Topic: Walter Taylor Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
It appears that at least a few of the cuts recorded by Walter Taylor featured the same artist as the one who was recorded as Washboard Walter, and likewise several of these cuts included John Byrd on guitar. "Broadcasting Blues" was recorded at a session in Richmond, Indiana on February 15, 1930. Taylor was joined by John Byrd on guitar and C.J. Anderson on banjo for the cut and added his own washboard playing and lead vocal. John Byrd played with his customary rhythmic drive out of G position in standard tuning. I believe Taylor re-used the vocal melody he had used for "Narrow Face Blues". Here is "Broadcasting Blues":



INTRO SOLO

I woke up this morning with broadcastin' on my mind
I woke up this morning with broadcastin' on my mind
I dreamed of these blues we were moanin' over the line

In the year of eighteen hundred and ninety-nine
In the year of eighteen hundred and ninety-nine
We gettin' even good music, over the radio line

Listen here, sweet mama, listen while I speak to you
Listening here, sweet mama, listening how I speak to you
I just want to tell you 'bout, these broadcasting blues

These broadcasting blues, I swear, is worryin' my mind
These broadcasting blues, I swear, is worryin' my mind
I can't eat for sleepin' and I can't laugh from cryin'

Listening to me, moan this old lonesome song
Listening to me, moan this old lonesome song
While this old washboard, do that old washboard drone

Sweet mama, sweet mama, listening how I'm tellin' you
Sweet mama, sweet mama, listening how I'm tellin' you
I swear I want you to let me deliver these broadcasting blues

Edited 8/12 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm




 

[Blues Vintage]

We can't hear the good music, over the radio line   

we gettin' even good music over the radio line

It really sounds like this, and maybe that what's intended;  he's still dreaming to moan the blues over the radio line in 1899


3.2 Listening here, sweet mama, listening I say to you how I speak to you

4.3 and I can't laugh for cryin'  from cryin

verse 5
Listening to me, (Ma), -moan- this old lonesome song

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Blues Vintage. I agree with all of the changes you suggested and have made them.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor recorded "Yo-Yo Blues" at the same session as he recorded "Broadcasting Blues", and was once again accompanied by John Byrd, this time playing in A position, standard tuning and C. J. Anderson on tenor banjo. John Byrd's bass runs are so strongly attacked that he sounds like he might be using a flatpick, or perhaps a thumbpick. At the date this rendition was recorded, several earlier versions of "Yo-Yo Blues" had been recorded, mostly by Georgia artists. It took me a little while to figure out that Walter Taylor's way of handling the last four bars of his form, |   V7   |   IV7   |   IV7   |    I    |, made it seem as though he was starting his next verses early. It's an indication of how accustomed I was to hearing two measures of the I chord at the end of a 12-bar form. Here is "Yo-Yo Blues":



INTRO SOLO

Got up this morning, my yo-yo mama was gone
Got up this morning, my yo-yo mama was gone
I stood by my bedside, hung my head and, hung my head and moan

I walked down the street, I couldn't be satisfied
I walked down the street, I couldn't be satisfied
I had the yo-yo blues, just too mean to, just too mean to fight

It ain't none of my business, but it sure ain't right
It ain't none of my business, but it sure ain't right
To take another man woman and play yo-yo-yo, play yo-yo all night

I'm stranger here, and I just blowed in your town
I'm a stranger here, I just blowed in your town
I wants to yo-yo, please don't, please don't turn me, please don't turn me down

If I mistreat you, mama, I sure don't mean no harm
If I mistreat you, mama, I sure don't mean no harm
I'm your yo-yo daddy and I don't know right from, don't know right from wrong

I'm long and tall, like a cannonball
Said I'm long and tall, like a cannonball
Takes a long, tall fella, to make a good gal, make a good gal squall

Stranger here, I come in on this train
I'm a stranger here, I come in on this train
I long to hear some good gal, some good gal call my, good gal call my name

Got up this morning, I sure was feelin' sad
I got up this morning, I sure were feelin' bad
But I say, "Can't do nothin' but wash my face and, wash my face and hands."

CODA (falsetto during coda)

All best,
Johnm 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Coal Camp Blues" comes from Walter Taylor's last session, in Louisville, Kentucky on June 11, 1931, and was released as being by "Taylor's Weatherbirds". For this session, Taylor played guitar, as did George Davis, and they were joined by unidentified players on tenor banjo and mandolin. The ensemble has a really nice, loose sound, with everyone playing really freely, especially the banjo player, and the instrumental accompaniment ends up being really dynamic and exciting. Taylor is identified in DG&R as the vocalist on the song--I'm dubious, as the vocal tone of the singer here differs from Taylor's and the singer also lacks Taylor's somewhat careful delivery. See what you think. Here is "Coal Camp Blues":



INTRO

Coal camp woman's, somethin' a man can't understand
Coal camp woman, somethin' a man can't understand
When she gets sore at you, she runs from man to man

I lives on a coal camp, know what I'm talkin' about
I lives on a coal camp, know what I'm talkin' about
Oncet [sic] your rider turns you down, she really turns you down

Coal miner in west Kentucky, they'll do very fine
Coal miners in west Kentucky, they'll do very fine
But a coal miner in Alabama, ain't nothing doing down there

I coal mined in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, too
I coal mined in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, too
But there's nothing in the coal mine, man like myself can do

Gonna get me a woman and spend all of our days
Gonna get me a woman, baby to spend all of our days
When times get hard, she lay anyway

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

 


 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Do You Love Me Blues" was the second and final cut recorded by Taylor's Weatherbirds at their Louisville session on June 11, 1931. The vocalist listed for the song is George Davis, and both Davis and Walter Taylor played out of D position in standard tuning, with one of them playing a lot of single-note fills that show a strong Scrapper Blackwell influence. The unknown tenor banjo player and mandolinist  fill out the ensemble sound admirably. I'd very much appreciate correction/corroboration of the end of the third verse and correction of anything else I have wrong. Here is "Do You Love Me Blues":



INTRO
 
You told me that you loved me, then I really b'lieved in you
You told me that you loved me, then I really b'lieved in you
Now you are lovin' someone else, and tryin' to play me too

If you just jivin' me, baby, why don't you tell me so?
If you just jivin' me, baby, why don't you tell me so?
If you're getting tired of my lovin', well, let's shake hands and go

SOLO

Now tell me, baby, do you really care for me?
Now tell me, baby, do you really care for me?
Am I doin' all the lovin', and it's somebody else you see?

That's all right, sweet mama, your troubles will be like mine
Well, that's all right, sweet mama, your troubles will be like mine
I feel myself slippin' and I can see myself sinkin' down

SOLO

Edited 8/13 to pick up corrections from Stuart and Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Stuart]

Hi John: Re: "Do You Love Me Blues" I'm pretty sure at 3.3, [you see] is correct--or at least I can't offer anything different.

4.1 I believe I hear "sweet mama," where you have "with, mama..." I hear a faint "swee" without the "t" final--almost clipped sounding. It's hardly clear cut, but that's what I'd go with given the lyrical structure where the first two lines of each verse are identical--or nearly identical in 4.1 and 4.2.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Stuart. I agree that it is "sweet mama" in the first line of that verse and have made the change.

[Blues Vintage]

"Do You Love Me Blues"

If you're getting tired of my lovin', (then) -well- let's shake hands and go

I feel myself slippin' and I can (feel) -see- myself sinkin' down

[Johnm]

Thanks for the catches, Blues Vintage. I'm pretty sure I heard them right and typed them wrong, so I'm glad you caught them.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor recorded "You Rascal, You" at the same session as he recorded "Yo-Yo Blues" and "Broadcasting Blues". For the song he added kazoo to his washboard and lead vocal, with John Byrd accompanying him in G position in standard tuning and C.J. Anderson playing tenor banjo. The song has been recorded in many versions. Here is "You Rascal, You":



INTRO KAZOO SOLO

I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you
When you're dead and in your grave, no more women will you crave
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

I dressed you in my home, you rascal, you
I dressed you in my home, you rascal, you
I dressed you in my home, you wouldn't leave my wife alone
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

I bed you since last Fall, you rascal, you
I bed you since last Fall, you rascal, you
I bed you since last Fall, then you got your ashes hauled
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

KAZOO SOLO

You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you
You know you done me wrong, you rascal, you
Know you done me wrong, when you stole my wife and gone
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

You asked my mother for a meal, you rascal, you
Asked my mother for a meal, you rascal, you
You asked my mother for a meal, that's something else you try to steal
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

Oh please don't let me find you, rascal, you
Please don't let me find you, rascal, you
Please don't let me find you, 'cause you'll leave this world behind you
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

You done messed with my daughter, you rascal, you
You've done messed with my daughter, you rascal, you
You've done messed with my daughter, now I'm gonna put you in the water
I'd be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

I'm gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you
Gonna kill you just for fun, you rascal, you
I'm gonna kill you just for fun, nothing's gonna help you when I'm done
I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal, you

All best,
Johnm

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor recorded "Diamond Ring Blues" at the session as "Yo-Yo Blues" and "You Rascal, You". Taylor sang lead and played washboard, with John Byrd accompanying him in C position in standard tuning and C. J. Anderson playing the tenor banjo. I'd very much appreciate help with the bent bracketed place in the intro verse and any place else I have the lyrics wrong. Here is "Diamond Ring Blues":



INTRO SOLO

Miss Bessie Brown was a vamp from Memphis town, she had a friend named King
He had a pretty diamond ring, now every time she saw him, she'd ask him for the stone
'Til he got mad and loudly said, "Gal, leave me alone."
Then Miss Bessie sighed, the words she cried, "Oh, please let me have it, I just got to have it,
Oh baby, won't you give it to me, please?"

Oh, please let me use it, I won't abuse it, I asked you on my bending knee
Why won't you let me have it with a willing mind? What make you keep me begging for it all the time?
Please let me feel it, I won't steal it, don't give that purty [sic] thing away, 'cause
I'm wild about it, can't live without it. Can you stand to hear me cry?
Now if it don't fit I'll push it up and down, and if it don't fit I twist it 'round and 'round
I'm wild about it, can't live without it, can you stand to hear me cry?

(Falsetto line)
'Cause I'm wild about it, can't live without it. Can you stand to hear me cry?
Now if it's all bent, I'll push it up and down, and if it don't fit I twist it 'round and 'round
Please let me have it, just got to have it, oh, baby won't you give it to me, please, I mean the diamond ring, oh
Baby, won't you give it to me, please?, now
If it don't fit I push it up and down, and if it don't fit I twist it 'round and 'round, so
Please let me have it, just got to have it, oh baby, won't you give it to me, please, I mean the diamond ring, oh
Baby, won't you give it to me, please?

Edited 8/15 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage and banjochris

All best,
Johnm





   

[Blues Vintage]

1.3 'Til He got mad and loudly said


I'll keep listening to that weird first line. It makes no sense but this is as close I can get right now;

Miss Bessie Brown was a, and from Memphis town

[banjochris]

Miss Bessie Brown was A VAMP FROM Memphis town

[banjochris]

1.2 He had a pretty diamond ring, now every time she saw him, she'd ask him for THE STONE

agree on the "Til" in 1.3 and right before 3.6 (or 3.7 if the falsetto line is 3.1) there's a "So" at the beginning of the line/end of the previous line.

[Johnm]

Thanks so much for the help, Blues Vintage and banjochris. It's nice to be able to put the finishing touches on such a busy set of lyrics.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor recorded "Deal Rag" at the first session of his Washboard Trio, in Richmond, Indiana on February 14, 1930. John Byrd provided guitar accompaniment in C position, standard tuning and sang, and C. J. Anderson played tenor banjo and sang, while Taylor played washboard, kazoo and sang. The song is a version of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down", a song often recorded in both the Old-Time and Blues traditions. The ensemble faux yodeling choruses really set this version apart--it's wonderfully loose. A different singer takes over for the last verse. Here is "Deal Rag":



KAZOO INTRO SOLO

Been all around this whole round world, to the
States of Tennessee
Says everywhere that I hang my hat, Lord, it's
Home and it's sweet home to me

REFRAIN: Don't let it down, don't let it down
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar done gone

YODELED REFRAIN

I was standing around, a big skin game, all the
Skinners was standin' around
I hear one of those skinners when he said,
"Don't let the deal go down."

REFRAIN: Don't let it down, sweet mama, don't let it down, mama, mama
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar's done gone

YODELED REFRAIN

KAZOO SOLO

I was drunk last night, mama, and night before
Ain't gon' get drunk any more
I laid my head, my baby's bed
Ain't gon' get drunk any more

REFRAIN: Let the deal go down, don't let it down
Don't let the deal go down
When the deal go down, my last go-round
My last gold dollar's done gone

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor and his Washboard Trio recorded "Corrine, Corrine" at the same session as they recorded "Deal Rag", and Walter Tylor once again sang and played washboard and kazoo, John Byrd accompanied on guitar in C position, standard tuning and C. J. Anderson played tenor banjo. Someone sang a vocal harmony, too. The trio does the same melody as the Mississippi Sheiks had used in their version. Here is "Corrine, Corrine":



INTRO KAZOO SOLO

Corrina, where you been so long?
Corrina, Corrina, where you been so long?
Ain't had no lovin', since you been gone

Corrina, Corrina, where did you stay last night?
Corrina, Corrina, where did you stay last night?
Come in this morning, sun was shining bright

I met Corrina, way across the sea
I met Corrina, way across the sea
She wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't care for me

FALSETTO CHORUS

Corrina, Corrina, what you gonna do?
Corrina, Corrina, what you gonna do?
Just a little bit of lovin', a-let your heart be true

I love Corrina, tell the world I do
I love Corrina, tell the world I do
Just a little bit of lovin', a-let your heart be true

Corrina, Corrina, you are a pal of mine
Corrina, Corrina, you are a pal of mine
Now she left me walkin', tear rollin' and cryin'

Corrina, Corrina, what's the matter now?
Corrina, Corrina, what's the matter now?
She wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't love me nohow

Goodbye, Corrina, oh, it's fare you well
Goodbye, Corrina, oh, it's fare you well
When I come back here, can't no one tell

CODA

All best,
Johnm
 

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Walter Taylor and his Washboard Trio recorded "Thirty-Eight And Plus" at their first session, the same day they recorded "Deal Rag" and "Corrine, Corrine". Walter Taylor sang and played washboard and kazoo, with John Byrd accompanying on guitar in G position, standard tuning and C. J. Anderson playing tenor banjo, and John Byrd and C. J. Anderson adding harmony vocals on the chorus. DG&R suggest that the title may be a mishearing of  ".38 and Plug", a gun and its ammunition. I'm not sure; I definitely find the chorus the hardest part to hear in this song and would appreciate corrections of anything I have wrong or that is missing. The fact that I don't have any real idea what the chorus is referring to doesn't help the transcription process! Here is "Thirty-Eight And Plus":



INTRO SOLO

I woke up this morning about a half-past four, told my gal I couldn't use her no more
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Look here, pretty mama, what you done done, you done made me love you now your man done come
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight plus

Say God made a woman, he made her mighty funny, the ring around her mouth are just sweet as any honey
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, oh, it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Say I got a key, shine like gold, the women all tell me satisfies their soul
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

KAZOO SOLO X 2

Oh, faro of mine, treat me right, think them women's goin' to be your size
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Goin' away, pretty mama, won't be back 'til Fall, if I don't get back then I won't be back at all
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Say the monkey and the baboon settin' in the grass, one said, "No." and the other 'un said, "Yes."
REFRAIN: I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum, I know it's thirty-eight and plus, beedle-ee-bum
They can't nobody use it, mama, 'cause it's thirty-eight and plus

Edited 8/20 to pick up corrections from Blues Vintage
Edited 8/21 to pick up corrections from banjochris and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[David Kaatz]

My take
Verses, 2, 3, 4, in the refrain, I don't hear the and, I hear: I know it's thirty-eight and plus. (Possibly one of the vocalists is slipping in an 'n but it's hard to be sure)

verse 3, refrain, 2nd half is: I know ohh, it's thirty eight and plus

verse 4: Oh fair of mine, treat me right, singin' women gonna [ ]

Dave

[Blues Vintage]

2.1 Look here, pretty mama, what you done done, you -done- made me love you now your man done come
4.1 Say I got a key, it shines like gold, the women all tell me satisfies their soul

Is the song about measurements?   So a 38 in the waist or something?

5.1 Oh fair of mine, treat me right, singin' when we gon’ to see your thighs

I'll keep listening to that weird 5.1;  sight or side or fight are other possibilities.


I don't see the video on the screen.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the help, Dave and Blues Vintage. I am hearing an "and" in the title phrase in the places where I have it in the choruses. For some reason, in the last two transcriptions that I've posted YouTube videos for, the url has transferred but the video has not. I don't know why that happened but I've tried a couple of times to re-embed the video and only the url is coming across.

[banjochris]

Thanks for the help, Dave and Blues Vintage. I am hearing an "and" in the title phrase in the places where I have it in the choruses. For some reason, in the last two transcriptions that I've posted YouTube videos for, the url has transferred but the video has not. I don't know why that happened but I've tried a couple of times to re-embed the video and only the url is coming across.

It's a rather odd YouTube link, John, it has some kind of si= code at the end that they usually don't have – maybe you copied it from somewhere where someone else put in extra info. The usual format works and I fixed your post with it.
Chris

[banjochris]

Also I'm wondering if the last word in 5.1 is "size" – given the context, I'm assuming the thirty-eight might be a waist size.

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for fixing the link and figuring out the problem with it, Chris. Using that information, I was able to go back and fix the other link I posted recently that wouldn't embed in the normal fashion, Lightnin' Hopkins' "Goin' Back to Florida". I will keep listening to "Thirty Eight And Plus" and try to make sense of that fifth verse. Thanks!

[Johnm]

Thanks for "size" at the tail end of 5.1, Chris. I believe that is right. I think I have that 5.1 line now. I think the title phrase might more plausibly refer to a bust measurement than a waist measurement. Re-listening, I also think the first word of the last line of the chorus is "they" rather than "there".

[banjochris]

Could definitely be a bust size – I was thinking with the "can't nobody use it" he was complaining about her weight. That line reading for 5.1 seems good to me.

[Blues Vintage]

I have to disagree with 5.1. I don't hear "think them" at all.

This is another possibillty

Oh, faro of mine, treat me right, singin' when we goin' to see your size

[Johnm]

I'm leaving it as is, Blues Vintage.