Topic: Washboard Walter Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
We have a couple of the songs that Washboard Walter and John Byrd recorded together but have never had a dedicated Wahboard Walter Lyrics thread. The duo recorded "Wasn't it Sad About Lemon" at a session in Grafton in March of 1930, with John Byrd providing accompaniment in Vestapol and backing vocal harmonies on the chorus. I'd very much appreciate help with any blank places in the lyrics or places I have it wrong. Here is "Wan't It Sad About Lemon":



INTRO SOLO

Blind Lemon was born in Texas, a State we all know well
Was in the streets of Chicago, was where poor Lemon fell
REFRAIN: Oh wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

Lemon had a mule born in Texas, schooled in Tennessee
"Never no more will ol' Lemon, plow the fool out of me."
REFRAIN: Oh wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

The most of the songs that Lemon sung, they were heartbreakers
Now Lemon done did his duty, and gone on to his Maker
REFRAIN: Wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

The song you've ought to hear Lemon playing, before he passed away
Was the song he were fixin' to make: "See that My Grave Is Kept Clean"
REFRAIN: Oh wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

The weather were below zero, on the day he passed away
But this is the truth, we all know well, that's a debt we all have to pay
REFRAIN: Oh wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

Lemon Jefferson, he was blind, blind from his birth
But the truest friend he left behind was his poor mother here on Earth
REFRAIN: Oh wasn't it sad, sad? They're talking of his death, his voice is ringing ever
Wasn't it sad, sad, when they heard that Lemon was dead?

Edited 7/26 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
Edited 7/27 to pick up corrections from banjochris and Stuart

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

1.1 Now, -Blind- Lemon was born in Texas

2.1 Lemon had a mule born in Texas, [blues?] -schooled- in Tennessee

4.2 "See that My Grave (Is Keep) -kept- Clean"

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I re-listened and made all the changes you suggested.

[banjochris]

The [gift] is "Jefferson" crammed into a very small space.
Chris

[Stuart]

Hi John: I agree with Chris. "Jeff" is clear, but "erson" is faint and trails off.

Re: the bracket word in 2.2, I hear 'pal," but it makes no sense. Perhaps it was simply a mistake.

[banjochris]

That missing word in 2.2 sounds like "plow" to me, which would go along with the mule but still makes a pretty odd sentence.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris and Stuart. I have made the suggestions. What was Washboard Walter meaning--"plow the fool out of me"?!

[Blues Vintage]

I think it means something like Blind Lemon can't outplay him (or all of us mere mortals) anymore now that he's dead, as noted in the first verse.

[Stuart]

Re: "Plow the fool out of me" Perhaps the line is meant to be understood as the "voice" of the mule. I can't imagine a blind musician of Lemon's caliber and status being behind a mule, but sometimes lyrics are fanciful. (And the mule was "schooled"--trained, I assume) --Just a thought.

Edited to add: If you think this is appropriate, you could put the line in quotation marks to suggest the voice of the mule. 

[Johnm]

I like your suggestion, Stuart, and will go with that. I like songs in which animals talk. Thanks for the idea.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Washboard Walter's first track recorded with John Byrd was "Narrow Face Blues", recorded in November of 1929 in Grafton. John Byrd accompanied the song in E position in standard tuning, and his rock steady time and strong playing are a treat to hear. This is one of the only tracks Washboard Walter recorded on which he played washboard, despite his performance monicker, and here he stops playing it as soon as he starts singing. I'd appreciate help with the two bent bracketed sections and anything else I have wrong. I think Washboard Walter mis-spoke in the first bent bracketed section and sings what he intended in the second line of that verse. Here is "Narrow Face Blues":



INTRO SOLO

You can talk about bird liver but narrow face is the meat I crave
You can talk about bird liver but narrow face is the meat I crave
You can take a narrow face and lead a preacher to his grave

You sisters'll do anything when he begins to preach and smile
You sisters will do anything when he begins to preach and smile
You'll bankrupt your husband, buying those narrow face pies

Lordy, Lordy, here's what I want you to do
Lordy, Lordy, here's what I want you to do
Please deliver me from those narrow face blues

Hey, hey-hey, listen to the brother moan
Hey, hey, hey-ey, listening to the brother moan
While the preacher and the sisters gnaw on those narrow face bones

You'll be surprised to know what the word of "narrow face" means
You'll be surprised to know what the word of "narrow face" means
But you see it ain't nothing, but a great big fat hen

Hey, hey, what you want me to do?
Hey, hey, what you want me to do?
Joint it with you and eat those narrow face blues

CODA

Edited 7/28 to pick up correction from banjochris

All best,
Johnm


 

[banjochris]

He doesn't exactly misspeak in 5.1, John, he just puts heavy stress on SUR-prised and then normalizes it in the next line, but it starts the same way, You'll be surprised.

I need to listen to the last line some more, I can't quite get that.

Also, this is a weird number, lyrically!

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Chris. Once you said it, I don't know what my problem was hearing that in the first place. Re the lyrics, I would like to have seen one of those old animated ads for this track: "Narrow face--a wonderful subject for a wonderful Blues hit!".

[Johnm]

I think I got that last line: JOINT it with you and eat those narrow face blues

[Blues Vintage]

FWIW I was gonna post this before Chris posted but took it back;

Johnny it with you and eat those narrow face blues

At least we hear a "J" at the beginning. But not even sure on that either. I thought it could be slang for "carry it with you" or something.
This song really has some of the strangest lyrics.