Topic: 19 Woman Blues by Charlie Manson

[GhostRider]

Hi All:

I was just listening to one of my old Yahoo record compilations where I came across Nineteen Woman Blues by Charlie Manson (1936). This guy sort of sounds like Sylvester Weaver.

19 Woman Blues is interesting for its E₉ chord used to resolve the I section ( I have never heard this before) and a partial F# chord used before the final V (B₇) section (sort of similar to part of Kentucky Blues).

He also plays many interesting first position Key of E blues licks. A great song to practice this area.

Too bad Manson's right hand style is so weird and his guitar is slightly out-of-tune.

I can post my stab at the lyrics if anybody's interested

Alex

[Slack]

Hi Alex,

Very cool tune - it's been awhile since I've listened to it (will go back and have a listen! - have always liked the shaggy hound line).  Yes, please post your lyrics, I think I may have them at home too and we can compare.  We always need lyrics for the lyric section!

cheers,
JohnD

[waxwing]

If it warrants further interpretation, will you post an mp3, Slack? I don't think I have that compilation and it sounds like an interesting tune.
All for now.
John C.

[Slack]

Hi JohnC, you bet.  (Hopefully I'm thinking of the same tune!) - will search later tonight or tommorrow.

Cheers!

[Slack]

Alex, I'm obviously thinking of another tune - (sad when your memory works like your avatar looks ) but it is a great tune and the e9 is really wonderful.  In fact it is a great Yazoo compilation (Mama let me lay it on you) - so I'm very glad to have it out again.

JohnC, lyrics are clear - but I'll upload the mp3 anyway - it will make you want to buy the CD.

Cheers,
slack



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[Johnm]

Hi all,
"Nineteen Women" is an interesting tune, I agree, with a lot of unusual chordal stuff and licks, as you observed, Alex.  He sometimes gets a kind of rasty sound when he goes to the A chord because he leaves the D string open and brushes it when he goes by it with his thumb to hit the upbeat.  The vocal actually reminds me of Howard Armstrong's singing voice, sort of a mild smooth quality to his tone.  Unusual time, too, so straight up and down.  It's fun to think of this tune--I bet I haven't thought about it in twenty years.
All best,
John     

[GhostRider]

Hi:

I agree the lyrics aren't contencious, but here they are:

NINETEEN WOMAN BLUES
Charlie Manson
1936

Solo acoustic guitar
Key of E ( guitar out of tune)
A=436

(1)Instrumental intro. verse.
?               E
(2) I went down a little town, they call it
? B7                    ? E? E7?E9
Knoxville, Tennessee
A
Down a little town, they call it Knoxville,
          ? E
Tennessee.
        ?B7
I got crazy 'bout a brown, she didn't pay no
? E?F# B7 E B7
 mind to me.

(3) Said, tell me, pretty woman, who can you're good man be.
Tell me, pretty woman, who can your good man be.
Sidetrack you're Papa, baby, and please take me.

(4) Said, make me down a pallet on your floor.
Make me down a pallet on your floor.
But be sure to make it soft, your good man will know.

(5) I got 19 women, all I want's one more (x2)
And if the last one suit me, I g'wan let the 19 go.

(6)Onein' and ramblin', all this world alone.
I been onein' and ramblin', all over this world alone.
I ain't got nobody, God knows I ain't got no home.

(7) Instrumntal break

Outro

I'm not sure about the first line of the sixth verse (onein' ?) and the last line of the fourth verse.

Alex

[frankie]

In verse 6, that's probably "wandering".

[Slack]

Hi Alex,

I think..

But be sure to make it soft, your good man will know.

is:
But be sure to make it so, your good man won't know.

cheers,
JOhnD

[GhostRider]

Hi all:

I relistened to 19 Woman Blues and agree with both of the rewording suggestions. Both have been included in the amended text below.

NINETEEN WOMAN BLUES
Charlie Manson
1936

Solo acoustic guitar
Key of E ( guitar out of tune)
A=436



(1)Instrumental intro. verse.

? E
(2) I went down a little town, they call it
? B7 E E?E9
Knoxville, Tennessee
A
Down a little town, they call it Knoxville,
? E
Tennessee.
?B7
I got crazy 'bout a brown, she didn't pay no
 E?F# B7 E B7
mind to me.

(3) Said, tell me, pretty woman, who can you're good man be.
Tell me, pretty woman, who can your good man be.
Sidetrack your papa, baby, and please take me.

(4) Said, make me down a pallet on your floor.
Make me down a pallet on your floor.
But be sure to make it so, your good man won't know.

(5) I got 19 women, all I want's one more (x2)
And if the last one suit me, I g'wan let the 19 go.

(6) Wand'rin' and ramblin', all this world alone.
I been wand'rin' and ramblin', all over this world alone.
I ain't got nobody, God knows I ain't got no home.

(7) Instrumental break

Outro

Alex

[Johnm]

Hi all,
I had occasion to transcribe this tune for a lesson request today, and it's really interesting.  Charlie Manson plays half-time in the bass for almost the entire song, hitting the root of whatever chord he's playing on the first beat of the measure and the V note on the third beat of the measure, sort of like a Bluegrass or Classic Country bass player.  As noted earlier in the thread, he utilizes a I9 chord to set-up the move to the IV chord in bars four--five of the form, and later plays an obviously intentional E6 chord, returning to it a couple of times.  His timing is simultaneously somewhat sedate and pretty sneaky and nifty, a lot like (though simpler) than Spark Plug Smith, whose "Vampire Women" I was also hired to transcribe for a lesson.  These are not players a lot of people are seeking out nowadays, but you know what?  They're pretty cool!
All best,
Johnm