Topic: Emry Arthur--"Man of Constant Sorrow"--Emry Arthur Lyrics

[EmryArthur]

No fingers missing on left hand.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur accompanied himself out of G position in standard tuning for his recording of "Ramblin' Hobo Blues.  I keep thinking Emry Arthur is going to launch into some yodeling, since his melody here is the same one that Jimmie Rodgers used for his blue yodels.  Here is Emry Arthur's recording of the song:



I've always been a rambler, and never would settle down
I've always been a rambler, and never would settle down
Just drinkin' and a-gamblin', hoboin' from town to town

My pockets are all empty, I never get enough to eat
My pockets are all empty, I never get enough to eat
My clothes are torn and ragged, no shoes for my weary feet

I'm riding this old freight train, speeding on down the line
I'm riding this old freight train, i'm speeding on down the line
Just thinkin' of my troubles, and that loving gal of mine

My woman done me dirty, when she told me I was through
My woman done me dirty, when she told me I was through
That's why I started to rambling, and why I'm always feeling blue

I'm just a ramblin' hobo, I ramble all alone
I'm just a ramblin' hobo, I ramble all alone
Ain't got no one to live me, no place to call my home

When my ramblin' days are over, and my gamblin' days are through
When my ramblin' days are over, and my gamblin' days are through
If you'll tell me that you love me, I'll be coming back to you

All best,
Johnm

[TenBrook]

The link LastFirstFace posted (http://oldtimeparty.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/man-of-constant-sorrow-southern-marvel-4/ explains some of the background on the Dick Burnett 'Man of Constant Sorrow' connection but it leaves out how he was associated with the song in the first place, that being his inclusion of the song in a songbook he published in 1913. I thought it was worth adding that factoid here as it's pretty interesting to me that, prior to the advent of recording, some old time musicians (including Blind Alfred Reed & Burnett) made extra money by selling song sheets or song books which in a way were the real first old time 'records'. Charles Wolfe reprints a couple of Burnett's original 'ballets' in his Tennessee Strings book which has now got me wondering where one can find more images of such artifacts.

Anyway, from Wikipedia:
"For the most part [Burnett] had individual song lyrics printed on cards he called "ballets", but occasionally he compiled songbooks such as his 1913 compilation of six songs. Some of these were from other singers, dealing with disasters such as the sinking of the Titanic and the wreck of the FFV but two were notably personal: the autobiographical Song of the Orphan Boy, which was later recorded but not released, and the semi-autobiographical Farewell Song, with its opening line 'I am a man of constant sorrow'."

[banjochris]

Dock Boggs had some lyrics printed up as well, and you can see some of them in the liner notes to his Folkways albums (the original three albums, not the combined two-CD set). The liner notes are downloadable for free from the Folkways website, and also the liner notes to the Folkways album of his 12 78 recordings has an excellent and fairly lengthy bio of him as well.
Chris

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur recorded "Ethan Lang" at a session on August 30, 1928 in Chicago, backing himself out of E position in standard tuning on guitar and playing harmonica off of a rack.  Here is his performance of the song:



HARMONICA SOLO

My name is Ethan Lang, Ethan Lang
My name is Ethan Lang, Ethan Lang
My name is Ethan Lang, I'm the leader of the gang
And they say that I must hang, dang their eyes

I killed a man, they said, so they said
I killed a man, they said, so they said
I killed a man, they said, when I hit him on the head
And I left him there for dead, dang his eyes

The judge said I must pay, I must pay
The judge said I must pay, I must pay
The judge said I must pay, for the life I took away
Now I'm facing Judgement Day, dang your eyes

They put me in the jail, in the jail
They put me in the jail, in the jail
They put me in the jail, fed me from an iron pail
With no one to go my bail, dang their eyes

The sheriff brought the rope, brought the rope
The sheriff brought the rope, brought the rope
The sheriff brought the rope, and he sprung a ghastly joke
When he said, "I hope you choke", dang his eyes

The jailer, he came too, he came too
The jailer, he came too, he came too
The jailer, he came too, and he brought his nasty crew
For their bloody work to do, dang their eyes

The preacher, he did come, he did come
The preacher, he did come, he did come
The preacher, he did come, and he looked so awful glum
When he talked of Kingdom Come, dang his eyes

Oh, my sweetheart will be there, will be there
Oh, my sweetheart will be there, will be there
Oh, my sweetheart will be there, she's the only one who'll care
When I'm swinging in the air, dang your eyes

Now I bid my last farewell, last farewell
Now I bid my last farewell, last farewell
Now I bid my last farewell, and this story you can tell
How I cursed you as I fell, dang your eyes

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur's recording of "Short Life of Trouble" dates from a session in Grafton, Wisconsin in April or May of 1931.  He's joined on it by an unidentified banjo player, who may possibly have been playing a banjo-guitar rather than a five-string banjo, but who was in any event playing out of F position.  The greater portion of the rendition is given over to banjo solos.  This song was recorded earlier by G. B. Grason and Henry Whitter.  Here Emry Arthur's rendition, and what a beautiful song this is:



BANJO SOLO

Short life of trouble, a few more days to part
Short life of trouble, poor girl, for a boy with a broken heart

BANJO SOLO X 2

Some of these days, little woman, and it won't be very long
You'll hang your head in sorrow, little girl, for I will be long gone

BANJO SOLO X 2

Short life of trouble, a few more days to part
Short life of trouble, poor girl, for a boy with a broken heart

BANJO SOLO X 2

Short life of trouble, a few more days to part
Short life of trouble, poor girl, for a boy with a broken heart

All best,
Johnm







   

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur recorded "The Bootlegger's Lullaby" at a session in Chicago on January 17, 1935, accompanying himself with a simple boom-chang-chang waltz back-up in G position, standard tuning.  The song has the same melody as the Carter Family song "Texas Girl".  The song is not available on youtube, but can be found on the JSP set, "Appalachian Stomp Down".

My home is in the mountains, I was raised up in the hills
The only work I ever done was run a moonshine still
I always made good whiskey and I sold it by the pail
Until a sheriff caught me and he locked me up in jail

The sheriff came and got me, just at the break of day
He said he had been watchin' me, and now I had to pay
He tore my still to pieces, poured my whiskey on the ground
And put the handcuffs on me, until we got to town

He took me to the courthouse, we walked right by the jail
I didn't see no one at all, no one to go my bail
But when the court did open and I heared them call my case
I knew just what would happen, but I looked him in the face

The judge said, "Are you guilty?", to blind tiger man
I told him I made whiskey, the best in the land
He said, "Stand up and listen to what I'm going to say.
I'm going to lock up up in jail for six months and one day."

The sheriff took me to the jail and locked me in my cell
But the joke, it was on him, for I didn't tell
The day that he arrested me, and took me to town
He didn't know I had ten barrels, buried in the ground

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emmy Arthur recorded "Empty Pocket Blues" at a session in Chicago on August 30, 1928, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning.  The performance can be found on the new JSP "Clarence Ashley" set, along with a host of other great performances.  Arthur's time-keeping is perfectly straight-up-and-down, and is what I would call beneficially plain; his no-frills accompaniment provides a perfect backdrop for his singing.  I'll see if this one is on youtube, but I don't think it is.

Oh, blues on my mind, baby, blues all around my bed
Oh, the blues on my mind,, blues all around my bed
For I dreamed last night, the one I love was dead

I'm going down to the railroad, lay my head down on the track
I'm going down to the railroad, lay my head down on the track
But a-wehn I think about my woman, just watch me pull it back

I'm just a good-hearted boy, dropped into your town
I'm just a good-hearted boy, dropped into your town
While a bunch of your good people, they're trying to throw me down

When I've a-got plenty money, I've got friends all around
When I've got plenty money, I've got friends all around
But a-when my pocketbook is empty, not a friend can be found

Now, when you see two women, running a-hand in hand
Now, when you see two women, running a-hand in hand
Go down and bet your bottom dollar, one's got the other one's man

I'm gonna bury my woman, six foot down under the ground
I'm gonna bury my woman, six foot under the ground
And I'll bet my last dollar, she'll have her face turned down

Oh, it's you'll be sorry, you'll be sorry some day
Oh, it's you'll be sorry, you'll be sorry some day
Oh, it's you'll be sorry, that you done me this-a-way

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I was excited to find that Emry Arthur has an epic two-part version of "Frankie" re-issued on the JSP "Clarence Ashley" set, entitled "Frankie Baker-Part 1" and "Frankie Baker-Part 2".  He recorded the versions in Chicago on June 18, 1929, and accompanied himself out of G position in standard tuning for the songs.  He has a lot of details in his lyrics to these versions that I have encountered in no other versions of Frankie.  Here are his lyrics to "Frankie Baker-Part 1" and "Frankie Baker-Part 2":

"Frankie Baker-Part 1" 

Frankie was a good woman, like everybody knows
She gave one hundred dollars, for Albert, a suit of clothes
For he's her man, her gamblin' man

That suit was in the pawn shop, before the day went by
And he went and spent that money, on a girl named Alice Frye
He done her wrong, and he didn't come home

Frankie went to the barroom, she called for a glass of beer
She asked the barroom tender, "Has Albert Jones been here?
He is my man, my gamblin' man."

"Don't you ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies."
Says, "A man left here about an hour ago with a girl named Alice Frye.
It was your man, your gamblin' man."

Frankie set down at the table, she ordered a glass of gin
She told the barroom tender, "I'm a-gonna get drunk again.
Lord, I want my man, my gamblin' man."

Frankie looked out the window, then she hung her head down low
Says, "A-give me out that .44, that's the Albert Jones I know.
He done me wrong, and he didn't come home."

Frankie left the barroom, she didn't leave there for fun
Underneath that silk kimono, she carried that .44 gun
She was looking' for her man, her gamblin' man

Frankie went down the street with a .44 in her hand
Says, "Stand back, you ladies, I'm a-lookin' for my man.
For he's my man, Lord, Lord, and he done me wrong."

Frankie went down the alley, she heard a bulldog bark
She looked and seen poor Albert, slippin' away in the dark
"There goes my man, and he done me wrong."

Poor Albert seen her coming, he started out to run
She says, "Come back to the one you love, or I'll shoot you with this gun."
She shot poor Albert, right to the ground, Lord, Lord

"Frankie Baker-Part 2"

Frankie heard the police coming, she heard the patrol bell ring
But before she left poor Albert, she took his diamond ring
She left her man, Lord, Lord, her gamblin' man

"Turn me over, Doctor, turn me over slow.
Turn me over on my right side, my left side hurts me so.
I'm shot in the side, with a .44."

"Bring on your rubber-tired hearses, bring on your rubber-tired hack
Take my man to the graveyard, but bring his wristwatch back.
He was my man, Lord, Lord, but he done me wrong.

Thirteen men in mourning, thirteen men in black
Went out to the graveyard, and only twelve come back
They left her man, her gamblin' man

Frankie went to the graveyard, all dressed up in black
She fell down over Albert Jones, says, "I wish I had you back,
But you done me wrong, when you wouldn't come home."

Frankie went to the parlor, set down by the 'electric fan
She advised her three sisters, not to marry no gamblin' man
"They'll do you wrong, every time, and they won't come home."

Frankie looked up the street, as far as she could see
The band was on the corner, playing "Nearer My God To Thee"
She says, "Oh Lord, Lord, Lord, what have I done?"

Frankie looked down the street, as far as she could see
She seen four white horses, says, "They're comin' after me,
'Cause I killed my man, but he done me wrong."

Frankie went to the depot, she got on the fast mail train
She was wearing Albert's wristwatch and a great big diamond ring
She stole them both from her gamblin' man

Now, if you love a girl like Frankie, love her and treat her right
You can go out in the morning, but come back home at night
Then she'll do no harm, but you must come home, Lord, Lord

To see more versions of Frankie, go to the Song of the Month thread on "Frankie & Johnnie", at:  http://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=11398.msg100691#msg100691, or check in Weeniepedia under Song Families.

All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Too cool!  The lyrics are great!  Maybe add a link to the SOTM thread...

[Johnm]

That's a great idea, John D., I will do just that!  I had forgotten that "Frankie and Johnny" was one of the Songs of the Month.  I already put both parts up on the Song Family page in Weeniepedia, where we currently have 19 versions of Frankie transcribed.
All best,
Johnm

[Mr.OMuck]

Great version. I mentally recited them to John Hurt's Frankie (what else?)

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur once again accompanied himself out of G position in standard tuning for his recording of "Train Whistle Blues", recorded on August 30, 1928.  The song sounds related to "K. C. Moan" or John Jackson's "Steamboat Whistle Blues", but is a 12-bar blues (more or less) rather than a 16-bar blues, like those songs.  Arthur's song has a really old feel about it, with many verses employing an AAA structure, like some of Henry Thomas's songs, like "Bull Doze Blues".

INTRO

I heard that old train when she blowed
Oh, I heard that old train when she blowed
Oh, she blowed like she never blowed before

She blowed like my sweetheart was on board
Oh, she blowed like my sweetheart was on board
Oh, she blowed like my sweetheart was on board

That same train that went down that line
Oh, that same train that went down that line
It carried away that sweetheart of mine

I followed her to the station door
Oh, I followed her to the station door
I says, "Baby, I won't see you any more."

I fell on my knees and I prayed
Oh, I fell on my knees and I prayed
That she would come back some old day

That same train's a-gonna carry me away
Oh, that same train's a-gonna carry me away
Oh, that same train's a-gonna carry me away

I'll stand in my own cabin door
Oh, I'll stand in my own cabin door
I'll stand in my own cabin door

Go make me a pallet on the floor,
Oh, make me a pallet on the floor
So I can sleep, to wake no more

And it's when I'm dead, you can ship me back to Ma
Oh, it's when I'm dead, you can ship me back to Ma
Oh, it's when I'm dead, you can ship me back to Ma

All best,
Johnm
 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emry Arthur was joined by Della Hatfield for the vocal duet, "Sunshine And Shadows", recorded in October or November of 1929.  Emry once again backed himself out of G position in standard tuning, but he was tuned a full minor third low, so he sounded in E.  It is such a distinctive sound, being tuned so low of concert pitch.  I think this is one of my favorite Old-Time duets I've heard.  The pair sing beautifully together, and the way they inflect their held notes is so expressive. Della Hatfield uses a lot of glottal fry as she comes off her notes, edging into falsetto in a way that you often hear in Appalachian ballad singing.  This is a wonderful, soulful rendition.  I'll show Della Hatfield's extra responses in parentheses.  I don't believe this rendition is up on youtube, but it is worth seeking out if you enjoy great Old-Time singing.  It can be found on the recent JSP "Clarence Ashley" set.

Sunshine (sunshine), oh blessed sunshine, don't let the dark shadows fall
Sweetheart (sweetheart), darling sweetheart, I'll always love you best of all

Darkness (darkness), oh lonely darkness, along my weary pathway fell
'Til you brought ('til you brought) the cheery sunshine, that you knew (that you knew) I love so well

This life has been dark and dreary (dark and dreary), and my friends have been so few
I am still hoping and praying, to spend my last (to spend my last) days with you

CHORUS:  Will you (will you) always be true, dear, live just for me, that's all?
I'll forever (I'll forever) bring you sunshine, and never let (and never let) the shadows fall

Let your dai-(then let your dai)ly actions tell me, of a heart that must be true
There will come (there'll come) a time, my darling, when I prove (when I prove) my love for you

Should I ne-(should I ne)ver more see you, remember every word I said
My soul will be true forever, when my heart (when my heart) is still and dead

CHORUS:  Will you (will you) always be true, dear, live just for me, that's all?
I'll forever (I'll forever) bring you sunshine, and never let (and never let) the shadows fall

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Emmy Arthur recorded "Six Months In Jail Ain't Long" at a session in Chicago on January 17, 1935, accompanying himself out of G position in standard tuning.  It's a very straight rendition, in both the singing and the accompaniment, of a kind that's pretty much altogether absent from present-day Country Music.  His performance of the song is not up on Youtube, but it is included in the JSP set, "Clarence Ashley--Country Music Pioneer", which has over a full disc out of the four-disc set devoted to Emry Arthur songs.  The song is a waltz.

INTRO

I went out the other night to have a good time
I got myself in trouble, and now I'm serving time
They took me down to the old courthouse and put me on the stand
"Just six months in the county jail, I'll give to this young man."

REFRAIN: Six months, six months, six months ain't long
Six months ain't long, little girl
Six months ain't long for me to be gone
Six months in jail ain't long

They took me down to the county jail, the jailer turned the key
He said, "My boy, in six long months from this place you will be free."
He turned around and walked away, he had no more to say
Just tell my girl that I'll see her in six months from today

REFRAIN: Six months, six months, six months ain't long
Six months ain't long, little girl
Six months ain't long for me to be gone
Six months in jail ain't long

Now I don't like to be in jail, for it is a dirty place
The judge, I know I can't forget, when he looked me in the face
He said, "Stand up for sentence, boy."  That's when my face grew pale
He said, "I'll give you six long months down in our county jail."

REFRAIN: Six months, six months, six months ain't long
Six months ain't long, little girl
Six months ain't long for me to be gone
Six months in jail ain't long

All best,
Johnm