Topic: Tarheel Slim Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
The last number on "Tarheel Slim's album, "No Time At All", for Peter B. Lowry's Trix label, was "180 Days".  It's a beautiful number for which Slim (Alden Bunn) chose to accompany himself out of Vestapol tuning.  His time and feel were so relaxed and had a measured quality that draws you in as a listener.  He starts his vocal very low-key and quiet, and then jumps up an octave for his second verse, and you begin to realize how much dynamic headroom he had at his disposal.  I've never heard the song covered, and it should be.  Here is "180 Days":



   I'm on the chain gang, doing one hundred and eighty days
   I'm on the chain gang, doing one hundred and eighty days
   The girl I love just wouldn't quit her cheating way

   She was runnin', running around with Tom, Dick and Harry
   She was runnin', running around with Tom, Dick and Harry
   I caught up with her, the night before the day we were to marry

   SOLO

   I tried to end up, end up all her low-down cheating ways
   I tried to end up, end up all her low-down cheating ways
   The judge told me, "Go home, son, you'll be home in a hundred and eighty days."

All best,
Johnm
 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Tarheel Slim's "My Baby's Gone" comes from his Trix CD, "No Time At All". It is unusual in that he played the song out of B position in standard tuning. He recorded the same accompaniment in the late '50s, I believe, as "Wild Cat Tamer". He strongly emphasizes the 9 note in his IV chord, E9. It's nice to be reminded that you can do different things that still speak in the musical language of the blues. Here is "My Baby's Gone":



INTRO

My baby's gone, and she won't be back no more
My baby's gone, and she won't be, back no more
If she know how much I love her, she would've not have not left at all

She left this morning, just about half past four
She left this morning, just about half past four
She said, "Goodbye, Tarheel, I-I don't want you know more." (Spoken: Yeah!)

SOLO

She can't stay long, 'cause all of her clothes are in pawn
She can't stay long, because all of her clothes are in pawn
And I know she's gonna need them, because winter time has come, winter time has come, mmmm

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "The Guy With The .45", also taken from his Trix CD, "No Time At All", Tarheel Slim was joined by Big Chief Ellis, playing piano in C. The song has a more modern sound, lyrically especially. I can't think of that many blues lyrics in which the singer is concerned with self-preservation--it's kind of refreshing. Here is "The Guy with The .45":



INTRO

I like a little girl, down on the avenue, but a guy with a .45, liked the same little girl, too
She's rich, she's pretty, you should see the way she walk, she make a lazy man run and a dumb man talk
REFRAIN: Now that's bad business, yes, that's bad business
You can call it what you please but it's sure bad business to me

I met him on the street, I attempt to shake his hand, it was all my feet could do, to make my body stand
I always sneak in when there's bad guys out, 'cause this little girl ain't worth dyin' about
REFRAIN: Now that's bad business, yes, that's bad business
You can call it what you please, but it's sure bad business to me

I was parked by the wayside, one night out on the drive, I looked up through the window, there was this .45
He pulled down on the trigger but the thing wouldn't fire, and while he was still snappin', I tried my best to fly
REFRAIN: Now, that was bad business, yes, that was bad business
You can call it what you please, but it was sure bad business to me

GUITAR SOLO

They tell me he got so mad, he blacked the little girl's eye, next day, I jump all salty, and I want to know why
I rolled up my sleeve and I knocked on his door, but I declare to this world I won't do that no more
REFRAIN: I got bad business, it was bad business
You can call it what you please, but it was sure bad business to me

CODA

Edited 10/12 to pick up correction from Blues Vintage

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

 4.1  I jump all salty, and I want to know why

[Johnm]

You're right, Blues Vintage, and I have made the change, thanks.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Probably the most unusual song on Tarheel Slim's Trix CD, "No Time At All", is "Weeping Willow", which bears no resemblance, either musically or in its lyrics to the Blind Boy Fuller song with the same name. Slim accompanied himself out of A minor in standard tuning for his version, as well as playing harmonica off a rack. In his first four bars, he rocks between A minor and F major7/A (X-0-3-2-1-0), a very haunting sound. In the fifth and sixth bars, where the IV chord would normally arrive, he goes to an F chord, rocking to an F6, the IV of the relative major, C, before returning to the rocking chordal motion of the first bars, in bars seven and eight. In bar nine he rocks between E and E add b9 (0-2-3-1-0-0), going to the F to F6 rocking motion in the tenth bar and resolving to his opening rocking motion in bars eleven and twelve. Especially in what he plays in his V chord, Tarheel Slim has an Iberian, Flamencoish sort of sound. It would be fascinating to know what inspired this song, but at this stage there is no way of making that discovery. Here is "Weeping Willow":



INTRO

In my yard stands a weepin' willow, on its branch sits a mourning dove
In my yard stands a weepin' willow, on its branch sits a mourning dove
They're weepin' over the girl that left me, they know she was the one and only girl I'll ever love

She made me forsaken my sister, she made me forsaken my brother, she made me forsaken dear old Daddy, and most of all a lovin' mother
I had to do that, to change that woman's name, oh yes, I did
Now she's gone and left me, Lord, ain't it, ain't it a cryin' shame?

HARMONICA SOLO

Just as sure as the moon and stars shine down from above
Just as sure as the moon and stars shine down from above
Life ain't worth livin' if you ain't with the one you love

So weep on, weepin' willow, mourn on, mourning dove
Weep on, weepin' willow, mourn on, mourn on, mourning dove
Life ain't worth livin', if you ain't with the one you love

HARMONICA SOLO

CODA

All best,
Johnm