Topic: Big Joe Williams Lyrics

[banjochris]

Hi, John.  Guido Van Rijn, in the book Roosevelt's Blues, states that charity organizations helping to feed and shelter poor people during the Depression were often called "provident" organizations, I guess because they provided for those in need.  Van Rijn transcribes the title word as "providents".  So the title is another example of a record company's mishearing or misunderstanding the actual song title.

That's great to know, dj. I've always loved this song. His early stuff is so weird and cool sounding.

[Johnm]

I sure agree about Big Joe's early recordings, Chris.  Man, what exciting playing!

[harriet]

Thanks for lyrics I adore him, thought I haven't studied much about him. will check out the 1935 session aforementioned mentioned. I just got a cd of him and Sonny Boy Williamson together.

[banjochris]

The more I listen to his early records the more I think Robert Johnson was influenced by Joe big time, which I don't think usually comes up in discussions of Johnson. But something like "My Grey Pony" reminds me a lot of "Terraplane" et al.

Not sure if they ever met but I know Joe did versions of his songs later on...

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Like "Providence Help The Poor People", "Stepfather Blues" was recorded at Big Joe's first session, in Chicago, on February 25, 1935.  It shares the same very freely phrased, dynamic sort of accompaniment, in essentially a one-chord format.  Thinking about this song's lyrics made me realize how despite the supposedly deeply personal nature of blues lyrics, how very rare it is to hear blues lyrics that talk of the singer's childhood and difficulties that may have been experienced then.



Aw, when I was a little boy, mama, 'bout sixteen inches high
When I was a little boy, baby, 'bout sixteen inches high
I had a mean stepfather, Lord, he didn't want me to eat a bite

I got a mean stepfather, now, know you got a-one, too
I got a mean stepfather and I know you have one, too
And my Mother's dead and gone, nothin' in the world that he will do

Well, my Mother, she gone, and I hope she goin' to stay
Well, my Mother, she gone, hoo, Lord, and I hope she goin' to stay
I have mean stepfather, he done drove me 'way

When I was a little boy, Lord, my stepfather didn't 'low me around
When I was a little boy, mama, stepfather didn't 'low me around
He's a no-good weed, mama, and the cows won't mow him down

Well, poor Joe leavin' this mornin', my face is full of frowns
Well, I'm leavin' this mornin', face is full of frowns
I got a mean stepfather, my dear Mother, she don't 'low me around

That's all right, may be home someday
Ooo, Lord, Lord, mama, may be home someday
My mean stepfather is gwine give me a place to lay

I am, ma'am, a little boy, done cried all night long
Hoo, Lord, I'm a little boy, I cried the whole night long
My stepfather, he sweared, he done done me wrong

And 'fore I be dogged, mama, I leave my happy home (Spoken: Play!)
'Fore I be dogged now, baby, I leave my happy home
He's a no-good weed, well, he's done gone

All best,
Johnm







 

[Bunker Hill]

Thanks for lyrics I adore him, thought I haven't studied much about him. will check out the 1935 session aforementioned mentioned. I just got a cd of him and Sonny Boy Williamson together.

Here's his extensive discography, check it out

http://www.wirz.de/music/willjfrm.htm

He's also been the topic of discussions elsewhere on Weenie so probably worth a search in the Tags section.

Good hunting.....

[harriet]

Thanks Bunker Hill.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Joe opened his February 25, 1935 session with "Little Leg Woman", one of the strongest debut recordings in the history of the Country Blues.  Indeed, in many ways, Joe never surpassed it himself.  The song is a chorus blues with Joe quite often pausing half-way through his verses and choruses to play instrumental fills, some of which are hair-raising.  I'm not sure of the tagline of the chorus; I originally thought it was, "I've made my mind up", but now believe he was singing, "I'm in the mind of", as in "I'm of the opinion that".



Well, stoop down, mama, let your, your daddy see
You got somethin', baby, worryin' me
REFRAIN: Well, mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
Well, well, I'm in the mind of, Lord, my woman done done me wrong

Well, big-leg woman, better keep your dresses down
You got me standin' 'round my face full of frowns
REFRAIN: Well, mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
Well, well, I'm in the mind of, hoo-hoo well, my woman done done me wrong

Little-leg woman do just like a squirrel
Get up in the mornin', 'cause that in in the world
REFRAIN: Well, my mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
Well, well, I'm in the mind of, hoo-hoo, Lord, my woman done done me wrong

Drop your window, woman, and down your blinds
Can't hear nothin' but your doggone bedspring cryin'
REFRAIN: Well, mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
Well, well, you know I'm a mind of, hoo well, my woman done done me wrong

One of these mornings you'll lay there soon
Some old joker, boys, can have my room
REFRAIN: Yeah, mama don't allow no aw-layin' out all night long
Well, well, the woman I'm lovin', hoo-hoo, Lord, she done done me wrong

Gwine tell you women how to keep your man at home
Lord, you can squeeze his lemon, woman, then roll him all night long
REFRAIN: Yeah, mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
Well, well, I'm in the mind of, hoo, Lord, my woman done done me wrong

Sweetest peaches, woman, don't grow on no tree
Sweetest honey don't come from no bee
REFRAIN: Well, mama don't allow no layin' out all night long
I'm in the mind of some woman done done me wrong

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Big Joe also recorded "49 Highway Blues" at his first session, on February 25, 1935.  It is very much cut from the same cloth as "Providence Help The Poor People", "Little Leg Woman", and "Stepfather Blues".  Really, the only song that treads some different musical territory from that first session is the wild duet with Henry Townsend, "Somebody's Been Borrowing That Stuff".  All of these songs are essentially one-chorders, though in Joe's time-keeper riff he rocks between a I7 chord and a IV chord (much as Walter Davis did on "Sloppy Drunk Again", which, incidentally, was recorded with Big Joe and Henry this very same day!).  There is no movement to the IV chord for the beginning of the second vocal phrase in any of these songs, nor are there V7 chords at any time.  It's pretty much a "vamp behind the singing, and answer the singing with a lick" sort of approach to playing the blues.  Speaking only for myself, I don't at all miss the "normal" harmonic content or chord changes one is accustomed to hearing in blues in these performances; I think having to hit chord changes would have cramped Big Joe's style.
Big Joe's vocal on this one is exciting, and he exhorts himself a couple of times with spoken asides.  He does a nice version of the falsetto-starting "hoo well, well", too.



Well I get up in the morning, catch the Highway 49
Well, well, I'm gonna look for little Malvina, hoo, man, don't say she can not be found

I got a long tall woman, live on Highway 49 (Spoken: Aw, shucks, man!)
I got a long tall woman, hoo, live on Highway 49
Well, well, I get up in the mornin', hoo, Lord, boys, she down on my mind

Malvina, my sweet woman, she don't pay me no mind
Hoo, Lord, Malvina, she don't pay me no mind (Spoken: Play it, Joe, how you doin' it)
You got poor Joe walkin' down, woman, ooo, Lord, Highway 49

I'm gon' get up in the mornin', Malvina, I believe I'll dust my bed
Ooo, Lord, I'm gonna get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my bed
I'm gwine down Highway 49 border, I'm gonna be rockin' to my head

If you ever get the blues, catch the Highway 49 (Spoken: Play it now, boy, have some fun)
If you ever get the blues, catch the Highway 49
Well, Malvina, my sweet woman, ooo, Lord, boys, she don't pay me no mind

Soon this mornin', boys, I may roll in Jackson town
Soon this mornin', baby, I be rollin' in Jackson town
I done got tired of layin' around, walkin' the Highway 49

I'm standin' in Chicago today, mama, New Orlean on my mind (Spoken: Play it now, Joe, know you got the blues)
Hoo-hoo, Lord, standin' Chicago, New Orlean on my mind
Malvina, she my sweet woman, you on Highway 49

Edited 6/7 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm     

[banjochris]

Couple small suggestions on "Providence," John:

2.2 HEARD MR. ROOSEVELT SAY they wasn't gonna help no more

3.1 Well, Mr. Roosevelt told me AIN'T gonna be no hard times no more (he really swallows the AIN'T)

4.4 Well, well it may be tomorrow, hoo, Lord, MIGHT DUST MY BED AND GO

Chris

[banjochris]

And on "49":

in 6.2 he says rollin' IN Jackson town but really swallows the "in"

the spoken aside should be after 7.1 instead of 6.3

and in 7.1 and 7.2 I think it should be I'm standin' IN CHICAGO baby,
rather than at the crossroad.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the help, Chris.  I was not at all confident I had those transcriptions right and your suggestions really helped.  I had not heard the expression "dust my bed" used before these songs.  Have you heard it elsewhere?
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

I don't believe I've heard "dust my bed" but I figure it makes as much sense as "dust my broom"!

[Johnm]

The same thought occurred to me--I don't know what all this dusting is about.

[harriet]

I read that dusting was a phrase meaning make a clean break from, moving on.