is "Chain Gang Special":



I wish I was in Mobile
At some swell hotel
With a New York paper (?) in my hand, just ....... to my gal
I'd march around to Cuby
I'd take a trip to Spain
I'd drive back down to Belmont and try that Chief again.

Big nigger, won't you roll down the line? Roll down the line.
Yonder comes my darlin', roll down line.
(Keep it rollin') Won't you roll down the line? (Roll on) Roll down the line.
Yonder comes my darlin', roll down line.

If you wait around (?) old Belmont
And call yourself a sport
In fifteen minutes they'll arrest you
And bind you over to court
You'll get up in the courthouse
And listen to the lawyer's slang
First captain says ..... ** "Big black nigger, I need you on my gang."

Chorus

Every morning fore day
They loose you off the chain.
They come right soon to the white folks
And treat them just the same.

And then ....... *** when they feed you
They feed you out of a ...... pan
And when you get to eating, it's get to shovelling sand.

Chorus




** there's some little extra word or noise here that I can't quite pick up, but it isn't vital to the sense.

*** ditto

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Johnm]

Hi maddoggirl,
The first verse sounds to me like:

   I wish I was in MOBILE
   At some swell hotel
   With a New York paper in my hand just SPORTIN' to my gal
   I'd march around to CUBY [Cuba]
   I'd take a trip to FRANCE
   I'd drive back down to Belmont and TRY THAT CHIEF AGAIN

I hope this helps.
All best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

wow you like a challenge!

in the last verse i think it's
And when you get through eating, it's get to shovelling sand.

I'll give it a few more goes - maybe I can hear something more

[maddoggirl]

You two are marvellous! I agree with all the suggestions. I did get to thinking of Cuby shortly afterwards, listening to Watts singing Fightin' In The War With Spain, in which he uses the same pronounciation.

[Johnm]

I think Gumbo's right about that final line and I think the ones immediately preceding it are

And then it's when she feeds you
They feed you out of a pigpen (pen prounounced "pan")
And when you get through eating, it's "Get to shoveling sand."

All best,
Johnm

[Gumbo]

I agree with John's first verse with the exception of 'gal' - that line sounds more like 'sportin to my dear' but I'm not sure.

2nd verse
You lay around old Belmont
..
..
First cap' says "You big black nigger, I need you on my gang."

[Gumbo]

would it make sense to say they feed you out of a blue pan
it doesn't make sense but that's what I hear.
Perhaps a large enamel pan would be a recognisable motif in some way?

so verse 3
And then it's when she feeds you
They feed you out of a blue pan
And when you get through eating, it's "Get to shoveling sand."

[Johnm]

Yup, I agree, Gumbo, it does sound like "blue" pan, and I think it is "dear" in the first verse.  Good catches!
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles were an Old-Time band from North Carolina, I believe.  The recorded "Been On The Job Too Long" at a session in New York City on October 3, 1929.  The song gained some currency in the 1960s and was recorded by Dave Van Ronk and Tom Rush (separately) as "Duncan and Brady".  It's a great song, and I like Wilmer Watts' version much the best, despite the fact that it seems like Watts had a hard time keeping the two protagonists straight.  A number of the uncertain places in the lyrics, I feel like I have what Watts sang, but I wonder if he learned the song from hearing someone else sing it, and misunderstood some of the lyrics.  I'd appreciate help with any bent bracketed passages.  Here is "Been On The Job Too Long":



Twinkle, twinkle, 'lectric star, yonder goes Brady on an electric car
Makin' his way to the Freedom Land, he's gonna kill him a sucker like a bulldog's man
REFRAIN: Been on the job too long

Brady was a worker on the telephone wire, 'long come Duncan with a shining star
Looked old Brady right through the specs, he said, "There's no use in talkin', Brady, get your checks."
REFRAIN: Been on the job too long

SOLO INTERLUDE

Brady replied, and he answered, "No."  Duncan showed him a sight that was never before
Said, "Now, Brady, you're a-ruining your rest.", old Duncan shot a hole through Brady's chest
REFRAIN: Been on the job too long

Brady had a little .25, kill a man about a half a mile
Duncan had a big .44, when he laid old Brady in the barroom door
REFRAIN: Thought he'd been on the job too long

SOLO INTERLUDE X 2

Early in the mornin', just about nine, hearses and the hacks all formed a line
White and the black all gathered around, they gonna take Mr. Brady to the buryin' ground
REFRAIN: Been on the job too long

SOLO INTERLUDE X 2

Brady went to hell with a crutch under his arm, said, "Mr. Devil, well I ain't here long."
Devil says, "It is just this-a-way, well, there's never been a sucker here that ever got away."
REFRAIN: Been on the job too long

SOLO INTERLUDE

Brady had a little .25, kill a man about a half a mile
Duncan had a big .44, well he laid old Brady in the barroom door
REFRAIN: 'Cause he's been on the job too long

OUTRO

Edited 5/29 to pick up correction from Suzy T

All best,
Johnm

[Suzy T]

White and the black all gathered round?

That doesn't make much sense though.  I believe this is the first recorded version of this song which apparently was based on true events that took place in St. Louis.  Great version.

[Johnm]

Thanks so much for the help, Suzy, you got it.  Boy, was I ever not hearing that.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles recorded "Knocking Down Casey Jones" at a session in New York in October of 1929.  Their version of "Casey Jones" shares the same melody and many of the same lyrics as the earlier recorded versions by George Reneau and Vernon Dalhart.  I don't think I had previously appreciated how lyric-heavy this song is--there's really no time for a solo at all.  Here is "Knocking Down Casey Jones":



INTRO

Come all of you rounders now, if you want to hear
This is the story 'bout the brave engineer
Casey Jones, he was a rounder's name
On a six eight-wheeler, boys, he won his fame

Caller called Casey at a half past four
Kissed his wife at the station door
Mounted to his cabin with his orders in his hand
And take a farewell trip to the Promised Land

Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin, oh and
Casey Jones, his order in his hand, oh and
Casey Jones, mounted to his cabin
He's a-gonna take a trip to the Promised Land

He looked at his watch, and the watch was slow
Looked at his water, and his water was low
Turned to his fireman and the words he said,
"We're gonna reach old Bristol but we'll all be dead."

"Let's open up your water now, and shovel in your coal
Stick your head out the window, see my drivers roll.
Run 'er, I will run her 'til she leaves the rail,
For I'm eight hours late a-with the Western mail."

Casey Jones, eight hours late, oh and
Casey Jones, with the Western mail
Casey Jones, eight hours late, but he's
Eight hours late a-with the western mail

Old Casey pulled up a-on that Reno Hill
Tooted at the crossing with an awful thrill
Switchman, he knew by the engine moan
That the man at the throttle was old Casey Jones

Old Casey pulled up in two miles of the place
Old Number 4 standing, right in the way
Turned to his fireman, said, "Old boy, you'd better jump,
For the locomotives I see going to bump."

Casey Jones, two locomotives, oh it's
Casey Jones, it's bound to bump, oh it's
Casey Jones, two locomotives, well it's
Two locomotives that are going to bump

Casey wake up one morning and it looked like rain
Around the bend old Casey pulled his train
Look in the cabin at a-Casey Jones
He's a good old rounder, but he's dead and gone

Casey Jones, good old rounder
Casey Jones, he's dead and gone, oh it's
Casey Jones, he's a good old rounder, he's a
Good old rounder but he's dead and gone

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Wilmer Watts sure recorded some interesting songs.  He recorded "Walk Right In Belmont" at a session in Chicago around April of 1927 for which he was joined by Frank Wilson on steel guitar and Charles Freshour on guitar.  Watts played banjo and sang.  "Walk Right In Belmont" is obviously related to "Midnight Special", and has many of the often-sung lyrics, but an altogether different melody.  I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed passage.  Here is "Walk Right In Belmont":



INTRO SOLO

Oh, when you go to Belmont, well, you better walk right
And you better not gamble, and you better not fight
Policemans'll get you, and they'll bring you right down
You ain't got no money, you're chain gang bound

Six o-clock in the morning, hear the ding-dong ring
And you go to the table, it's the same old thing
There's coffee on the table, just as bitter as gall
If you don't like it, boys, don't get none at all

Yonder comes my woman, oh how do you know?
That little old apron, she always wore
Umbrella on her shoulder, and money in her hand
She says, "Stand back, Captain, I come to get my man."

SOLO

Six o-clock in the evenin', hear the ding-dong ring
Then you go to the table, it's the same old thing
Cornbread on the table, just as hard as a rock
Ain't got enough ladies, break a husband's heart

Yonder comes my woman, oh how do you know?
By the little old apron, she always wore
Umbrella on her shoulder, and money in her hand
She says, "Stand back, Captain, I come to get my man."

SOLO

Edited 6/14 to pick up correction from waxwing
Edited 6/14 to pick up correction from banjochris

All best,
Johnm
 

[waxwing]

Hi Johnm

I think that line starts "Only 8 months'll get you" or possibly "Oh, the 8 months'll get you"

This could be the minimum sentence in North Carolina for serving time at a state facility, similarly to one year in other states, hence the common reference to "11 29" as a sentence to a county jail as opposed to a state pen.

Wax

[Johnm]

That is great hearing, Wax, thank you!  "Only 8 months'll get you" is spot on, both phonetically and in terms of meaning.  I'll make the change.  Thanks!
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

If I could offer an alternative, I don't think it's "Only 8 months'll get you" – I think it's "Policemans'll get you" – he just swallows the P somewhat.
Chris

[Johnm]

Huh, I hear it now, Chris, thanks.  And it is more right down the line in terms of making sense.  Thanks!

[catyron]

[And] you go to the table, it's the same old thing <Corrected word

[Lignite]

I happen to own an original copy of this particular song. It has all of the flaws of Paramount 78s but is particularly disappointing in that it was recorded at such a low volume that it is very hard to listen to over the surface noise.

[banjochris]

Was listening to an old favorite today and thought I'd post a transcription – it's "Cotton Mill Blues" by Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles.



I've always had trouble with some of the words in this one, mostly because Watts sings quite loudly and then trails off, I don't think the mics of the time were great at dealing with that. Doing a little research (by which I mean Googling) I found it was based on a poem called "A Factory Rhyme," which admittedly helped me with the lyrics a bit. I still am not sure how Watts ends the first verse – he's clearly not singing the line in the poem. You can read the poem here: https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=52118

This has maybe a unique chord progression in old-time music? Closest I can think of is Frank Hutchison's "Old Rachel." It's I-VI-V–I for the verse, then IV-I-V-I for the chorus. Played in I think D on the guitar, with Watts in "standard" banjo tuning gCGBD capoed or tuned up. I've also played this in f#DF#AD tuning ("Reuben" tuning) on the banjo as well.

Any suggestions/corrections most welcome.

While I have leisure time,
Try and sing a cotton mill rhyme,
Live in Belmont, a lousy [just possibly "lively"] town
Work in a mill to drive folks 'round.

(chorus)
Got the cotton mill blues,
Got the cotton mill blues,
Got the cotton mill blues,
On my mind.

Perhaps you'd like to know my name,
You never will, I don't sing for fame,
Sing to let all the classes know,
How a cotton mill man has to go.

(chorus)

We have hard times, we all well know,
To church we never get to go,
When the sabbath comes, we are tired down,
From working hard the whole week 'round.

(chorus)

Uptown people called us trash,
Say we never have no cash,
That is why the people fret
Call us the ign'ant factory set.

(chorus)

Education we have none,
Papa, mama, daughter or son,
That is why the people fret,
Call us the ign'ant factory set.

(chorus)

PS the best sound quality for this number is on the Gastonia Gallop album but I didn't see that on YouTube.

Edited 2/12/24 with correction from JohnM

[Rivers]

Perhaps you'd like to know my name,
You never will, I don't sing for fame,
Sing to let all the classes know,
How a cotton mill man has to go.

Yep Chris that's got a lot going on in it for it for sure. I like the I-IV-V 12 bar after the classic ragtime start, might have to try that myself

[Stuart]

Was listening to an old favorite today and thought I'd post a transcription – it's "Cotton Mill Blues" by Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles...

PS the best sound quality for this number is on the Gastonia Gallop album but I didn't see that on YouTube.

Hi Chris: This one says it's taken from the Old Hat release:



FWIW: I also have it on Bob Carlin's, "North Carolina Banjo Collection." (Rounder) The Old Hat and Rounder reissues sound like they are from the same 78.

[Johnm]

Hi Chris,
For that tagline to the first verse, I'm hearing something like:

   Work in a mill, to drive folks 'ROUND

 See what you think.

[banjochris]

I think "round" is better than what I have, John! The original poem has something like "work in a mill by the name of Crown."

Stuart, thanks for the better YouTube link – I have it on Gastonia Gallop, the Carlin record, the Paramount Old-Time on JSP and I think the first time I heard it was on a Rounder record I have on cassette – Poor Man, Rich Man, which has a lot of good stuff on it. It's worth reissuing!
Chris