Topic: Blind Willie McTell lyrics

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks Taft and Harriet. I was far from sure on 2.3.

1.1 "live" vs "well". I can't decide. I'll keep my first draft for now.

[Johnm]

Hi Harry, I think you have it right with "live".

[banjochris]

For 4.3 I'd suggest it beginning with:
It'll make you cuss at the judge in the courthouse...

Chris

[waxwing]

I'd suggest slightly differently:

It'll make you cuss OUT A judge in the courthouse...

"Cuss out" is pretty common usage and sounds right to my ears.

Wax

[banjochris]

Could be "cuss out" although it sounds more like "at" to my ears. It's definitely "the" before judge, though.
Chris

[dj]

Yep, "It'll make you cuss out the judge in the courthouse..."

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks for the help.

I had "judge" originally cause it made the most sense.
I still hear "Jack" but that's probably just McTell's speech. I thought maybe "Jack" was slang for a courthouse employee or something like that.

I made the change; "It'll make you cuss out the judge in the courthouse".

[Blues Vintage]

Little Delia

Blind Willie McTell - Guitar, Vocals

Ca. november 1949
Atlanta, Georgia





Delia Delia how can it be
Say you love those rounders and don't love me
Now she’s one more rounder gone

Delia Delia see that I`m all alone
Some of you rounders goin' to pay my way back home
Cause she’s one more rounder gone

Sitting on the housetop high as I could see
Say you love those rounders and (don't) love me
But she’s one more rounder gone

Delia's poor mother took a little trip out west
When she returned little Delia was lyin' in rest
But she’s one more rounder gone

Delia's mother weeped Delia's father moaned
They wouldn't-a hated it so bad if that child had died at home
But she’s all I got is gone

Delia was a gambler wandered all around
She was one girl never let the deal go down
But she’s one more rounder gone

Rubber-tire buggy double-seated hack
Took little Delia to the cemetery but failed to bring her back
But she’s one more rounder gone

Delia was a gambler wandered all around
She was one girl never let the deal go down
But she’s one more rounder gone

Delia lookin' high Kenny lookin' low
Shot poor Delia down with that hateful forty-four
But she’s one more rounder gone

Delia Delia take no one's advice
Last word I heard her say was Jesus Christ
But she’s one more rounder gone

Kenny he’s in the bar room drinking up the silver cup
Delia’s she’s in the graveyard may not never wake up
But she’s one more rounder gone

Judge said to Kenny what was that fuss about
On account of them gamblers tryin’ to put me out
But she’s one more rounder gone

Judge said to Kenny I’m gonna tell you the natural fact
Son you go stay ‘til little Delia come back
Cause she’s one more rounder gone

[Lyndvs]

V2:See that I`m all alone.
V3:High as I could see
V5:They wouldn`t a hated so bad
V6 and 8:Wandered all around.
last verse:Son you gon`to  stay

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
I  have a couple of places I'm hearing slightly differently:

   2.2 Some of you rounders GOIN' TO pay my way back home
   5.2 They WOULDN'T-A hated it so bad if their child had dies at home
   7.1 A rubber-TIRED buggy, a double-seated hack
   9.1 Delia lookin' high, CULLY lookin' low
   11.1 CULLY, he's in the bar-room, drinkin' up, silver cup
   12.2 "On ACCOUNT of them gamblers, tryin' to put me out"

These are in addition to the ones Lyndvs posted. McTell was really inconsistent in how he pronounced the name of Delia's murderer. In some verses, it sounds like Cully, in others, Kenny. In most other versions of the song, he is called Cooley.

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Thanks both,

I still doubt on the last verse. I keep 7.1 and keep "Kenny".

[Blues Vintage]

Going back to "Bell Street Lightnin" I must agree with Wax,

"It'll make you cuss out a judge in the courthouse"

[Blues Vintage]

Your Time to Worry

Blind Willie McTell – Vocals, Guitar

April 25, 1935
Chicago, Illlinois





I done told you mama right from the start
I ain't gon’ let the one woman break my heart
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

I told you in my days things I’d do
Go out and work hard and bring my money home to you
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

You drink your whiskey run around
Get out in the street now like a fanfoot clown
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

Went out with you baby tryin’ to treat you right
I’m drinking whiskey woman and drunk all night
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

Need not come here pleadin' holding up your hand
I got myself a woman you better get yourself a man
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

Leave me alone baby best you can do
I would have been a murderer if I'd a fooled around with you
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

Now go ahead baby leave me alone
Mess around with you the chain gang will be my home
Your time to worry my time to be alone
Your reckless disposition done drove your good man away from home

[Blues Vintage]

It's A Good Little Thing


Blind Willie McTell - Vocals, Guitar
Curley Weaver – Vocals (2), Guitar

September 14, 1933
New York City, New York





Looka here mama just a word or two
Could I get you to let's goo loo loo
Cause it’s a good little thing and it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

Look here mama just don't stop
I ain't gon’ be your other man's stumbling block
Cause it’s a good little thing it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing it’s just right for me

Wait just a minute let's get this right
We're going goo-a looing til’ broad daylight
Cause it’s a good little thing and it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

Going to Savannah make some jack
Hold that cat til’ I get back
And it’s a good little thing and it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

What is that mama you got in that sack
It's got hair on it and I believe it's a cat
And it’s a pretty little thing and it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

Well it looks pretty much like Santy Claw
Best little somethin’ I’ve ever saw
And it’s a good little thing it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

Look here mama just like a log
She get’s to shook it like a shaggy dog
Cause it’s a good little thing and it’s a good little thing
And it’s a good little thing and it’s just right for me

[Lyndvs]

Sandy Clark=Santa Claus(Willie pronounces it Santy Claw).