Author Topic: Bumble Bee Slim Lyrics (Read 5849 times)

- · « **on:** July 26, 2011, 10:31:22 PM »

I think I've got most of it, but the words in [ ] are unclear to my ears.

If you notice anything else wrong, please let me know. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

Lyrics so far:

I?m goin in [hand?] can?t get nothing here
Goin in [hand?] can?t get nothing here
I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel no where

I can?t have but to worry how my good friend done
And have but to worry how my good friend done
And my money [bout?] a dollar now won?t give me nickel one

Mother told me times and times again
Mama told me times and times again
Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend

Lord look down on poor me pity my worried case
Lord look down on me pity my worried case
Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways

Yes give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad
Yes give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad
Cause you know I want a friend like the one heart Adam had

Blind Arthur · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2011, 02:25:55 AM »

"Heaven", instead of "hand"?

LB · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2011, 06:26:27 AM »

This is how I hear so far. I hear DONE in one line then GONE in the next. He's also not saying heart, he's kinda saying "that" but with an H. I've heard that type of slang before. Hope this helps and doesn't add confusion.

I cant help but to worry how my good friend Done
Cant help but to worry how my good friend Gone
And my money BY THE dollar, now wont give me nickel one

Mah-mah told me times and times again
Ah Mama told me times and times again
Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend

Yes give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad
Yes give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad
Cause you know I want a friend like the one that Adam had

dj · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2011, 07:52:23 AM »

I Can't make out that word in the first verse, but I have some minor corrections for the last verse:

JES' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad
JES' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad
Cause you know I want a friend like the one WHAT Adam had

LB · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2011, 09:53:22 AM »

Ah that does match dj, good ear on that one. Funny how you can hear it so clearly once the right word is found.

dj · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:30:41 AM »

The first verse is:

I?m COLD IN HAND can?t get nothing here
COLD IN HAND can?t get nothing here
I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel nowhere

dj · « **Reply #6 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:38:43 AM »

On further thought, I wonder if Slim isn't singing "I cant help but to worry how my good friend GONE" in both of the first two lines of the second verse. I assume his good friend who's gone is his luck.

- · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2011, 01:08:21 PM »

Great job guys! Thanks so much.

I?m cold in hand can?t get nothing here
Cold in hand can?t get nothing here
I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel nowhere

I cant help but to worry how my good friend done
Can't help but to worry how my good friend done
Had my money by the dollar now won?t give me nickel one

Mama told me times and times again
Yes mama told me times and times again
Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend

Lord look down on poor me pity my worried case
Lord look down on me pity my worried case
Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways

Jes' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad
Jes' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad
Cause you know I want a friend like the one what Adam had

Johnm · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2011, 02:29:46 PM »

Great job on hearing "cold in hand", dj! It's a common enough phrase in lyrics of the time, but I sure wasn't hearing it. Well done.
All best,
Johnm

banjochris · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2011, 10:06:05 PM »

Pretty sure he's singing DONE both times in lines 1 and 2 of the second verse, which makes a lot more sense when the third line is (as I'm also pretty sure it is):

HAD my money by the dollar, now won't give me nickel one.
Chris

LB · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:33:28 AM »

Great job on this folks! This is coming together. Assemble a new-improved version?

Rivers · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2011, 08:09:48 PM »

Go for it LB, it's nice to have the definitive transcription for when it gets put it into weeniepedia.

LB · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2011, 06:28:29 AM »

Rivers, thanks, after careful review I have to agree with all the changes and this is basically the same as what Tom posted above. I used studio monitors. Although I can clearly hear the word GONE in verse two, line 2, I have to say, this should likely have been pronounced DONE and this could be a slight mistake he made when singing it. I agree with JM saying the "cold in hand" was the gem. I also clearly hear "Had my money" with these monitors. This also helped me have a lot more respect for this Ga artist. Great stuff!

FINAL VERSION

I?m cold in hand can?t get nothing here
Cold in hand can?t get nothing here
I?m hungry as a hound I can?t travel nowhere

I can?t help but to worry how my good friend done
Can't help but to worry how my good friend done
Had my money by the dollar now won?t give me nickel one

Mother told me times and times again
Mama told me times and times again
Anybody laughs in my face just can?t be my friend

Lord look down on poor me, pity my worried case
Lord look down on me, pity my worried case
Help me do right once more I?m gonna change my free hearted ways

Jes' give me one friend to keep me from feeling so sad
Jes' give me one friend keep me from feeling so sad
Cause you know I want a friend like the one what Adam had

Pan · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2013, 01:24:42 PM »

Hi all

I'd appreciate it if someone could look through my transcription of this tune. It was recorded in 1935 with Black Bob on piano, Big Bill Broonzy on guitar, and probably Washboard Sam on washboard, according to Dixon and Godrich. The tune is in the key of B flat, and it sounds to me, like Broonzy is playing out of the G position with a capo on 3rd fret. Can anyone confirm this?
Corrections welcome. I don't know if I was able to transcribe the nonsense scat singing in any intelligible way.

I?M NEEDING SOMEONE (EXACTLY LIKE YOU ) -Bumble Bee Slim

Travelled this whole wide world through,
I stopped by here to tell you,
I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

Please don?t drive me away, Babe,
take me back once more, do,
I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

Oh, it makes me feel so blue,
when I?m away from you.
Here?s my heart, here?s my hand,
can?t you understand?

I can?t live much longer,
make my heart go stronger,
I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-da-tah,
Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah,
Wah-dah, wah-dah,
Yah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah

Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-da-tah,
Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah,
Wah-dah, wah-dah,
Yah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah

Oh, it makes me feel so blue,
when I?m away from you.
Here?s my heart, here?s my hand,
can?t you understand?

Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-da-tah,
Wah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah,
Wah-dah, wah-dah,
Yah-di-ah-di-ah-ta-dah

(spoken) I stopped by here to tell you,
that I travelled this whole wide world through,
Now I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

(spoken) Please don?t drive me away, Babe,
take me back once more, do,
I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

(spoken) It makes me feel so blue,
when I?m away from you.
Here?s my heart, take it, here?s my hand, shake it,
can?t you understand?

(spoken) I can?t live much longer,
make my heart go stronger,
?cause I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

instrumental

instrumental

Oh, it makes me feel so blue,
when I?m away from you.
Here?s my heart, here?s my hand,
can?t you understand?

I can?t live much longer,
make my heart go stronger,
I?m needing me someone
exactly like you.

Cheers

Pan

dj · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2013, 03:29:40 PM »

Quote

it sounds to me, like Broonzy is playing out of the G position with a capo on 3rd fret. Can anyone confirm this?

That sounds correct to me. The chords sound right and the riffs fit naturally under my fingers when played like that.

I think your lyrics are correct, too.

Pan · « **Reply #15 on:** August 13, 2013, 03:32:43 PM »

Thanks, dj!

Cheers

Pan

Johnm · « **Reply #16 on:** August 14, 2013, 11:50:32 AM »

Hi Pan,
That's a nice find, and another 32-bar "Pop Blues", a la "Eagle Ridin' Papa" and other tunes by Georgia Tom and Bo Carter. I'm hearing Broonzy accompanying it out of G position in standard tuning, just as you have it, and flat-picking too, like he did on a lot of his '30s small ensemble sides. The song was certainly influenced by Jimmy McHugh's Pop Standard, "Exactly Like You".
All best,
Johnm

Pan · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2013, 02:46:08 PM »

Thanks Johnm.

I'll look for a sung version of the jazz standard too.

Cheers

Pan

drewblue · « **Reply #18 on:** August 14, 2013, 11:47:48 PM »

Mr. Howard Armstrong (who played with BB Slim waaaaay back) also did a version of "Exactly Like You"- i fink it's on youtube.

BlueMoutarde · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2015, 11:35:14 AM »

Hello all,
this is my very first post here, and a call for help. Can't manage to find the lyrics on the web for that famous "meet me in the bottom" by Bumble Bee Slim.. Here's what i heard, but not trusting my ears and english, all comments and corrections will be welcome.

Meet me in the bottom, bring my boots and shoes
Lawdy mama, great God almighty
Meet me in the bottom, bring my boots and shoes
I got to leave this town, I ain't got no time to lose

The woman I love, she done gone back home
Lawdy mama, great God almighty
Woman I love, she done gone back home
Every time she leaves me, she makes my blood run warm

(here it's start turning quite difficult)

She called that same and ol' lemon, I stood looking down ( I hear u laughing )
Oh lawdy mama, great God almighty
same and ol' lemon, I stood looking down that doesn't make any sense wtf:
I couldn't stand to see, my woman leave this town

She got cold black eyes, long black curly hair
Lawdy mama, great God almighty
Cold black eyes, long black curly hair
You know she got something', tease me anywhere

My folks please ()________________
Lawdy mama, great God almighty
__________________________
She's a married woman I don't wanna?

Thank you!

Johnm · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2015, 12:26:23 PM »

Hi BlueMoutarde,
Welcome to Weenie Campbell! I will try to help with the lyrics as much as I can. In the lines that are cited, the first number indicates the verse, and the second number indicates the line of the verse under discussion. Changes to what you had are in CAPs.

3.1 She caught that SEMINOLE LEMON, I stood looking down
3.3 SEMINOLE LEMON, I stood looking down (Seminole Lemon was a train)

4.1 She got COAL black eyes, long black curly hair
4.3 COAL black eyes, long black curly hair
4.4 Well, she got something, FEED me anywhere

5.1 WHITE folks, please DON'T GIVE THAT GAL NO JOB
5.3 WHITE folks, please DON'T GIVE THAT GAL NO JOB
5.5 She's a married woman, I DON"T WANT HER TO WORK SO HARD

6.1 She got dimples in her jaw, right down on the ground
Lawdy mama, great God almighty
Dimples in her jaw, she's right down on the ground
She got a way of lovin' will make a rabbit hug a hound

All best,
Johnm

BlueMoutarde · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2015, 01:35:57 PM »

Thank You very much John, as far as I can speak english, it seems all right and accurate! GREAT!

And the fifth verse is the Blues.. now I get that song...

Johnm · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2015, 10:17:42 PM »

Hi all,
I merged BlueMoutarde's recent thread on Bumble Bee Slim's version of "Meet Me In the Bottom" into the Bumble Bee Slim Lyrics thread.
All best,
Johnm

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2020, 07:41:14 AM »

Cold Blooded Murder - No. 2

Bumble Bee Slim - Vocals
Myrtle Jenkins - Piano
Big Bill Broonzy - Guitar

Chicago, Illinois
July 18, 1935

Piano in Bb

You're a cold blooded murder and I can't look in your face
You're a cold blooded murder and I can't look in your face
You got blood in your eyes you got lowdown dirty ways

Now you got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
Now you got me in between the devil and the deep blue sea
When I try to love you I keep tremblin' in my knees

You's a cold blooded murder and I'm still in love with you
You's a cold blooded murder and I'm still in love with you
We can't get together no way I tries to do

Early one morning I asked you for your kiss
You took your big pistol knocked me to my knees
Early one morning well I asked you for your kiss
You took your big pistol and you knocked me to my knees

All last winter I was sleeping by myself
You's on a big time lovin' someone else
All last winter I was sleeping by myself
You's on a big time and lovin' someone else

Thomas8 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2020, 09:33:32 AM »

That's a tough ID on the piano, doesn't sound like either of them to me, sounds more like Honey hill or some other Leroy Carr inspired piano player

banjochris · « **Reply #25 on:** December 22, 2020, 10:13:17 AM »

Harry, B&GR has Myrtle Jenkins. I hear "You's on a big time..." for those lines, with the "a" all but swallowed up.
Chris

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #26 on:** December 24, 2020, 05:18:30 AM »

Thanks Chris and Thomas.
Far as I know Honey Hill only recorded with Bill Gaither and some solo stuff.
If B&GR has Myrtle Jenkins I gotta trust that. She frequently recorded with Bumble Bee Slim.

Thomas8 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 24, 2020, 06:54:45 AM »

Fair enough no problem, though Honey Hill and Bill Gaither recorded a fair amount of sides backing Bumble Bee Slim in a Leroy Carr Scrapper Blackwell manner. This one is fairly appropriate

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #28 on:** December 24, 2020, 07:40:20 AM »

Quote from: Thomas8 on December 24, 2020, 06:54:45 AM

Fair enough no problem, though Honey Hill and Bill Gaither recorded a fair amount of sides backing Bumble Bee Slim in a Leroy Carr Scrapper Blackwell manner.

I was unaware of that. Thanks for pointing that out, Thomas.

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #29 on:** December 25, 2020, 05:53:54 AM »

You’ve Got To Do As I Bid You

Nice little 8 bar chorus blues.
Could use some help with this one.

Bumble Bee Slim - Vocals
Aletha Dickerson (Robinson) - Piano
Probably Fred Williams - Drums

June 22, 1937
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in F

You’ve got to work you’ve got to slave
You’ve got to like it and then behave
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

You’ve got to cook and wash my clothes
You’ve got to see that I’m safe indoors
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

You’ve got to take me right in your arms
And don’t you make no false alarm
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

You’ve got to put me right in my bed
Let go 'f my pillow and hold my head
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

If I get ‘rested without a doubt
You’ve got to fix it and get me out
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

You’ve got to walk straight in the path
You’ve got to give me my shower bath
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

If I get drunk on wine or gin
You’ve go to find me and bring me in
You’ve got to do as I bid you else I’ll be gone

Johnm · « **Reply #30 on:** December 25, 2020, 06:24:50 AM »

Hi Harry,
I think that 2.2 is "You've got to see that I'm SAFE INDOORS", 5.1 is "If I get 'rested, without a DOUBT", 6.1 is, "You've got to walk, STRAIGHT IN THE PATH", 6.2 is "You've got to give me, my SHOWER BATH".

I hope these help.
All best,
John

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #31 on:** December 25, 2020, 08:10:55 AM »

Thanks John.

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #32 on:** June 13, 2022, 03:09:47 PM »

Fattenin’ Frogs For Snakes

Bumble Bee Slim - Vocals
Jimmie Gordon - Piano
Charlie McCoy - Guitar

July 11, 1935
Chicago, Illinois

Piano in F
Guitar in D Position

INTRO

You get your breakfast in the morning, your dinner on time, I let you spend my dollar, just like you spend my dime
Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes
All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistakes

When I first met you, mama, you didn’t have no clothes, you was broke and hungry, and out of doors
Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes
All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistakes

Men didn’t want you, when you was down and out, I got you up on your feet, now they got you steppin’ out
But I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes
All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake

All these many years, baby, you’ve been bringing me that jive, goin’ to the store at noon, and coming back at five
But I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes
All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake

I work hard all the time, and bring you my pay, you get behind my back, and give it all away
Now I’m gettin’ tired, baby, fattenin’ frogs for snakes
All these many years, baby, I’m just now seeing my mistake

Johnm · « **Reply #33 on:** June 14, 2022, 08:17:30 AM »

Thanks for transcribing those lyrics, Blues Vintage. That sounds like Big Bill Broonzy on guitar to me, playing out of C position, capoed up.

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #34 on:** June 14, 2022, 03:23:47 PM »

I was quite sure it's Broonzy on guitar before your post. Now I'm convinced and made the edit. Thanks.
That's a tough ID on piano though.

Thomas8 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 15, 2022, 09:25:18 AM »

Hi Blues Vintage,

Great song choice!
I'm certain it's the old accompanying team of Jimmie Gordon on piano and Charlie McCoy on guitar playing out of D position. They have such a distinct sound between them.

Thomas

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #36 on:** June 15, 2022, 11:29:53 AM »

Hi Thomas,

The intro to this song does sound very similar;

Jimmie Gordon - Mean Mistreatin' Blues

B & GR have Broonzy on guitar for a June 26 session and July 18 Session. The have McCoy for a April 12 session.
I really thought it was Broonzy at first. They sound alike to me (McCoy and Broonzy).
I gotta listen some more to make a final personnel edit. Not to be disrespectful to you or John. But I'm leaning towards McCoy right now.

I listened to some Roosevelt Sykes the other day with an unknown musician playing tremelo guitar which I think was Broonzy.
I'll post that in a separate thread.

Johnm · « **Reply #37 on:** June 17, 2022, 11:40:33 AM »

Hi all,
I do think after re-listening that the guitar on "Fattening Frogs For Snakes" is played out of D position as Thomas stated. Whether the accompanists are Charlie McCoy and Jimmie Gordon I couldn't say because I'm not familiar enough with them working in an accompaniment capacity to pick them out of a musical line-up with any degree of confidence. It sounds like Thomas has listened to them much more than I have and has their sound in his head, so he's probably right.
All best,
Johnm

Blues Vintage · « **Reply #38 on:** June 18, 2022, 05:38:39 AM »

I made the changes Thomas stated.

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Author Topic: Bumble Bee Slim Lyrics (Read 5849 times)