Topic: Mississippi Sheiks Lyrics

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I used to have all the lyrics to the songs of the Mississippi Sheiks and the other groups in their orbit on my website. The site kinda took a technical nosedive and while I maintain the domain, I haven't had the time to port the site to more up to date content management.

Whinging aside, I thought the best place for all of this would be at Weenie, anyway...  It'll probably take me a few days to post it all and there may be some duplication with existing posts.

The transcriptions include all the songs on the Document CDs devoted to the Mississippi Sheiks, Walter Vinson, Charlie McCoy and Mississippi String Bands and Associates.

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Driving That Thing - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: A-flat
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Old Uncle Bill, he was a working man
Laid down and died with his hammer in his hand
From driving that thing, whoa, driving that thing
All the lawyers in town talking about him driving that thing

Old Uncle Bill, he lived uptown
Driving that thing has done carried him down
Whoa, driving that thing, whoa, driving that thing
Even down to the judge is talking about him driving that thing

Uncle Bill called the doctor, "Come here quick!
I done got my hammer out of fix!
I can't drive that thing
spoken: Come on, doctor, come on!
I can't drive that thing
All the lawyers uptown talking about him driving that thing

spoken: Whoa, drive it!

Uncle Bill got the doctor, the doctor said
"Driving that thing is going to kill you dead."
Oh, driving that thing, whoa, driving that thing
Even down to the judge is talking about him driving that thing

Uncle Bill was [raggedy], clean out of sight
Every time you meet him he would want to fight
About driving that thing, about driving that thing
All the lawyers uptown is talking about him driving that thing

Stayed out last night, the night before
Come home this morning knocking on his door
He's just from driving that thing, he's just from driving that thing
Even down to the judge is talking about him driving that thing

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Alberta Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: A-flat (s)
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Alberta, Alberta, where you been so long?
Tell me, Alberta, where you been so long?
Hasn't been no loving since you been gone

Alberta, Alberta, where'd you stay last night?
Tell me, Alberta, where'd you stay last night?
Come home this morning, sun was shining bright

If you see Alberta, tell her to hurry home
If you see Alberta, tell her to hurry home
Hasn't been no loving since you been gone

Alberta, Alberta, what you going to do?
Tell me, Alberta, what you going to do?
Just a little bit of loving, let your heart be true

spoken:  Whoa, step on it

I met Alberta, 'way 'cross the sea
I met Alberta, 'way 'cross the sea
Wouldn't write me no letter, she didn't care for me

Alberta, Alberta, be a pal of mine
Alberta, Alberta, be a pal of mine
And she left me walking, tears rolling and crying

I love Alberta, tell the world I do
I love Alberta, tell the world I do
Just a little bit of loving, let your heart be true

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Winter Time Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: F
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: G
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
When the birds stop singing and the wind begins to blow
When the birds stop singing and the wind begins to blow
I was all outdoors, I didn't have my winter clothes

Now don't a man feel bad when he wakes up cold in hand
Now don't a man feel bad when he wakes up cold in hand
He won't have a dime to give the house rent man

I'm going to the post office to get some long distance mail
I'm going to the post office to get some long distance mail
I would catch the train I just haven't got the [geld]

It's so cold up north that the birds can't hardly fly
It's so cold up north that the birds can't hardly fly
They'll have to take their home, let this winter pass on by

spoken: Oh, step on it
spoken: Oh, [Miss Lula, lord.]
spoken: Just think about her only.

I'm staying in a house, I'd just as soon to be outdoors
I'm staying in a house, I'd just as soon to be outdoors
I'll have to go back south where the weather suits my clothes

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The Sheik Waltz - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: E-flat
Main guitar position: F/B-flat/E-flat
Fiddle position: F/B-flat/E-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Instrumental

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The Jazz Fiddler - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: A-flat
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a

Lyrics:
spoken: No fooling, now.

Listen here people gonna play a little tune
It's the jazz violin of a Mississippi coon
It's too bad, it's too
Listen to that old violin
You got the fiddle and take out your bow
This is a tune all the fiddlers ought to know
It's too bad, it's too bad

Boys this is something you never have seen
A man playing jazz on a violin
It's too bad, it's too
Listen to that old violin
A quick finger and a shaking bow
A stooping heel and a tickle toe
It's too bad, it's too bad

Boys this is something you never have seen
A man playing jazz on a violin
It's too bad, it's too
Listen to that old violin
A quick finger and a shaking bow
A stooping heel and a tickle toe
It's too bad, it's too bad

Boys this is something you never have seen
A man playing jazz on a violin
It's too bad, it's too
Listen to that old violin
A quick finger and a shaking bow
A stooping heel and a tickle toe
It's too bad, it's too bad

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Sitting On Top Of The World - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: G-flat
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: G
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Was all the summer, and all the fall,
just trying to find my little all and all
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

Was in the spring, one summer day
Just when she left me, she's gone to stay
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

Needn't to come here running, holding up your hand
Can get me a woman, quick as you can get a man
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

It have been days, I didn't know your name
Why should I worry and pray in vain
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

Going to the station, down in the yard
Gonna get me a freight train, work done got hard
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

The lonesome days, they have gone by
Why should you beg me and say goodbye
But now she's gone, I don't worry
I'm sitting on top of the world

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Stop and Listen Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: C
Main guitar position: Dropped D
Fiddle position: D
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
Every day have been a long old lonesome day
Yeah, don't you-a-hear me talking, pretty mama, well
Day have been a long old lonesome day
Crying, seems like tomorrow is the same old way

Crying, smokestack's black, baby and the bell it shine like gold
Now don't you-a-hear me talking, pretty mama, oh
Smokestack's black, bell it shining like gold
Crying, I found my baby laying on the cooling board

Don't a hearse look lonesome, mama, rolling 'fore your door
Now don't you-a-hear me talking, pretty mama
Don't a hearse look lonesome rolling 'fore your door
Crying she gone, she gone, won't be back no more

Oh, stop and listen, hear how the bell did tone
Now don't you-a-hear me talking, pretty mama, oh
Stop and listen, hear the bell did tone
I had a sweet little faro but she's dead and gone

Crying, followed my baby down to her burying ground
Now don't you-a-hear me talkin, pretty mama
I followed my baby to the burying ground
It was hackney horses standing all around

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Lonely One In This Town - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: G
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: n/a



Lyrics:
I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to pull me down
I'm lonely as I can be
I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to pull me down
I'm lonely can't you see?
Because I'm a stranger here
Everybody turned their back on me
I believe I'll go right back
Up in old Tennessee
I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to pull me down
I'm lonely as I can be

I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to throw me down
I'm lonely as I can be
I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to throw me down
I'm lonely can't you see?
Because I'm a stranger here
Everybody turned their back on me
I believe I'll go right back
Up in old Tennessee
I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to throw me down
I'm lonely as I can be

spoken: Get back, somebody.  Come on, let's go.

I'm the lonely one in this town
Everybody trying to throw me down
I'm lonely as I can be

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We Both Are Feeling Good Right Now - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: B-flat
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: B-flat



Lyrics:
Listen, I'm going to tell you men
A man's life is more than gin
But let me tell you what happened to me
When I was staying down in old Tennessee

I lived here half of my life
Without ever loving a wife
But when I found a girl to be mine
Now this life I'm living is [divine] [just fine]

Because I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We can't stop this feeling right now
When I first seen you, baby
Thought that you wouldn't do
Since I start to loving you
Don't want nobody but you
Because I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I mean baby
We both are feeling good right now

spoken: Oh, step on it

I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We can't stop this feeling right now
Now look-a-here baby
Gonna tell you the facts
The loving you give me baby
Is [] [alright]
Because I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I mean baby
We both are feeling good right now

I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We can't stop this feeling right now
Said the loving you give me baby
Surprised me
The loving you give me
Is gonna hypnotize me
Because I'm feeling good
You say you're feeling good
We both are feeling good right now
I mean baby
We both are feeling good right now

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Cracking Them Things - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: B-flat
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: B-flat



Lyrics:
Uncle Tom downtown has got a peanut stand
Women all are crazy to see the peanut man
To get to cracking them things, oh, to cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

He sold some peanuts and he sold some pecans
Women all bought them to crack the whole night long
About cracking them things, oh, you cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

Uncle Tom has got a cracker where he lives
You can crack them things and they cracking them still
Lord they cracking them things, oh, they cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

The women went to the doctor, the doctor said
Cracking them things is going to kill you dead
They gonna crack them things, they gonna crack them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

spoken: Oh, step on it

Women tell the doctor "Ain't gonna tell you no lie"
"Cracking them things kill us, won't you let us die"
We gonna crack them things, we gonna crack them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

Said the men these days is getting funny in mind
They don't love you and let you take your time
And go and crack them things, oh, go to cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

Says old Aunt Sue lived uptown
Cracking them things has done carried her down
She's still cracking them things, oh, cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

Uncle Tom has got a stand way down in town
You know it's going to close him down
About cracking them things, oh, cracking them things
Said they really break the record when you come to cracking them things

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Grinding Old Fool - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: G (f)
Main guitar position: G
Fiddle position: G
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: G



Lyrics:
Old Uncle Jack he's a grinding man
He do all the grinding, said, in the land
He's grinding them tools, oh, he's grinding them tools
He grind so many they all call him the grinding old fool

Old Uncle Jack has got a shop way down in town
He do all the grinding for miles around
He's grinding them tools, oh, he's grinding them tools
He grind so many they all call him the grinding old fool

The women brought him the tools, he grind 'em so fine
Want him to do the grinding all the time
He's grinding them tools, oh, he's grinding them tools
He grind so many they all call him the grinding old fool

spoken: Oh, step on it

He sent for a machinist to come here quick
"I done got my grinder out of fix!"
I can't grind them tools, oh, I can't grind these tools
I miss grinding so many they all call him this grinding old fool

Uncle Jack has got a way of holding the tool
Can't nobody do it unless it's a grinding fool
He's grinding them tools, oh, he's grinding them tools
He grind so many they all call him the grinding old fool

Uncle Jack told the women, "I'm going to tell you the fact"
"You don't like my grinding, you can get your money back."
Because I'm grinding them tools, oh, I'm grinding them tools
I grind so many they all call me the grinding old fool

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Jake Leg Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: B-flat (f)
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: B-flat

Edited to add:  Here is a clip of "Jake Leg Blues".  See if you can fill in some of the blanks in the lyrics.



Lyrics:
You thought the [] man would die when you made the country dry
When you made it so that he could not get not another drop of rye
But I know that you will feel bad when you see what a [] he have had
When you see him coming with a lot of [talk], if you listen I will tell you [folks]

Oh well, it's here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues
Here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues
When you see him coming I am going to tell you
If you sell him jake you better give him a crutch, too
Oh well, it's here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues

spoken: Oh, step on it

Oh well, it's here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues
Here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues
He could be named Charlie and he could be named Ned
But if he drinks this jake it will give him the limber leg
Oh well, it's here he comes
I mean to tell you here he comes
He's got those jake limber leg blues

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Back To Mississippi - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: B-flat (f)
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: D figures up the neck



Lyrics:
Always tell, baby, when your man going to put you down
Won't bring no money home and his face is full of frown
You'd better go back to Mississippi, you'd better go back to Mississippi
You'd better go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

I'm going to tell you one thing, baby, Honey that's sure
Can't stay up here wearing them doggone thin clothes
You'd better go back to Mississippi, you'd better go back to Mississippi
You'd better go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

Now, nickel's a nickel, a dime's a dime
A woman gets tired of wearing thin clothes up here all the time
And she'll go back to Mississippi, she'll go back to Mississippi
She'll go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

spoken: Oh, step on it

Baby I'm gonna tell you the fact
Go on, you'd better take your money sack
And go back to Mississippi, and go back to Mississippi
You'd better go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

Now look-a-here baby, I'm gonna advise you
Only one man up here will never do
You'd better go back to Mississippi, you'd better go back to Mississippi
You'd better go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

It takes a rocking chair to rock, a rubber ball to roll
A Mississippi train now, to satisfy my soul
We'll go back to Mississippi, we'll go back to Mississippi
We'll go back to Mississippi, honey, where the weather ain't cold

Edited 1/9 to pick up correction from catyron

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West Jackson Blues - Mississippi Sheiks
Actual pitch: B-flat (f)
Main guitar position: B-flat
Fiddle position: B-flat
Mandolin position: n/a
Second guitar position: D figures up the neck



Lyrics:
When you come to West Jackson and don't find me there
Hey, come to West Jackson and don't find me there
You can bet your bottom dollar that I'm walking the road somewhere

I went up the country, baby, just to work in the yard
Hey, up the country, baby, to work in the yard
I had to come back to West Jackson, baby, times up there too hard

Let me tell you one thing, man, what you sure can do
Hey, gonna tell you one thing, what you sure can do
You can stay in West Jackson, work and pick your blues

spoken: Oh fiddle it Mr. Fiddler

I got a girl in West Jackson, lightning when she smiles
Hey, a girl in West Jackson, lightning when she smiles
She's five foot and six inches, now, just good loving size

I'd rather be in West Jackson, any place I know
Hey, be in West Jackson, any place I know
It will take the Chief man, [] to make me go