Topic: Pearl Dickson Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Pearl Dickson recorded, I believe, only two titles, "12 Pound Daddy" and "Little Rock Blues", on both of which she was accompanied by "Pet" and "Can", performance monickers for Richard "Hacksaw" Harney and his brother Maylon. The session at which the songs were recorded was in Memphis on December 12, 1927. The brothers had one of the most accomplished duet sounds every recorded in the Country Blues, in a class with Tartar & Gay's two titles for a very worked-out, slick duet approach. I believe it was Maylon's only day in a recording studio, for he was murdered sometime not very long after that, and Hacksaw never was recorded again until the '60s, despite enjoying a legendary status among his peers.
For "Little Rock Blues", both brothers were playing out of E position in standard tuning, sounding at G, so capoed to the third fret. Without knowing for certain, I assume Hacksaw took the very florid treble part and Maylon carried the shuffle bass and bass runs. Hacksaw barely comes up for air during the course of the song, maintaining a seemingly endless string of licks.
I'd very much appreciate help with any of the lyrics enclosed in bent brackets. Here is "Little Rock Blues":



INTRO AND INTRO SOLO

I started to Helena, but I changed my mind
I started to Helena, but I changed my mind
Well, I'm going to Little Rock, where I can have better times

Yes, when I go to Little Rock, I takes a seat and sit down
Lord, I taken a seat and sit down
I like the people there, it's a runderful [sic] town

This is the place, where I have longed to be
Mmmmmmm, where I have longed to be
Because where I come from, the mens have mistreated poor me

SOLO (Spoken: A poor girl. . . what hurts me so bad, I'm a long ways from home)

Oh, I don't know why, they treat me so low-down and cruel
Lord, why they treat me so low-down and cruel
And if you don't want me, baby, you don't have to use me as no fool

SOLO (Spoken: That's enough.)

Edited 10/2 to pick up corrections from harry and Johnm
Edited 10/5 to pick up corrections from banjochris

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

This is music.

Suggestions

1.3 Well But, I'm going to Little Rock, where I can have better times

2.2 Lord, I take taken a seat and sit down
2.3 Not sure if it's "have the run". Could be "it's the run"

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The other song on which Pearl Dickson was accompanied by the Harney brothers was "Twelve Pound Daddy". On that song, I believe that Hacksaw, assuming he was playing the treble part, was capoed to the fifth fret, working out of the A position in standard tuning, and sounding in D, and Maylon played the bass part, capoed to the second fret and playing out of C position in standard tuning. I have no idea what the title phrase refers to or its significance. Here is "Twelve Pound Daddy":



INTRO AND INTRO SOLO

Hmmmmmm, hmmmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Hmmmmmm, hey, hey, hey, hey
Lord, the man I love, treats me like a dog

I've got a twelve-pound daddy, an' a eight pound one, too
I've got a twelve-pound daddy, an' a eight pound one, too
When my twelve-pound is gone, my eight pound one will do

I'm goin' to build me a castle, out of ice and snow
Lordy, out of ice and snow
So when my blues come around, I can freeze 'em from my door

SOLO (Spoken: I'm a poor girl. Play 'em 'til I say, "Stop".)

Oh, pretty daddy, will you please tell me what to do?
Oh, pretty daddy, will you please tell me what to do?
I will do anything, baby, to satisfies you

Yeah, there's one thing, baby, that I can't understand
Yeah, there's one thing, baby, that I can't understand
If you don't love at me, I don't want no partnership, man

Edited 10/5 to pick up correction from banjochris
Edited 10/5 to pick up correction from Harry and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi Harry, I agree that "Little Rock Blues" is music. I'm keeping "well" in 1.3, I can hear both the "w" and the "l" at the end. I agree with "taken" in 2.2 and have made the change, I'm keeping "have" in 2.3. I changed "take" to "takes in 2.1. Thanks for the catch.

[Blues Vintage]

They cut two more songs that day but they were unissued by Columbia unfortunately.

- High Yellow Blues (145369-2)
- Guitar Rag (145372-2)

The Harney brothers backed Walter Rhodes two days earlier (December 10, 1927).

- The Crowing Rooster (145358-2)
- Leaving Home Blues (145359-2) 


Here is a "Little Rock Blues" in better quality and perfectly pitched in G.

[Johnm]

Thanks for the correct information on the Walter Rhodes tracks, Harry. I had forgotten all about those cuts. They're real oddities for the genre, accordion and duet guitar accompaniment.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

Couple suggestions on "Little Rock" –

2.3 I like the people there, IT'S A WONDERFUL TOWN.

She misspeaks a bit on "wonderful"; it comes out more like "runderful".

Spoken
...WHAT HURTS ME so bad, I'm a long ways from home

[banjochris]

And for "Twelve Pound Daddy" – Yazoo has a very good copy of this on their "I Can't Be Satisfied" set, vol. 1

2.1 and 2,2 I've got a twelve-pound daddy, anytime I CHOOSE
2.3 When my twelve-pound ONE IS GONE, MY EIGHT-POUND ONE WILL DO.

Chris

[Johnm]

Thanks very much for the suggestions, Chris. I took both of the ones for "Little Rock Blues" and have made the changes. In "Twelve Pound Daddy", I re-listened several times, with really good speakers, and I'm keeping the endings of 2.1 and 2.2 and 2.3 as I had them--I absolutely don't hear "I choose" as the end of those lines, but switching "lost" to "gone", as you had it in 2.3. Thanks!

[Blues Vintage]

Chris pointed me in this direction;

I've got a twelve pound daddy, an' eight pound one too
I've got a twelve pound daddy, an' eight pound one too
When my twelve pound is gone my eight pound one will do

[banjochris]

Harry, I think you have it for sure. She does sing “one” after twelve-pound in that third line - it’s more like “twelve-pound ‘un” but it’s there.
Chris

[Johnm]

Okay, I hear it now, if I can make one minor additional change to Harry's interpretation.

I've got a twelve pound daddy, an' A eight pound one, too
I've got a twelve pound daddy, an' A eight pound one, too
When my twelve pound is gone, my eight pound one will do

Thanks for sticking with it, Chris and Harry. I knew the last two words in that first line were "one, too", but I sure wasn't hearing the "eight pound". Good work! I'll make the change.
All best,
Johnm