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I ain't never loved but a thousand women in my life - Blind Boy Fuller, Thousand Woman Blues

Author Topic: Tampa Red Lyrics  (Read 12431 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #45 on: December 22, 2019, 01:05:23 PM »
Hi all,
I was just listening to "Seminole Blues", the lyrics for which Harry posted several songs back in this thread, and was somewhat shocked to hear Tampa Red playing slide out of Spanish tuning.  Does anyone know of any other pieces he played slide on out of Spanish?  I thought he was strictly a Vestapol guy when it came to playing slide.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #46 on: December 22, 2019, 06:03:46 PM »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #47 on: December 22, 2019, 06:08:25 PM »
"He played exclusively out of Open D tuning"

That's what it says in the description. You should tell him John. LOL

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #48 on: January 10, 2020, 07:45:28 AM »
Tampa Red - Don't Deal With The Devil

June 24, 1941 in Chicago

With Big Maceo (piano) and Ransom Knowling (bass)

Ace Records has far superior sound quality than Document Records on this song in their catalog.





When you’re dealing with the devil everything you do is wrong
You’ll drive away you’re lover and keep all of your things in pawn
Don’t deal with the devil don’t deal with the devil
Don’t deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win

The devil he is a liar a thief and a jiver too
He’ll cheat you out of your love and put bad luck on you
Don’t deal with the devil don’t deal with the devil
Don’t deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win

My gal have went and left me but I don’t even care
She’s dealing with the devil you know that little gal just can’t play fair
But let her deal with the devil let her deal with the devil
She’s dealing with the devil but it ain’t no way to win

She’s been dealing with the devil ever since 1933
She thought that I was a dummy but that gal won’t jiving me
She’s dealing with the devil let her deal with the devil
Let her deal with the devil cause it ain’t no way to win
« Last Edit: January 10, 2020, 12:22:53 PM by harry »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #49 on: January 25, 2020, 09:52:23 AM »
Tampa Red – Black Hearted Woman

January 8, 1931 in Chicago

With Bill O'Bryant on piano (possibly Eddie Miller)





Now my black hearted woman she don’t mean no good
Now my black hearted woman she don’t mean no good
Now she don’t do nothing but raise hell in my neighborhood

Baby you cause me to give up every friend that I had
Baby you cause me to give up every friend that I had
I give up my mama I even give up dear old dad

My black hearted woman got something like a stingeree
Now my black hearted woman she got something like a stingeree
And I believe to my soul she have put that thing on me

I love my black hearted woman I’m a liar if I said I don’t
I love my black hearted woman I’m a liar if I said I don’t
Well I will kill her or quit her I’m a liar if I said I won’t

Woman I wished that I had your black heart in my hand
Woman I wished that I had your black heart in my hand
I would learn you a lesson how to treat your good man
« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 01:20:31 PM by harry »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #50 on: April 05, 2020, 01:22:06 PM »
Tampa Red - Things is 'bout coming my way

February 10, 1931 in Chicago

Tampa Red - Vocals, Guitar
Georgia Tom - Piano


A cover of The Mississippi Sheiks song. Same melody as "Sitting On Top Of The World". Also "Come On In My Kitchen" (Robert Johnson).





Lost all my money
Ain't got a dime
Givin' up this whole world
Leavin' it behind
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way

When I was sick
Down on my bed
My friends forgot me
Thought I was dead
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way

Boys ain't it hard
When you ain't got a friend
Just keep on travelin'
They'll need your help again
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way

I'm always pleased
I'm never mad
Thinking 'bout the bad luck
I once have had
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way

Now take me baby
Just as I am
Ain't got no money
I'm in a jam
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way

She told my neighbors
And all my friends
That I was a mistreater
She didn't want me back again
But after all my hard travelin' things is 'bout coming my way
« Last Edit: April 05, 2020, 01:30:08 PM by harry »

Offline blueshome

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #51 on: April 06, 2020, 06:11:38 AM »
Hi all,
I was just listening to "Seminole Blues", the lyrics for which Harry posted several songs back in this thread, and was somewhat shocked to hear Tampa Red playing slide out of Spanish tuning.  Does anyone know of any other pieces he played slide on out of Spanish?  I thought he was strictly a Vestapol guy when it came to playing slide.
All best,
Johnm

A bit late I know. John, Seminole plays easily out of vasterpol, and in your own notes to the Yazoo Tampa Red album you mention this ad include the comment that’s he unusullay hits the top string at the 12t fret.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #52 on: April 06, 2020, 07:50:43 AM »
Hi Phil,
It may play easily out of Vestapol, but he played it out of Spanish, where it is dirt simple, and puts him in the same key as his backing guitarist.  He never hits a high I note on the first string in his I chord in his main lick, and Spanish puts the V note on top, on the first string.  He just goes to the twelfth fret for his I chord, the fifth fret for his IV chord and the seventh fret for his V chord.  I wouldn't be surprised if this was the first thing he ever learned to play slide on.
All best,
Johnm

Offline blueshome

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #53 on: April 06, 2020, 08:23:24 AM »
Hi John,

Hate still disagree but Seminole is pitched at F on all the recording I have,  and played out of vasterpol.

Both the Walking bass runs behind the vocal and the little fills fall straight under the hand.
The 1st solo hits the 1st string 12th fret at the start..

I agree it may well have been the 1st tune he learned, possibly lap style.
(There is speculation that it Is Willie B James playing the lead, not to my mind.)

Offline Johnm

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #54 on: April 06, 2020, 08:40:41 AM »
You're right, Phil.  The solo is the give-away.  When he goes up to that high I note to the bVII note at the beginning of the solo, he drags quiet notes a fourth lower on the second string.  If he was in Spanish, the note on the second string would be a third lower.  My mistake.  Incidentally, all of the bass runs under the singing are played by the seconding guitarist--you can hear Tampa Red lightly chording there every once in a while.
All best,
Johnm

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #55 on: April 07, 2020, 02:58:23 PM »
Tampa Red - You've Got To Do Better

March 22, 1934 in Chicago

Tampa Red - Vocals, Guitar, Kazoo
Black Bob - Piano





Now I work all day and I cry all night
Woman you know you ain't treating me right
You've got to do better you've got to do better
You've got to do better or let another mama come in

Now I give you everything I could beg or steal
But can't come home and get a decent meal
You've got to do better yes you've got to do better
Oh you've got to do better or let another mama come in

You come home every night drunk and out your head
I even have to bathe you and put you to bed
You've got to do better yeah you've got to do better
You've got to do better or let another mama come in

Now my food ain't fitting and my house ain't clean
You're the dirtiest old woman I've ever seen
Now you've got to do better yes you've got to do better
You've got to do better or let another mama come in

Now the food you cook will make a hound dog sick
Woman I'd like to call you an old no good well
You've got to do better you've got to do better
You've got to do better or let another mama come in

Offline blueshome

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #56 on: August 27, 2020, 08:52:04 AM »


Juicy Lemon Blues, January 9th, 1929
Vasterpol sounding at G

One his nicest solos I think

Intro 4 bars

2. Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song
    Folks you hear me screaming moaning this lonesome song
   The woman I love done packed her trunk and gone

3. She left me this morning,she wouldn’t even tell me why
    She left me this morning didn’t even tell my why
    I got the blues so bad I could lie right down and die

4. I done everything a poor sweet man could do
    I done everything poor sweet man could do
    Mama you done me dirty, it’s coming back home to you

5. I can’t walk for talking, and I just can’t sleep for crying
    Can’t walk for talking, just can’t sleep for crying
   I just don’t know, feel like lying right down and dying

6. 12bars instr.

7. Look here people, my love done been refused
    Look here people, my love have been refused
    That’s why I’ve got them lowdown juicy lemon blues
« Last Edit: August 28, 2020, 04:52:39 AM by blueshome »

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #57 on: August 27, 2020, 03:59:12 PM »

2. Folks you hear me screaming  moaning this lonesome song
    Folks you hear me screaming  moaning this lonesome song
   The woman I love done packed her trunk and gone

3.3 I got the blues so bad I could lie down and die        lie or lay  ?

5. I can’t walk for talking, and I just can’t sleep for crying
    Can’t walk for talking, just can’t sleep for crying
   I just don’t know, feel like lying right down and dying    lying or laying ?


Offline blueshome

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #58 on: August 28, 2020, 04:47:39 AM »
Thanks Harry, I’ll amend. As to lying, laying I’ll sticking with lying his accent makes it ambiguous and the sense is the same.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Tampa Red Lyrics
« Reply #59 on: September 01, 2020, 09:37:19 AM »
Hi all,
For giving credit where it is due, is it Georgia Tom playing the piano on "Juicy Lemon Blues"? Thanks for any help.
All best,
Johnm

 


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