Topic: Blind Lemon Jefferson lyrics

[deltalou]

This collection of lyrics is amazing!

here are some key fixes to some songs:

in Hangman blues:

Instead of I want to tell you the gallows, lords, a fearful sight...
it actually

I wanna tell you the "GALIS"   as in galis pole (where they hung people back in those times)

see Leadbelly:

[Norfolk Slim]

Surely Galis is just a corruption/ pronunciation of gallows?

[Rivers]

Should probably be a footnote, we have the technology.

I'd be inclined to put 'gallis' in the transcription, since he clearly does sing that, with an explanation in the footnote.

Speaking of which I've been discussing another Lemon lyric offline with an old friend and we both came up with some interesting and plausible alternatives for Dry Southern verse 8, the 'commentatin' verse. I'll post them sometime soon.

[uncle bud]

Should probably be a footnote, we have the technology.

I'd be inclined to put 'gallis' in the transcription, since he clearly does sing that, with an explanation in the footnote.

Speaking of which I've been discussing another Lemon lyric offline with an old friend and we both came up with some interesting and plausible alternatives for Dry Southern verse 8, the 'commentatin' verse. I'll post them sometime soon.

I'd agree that Lemon sings "gallows" as "gallis", but is there any source to suggest that "gallis" is anything other than a regional pronunciation, and in the case of the Lead Belly song, an individual phonetic transcription of dialect, whether by Lomax or someone else? I only know of it appearing in Lead Belly's song. Any others, or non-musical written examples? Anyone have a copy of DARE lying around to look?

Lead Belly's version was recorded numerous times and appeared not only as "Gallis Pole" but "The Gallows Song" and even "The Maid Freed From the Gallows", hearkening back to the song's origins.  (Alvin Hart's masterful version also goes with "Gallows Pole" despite singing it mostly as "gallis" to my ear.)

Without further confirmation, I would say that if we added a footnote, it should be the opposite, since the tendency in our transcriptions is to go light on dialect for the most part. Use gallows in the transcription and a footnote could indicate it is sung as "gallis", cf. Lead Belly's "Gallis Pole".

[Stuart]

And if it is an attempt at some kind of phonetic transcription of a regional and/or individual pronunciation, why "gallis" instead of "galis?" Because it's a modification of "gallows?" If so, then... Because someone spelled it this way previously? Why follow them? It sounds like the first syllable is "gal" and not "gall" to me.

You can see where this is heading. Short of switching to IPA for  transcriptions, we're probably going to have to establish our own  guidelines for transcribing variants in pronunciation.

[evan]

As much as I'd like to go with "ox from dawn", I've been listening to this incessantly, and I just don't hear that. I'll have to listen more.

Mark, I'd be extremely innerested in that mp3...

I believe it's "boxer dog"

[Rivers]

Well much as I really wanted to hear that line  I just don't, after looping it for a while. There's an 'M' in there both times, probably the end of the word 'some..', and I don't hear a 'b' consonant starting the next word.

In fact that's a great candidate for the ancient 'great misheard CB lyrics' thread, which is lying around here on the site somewhere. I'll go with 'these here women want their men to act like some ox from dawn', with 'til dusk' implied.

[uncle bud]

As noted in the thread about the 2013 Blues Images Calendar, the take of Peach Orchard Mama that appears on the CD for the calendar is different than the one we have on the Document/JSP complete recordings. That one we've tentatively identified as being the earlier version, recorded March 1929. The take included on the calendar CD is likely the version that was re-recorded in August 1929, Pm 12801, matrix number 21400-2. There are minor lyrical differences. First I will quote the final transcription of the March 1929 take, then post the transcription for the August 1929 take below.

Peach orchard mama, you swore nobody'd pick your fruit but me.
Peach orchard mama, you swore that no one picked your fruit but me.
I found three kidmen shakin' down your peaches tree.

One man bought your groceries, another joker paid your rent.
One man bought your groceries, another joker paid your rent.
While I work in your orchard and givin' you every cent.

Went to the police station, begged the police to put me in jail.
Went to the police station, begged them to put me in jail.
I didn't wanna kill you, mama, but I hate to see your peaches tree fail.

Peach orchard mama, don't treat your papa so mean.
Peach orchard mama, don't treat your papa so mean.
Chase out all those kidmen and let me keep your orchard clean.

Peach orchard mama, don't turn your papa down.
Peach orchard mama, don't turn your papa down.
Because when I gets mad I acts just like a clown.

Peach Ochard Mama - Blind Lemon Jefferson
likely August 1929, matrix no. 21400-2

Peach orchard mama, you swore no one picked your fruit but me.
Peach orchard mama, you swore that no one picked your fruit but me.
But you had three kidmen shakin' down your peaches tree.

You had a man bought your groceries, and a joker paid your rent.
Had a man bought your groceries, another joker paid your rent.
While I work in your orchard and givin' you every cent.

I went to the station, begged the police to put me in jail.
I said I went to the station, begged the police to put me in jail.
I don't wanna kill that woman, but I hate to see her peaches tree fail.

Now peach orchard mama, please don't treat me so mean.
Now peach orchard mama, please don't treat me so mean.
Gonna chase out all the kidmen for to keep your orchard clean.

Now peach orchard mama, don't turn your papa down.
Now peach orchard mama, don't turn your papa down.
Because when I gets mad I acts just like a clown.

[cru423]

All the discussion back on pages 15-16 about what Lemon's saying in that second line of "DB Blues", I wish I could have been there for that, he's talking about his exhaust "cutout". Racers install cutouts on their exhaust pipes to increase torque and sound. The cutout bypasses the muffler and lets everyone hear the motor roar.
Lightnin' Hopkins, who was Lemon's protege for some time in his youth, talks about the cutout of a sporty dandy on his song, "I was Down on Dowling Street"

"He said, 'I'm gonna step on my cutout, yes I am
Just to hear my motor roar' "

The boy in that song is also driving a convertible Ford.

Here's the revised lyric:

I say, who is that comin', hey, with his motor so strong?
That's Lemon and his DB, people thinks he's got his cutout on.

[Rivers]

'cutout' works for me.

re. seal, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seal_brown_(horse)

[banjochris]

Excellent!

[poolshark]

I hear for DB Blues...

That's Lemon and his DB, people think he's got his good luck on.

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I've been listening a lot to a bunch of the CDs that accompany the Tefteller calendars, and there is a very clean version of "Fence Breakin' Yellin' Blues" on one of them.  The Weeniepedia transcription has the last line of the fifth verse as:
   Lemon won't kill you no quicker, if you bother with my jellyroll

It sounds to me like Lemon sang:
   Lemon won't kill you no quicker, 'CAUSE you BOTHERED with my jellyroll

I go back and forth in hearing the first half of the line as it has been transcribed, or
   Lemon won't GIVE you no QUIBBLES,
but I think it is correct as transcribed.
All best,
Johnm

[uncle bud]

I think you're right about the end of the line, John. I think the front is still "kill you no quicker".

[Chezztone]

Hmm, I can't take credit for this hearin' but I like it: a friend says verse 8 in "Dry Southern Blues" is not anything about "commentatin," but actually she "caught me countin' my change"! That makes much more sense as to why she would have a sudden change of heart about the man. Give it a listen and see what you think.