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#74 - Buy a National guitar; learn to play it - Anon., from "The Life List 175 Things a Man Should Do Before He Dies", Esquire Magazine, December 1999

Author Topic: Blind Boy Fuller Lyrics  (Read 79117 times)

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Offline thumbstyle

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Blind Boy Fuller Lyrics
« on: May 24, 2004, 11:30:29 AM »
Hi All,

I posted an MP-3 of my take on this song a few weeks back, and it occured to me that a) some might want to have the lyrics, and b) I don't really know 'em all.

So let's see if we can get them worked out. Here's a first stab.




Walking My Troubles Away (B.B. Fuller)

Paperboy hollerin' "extra" ["ex-tree"]
Have you read the news
Shot the brown I love
I got them walking blues
I keep on walkin', trying to walk my trouble away
I'm so glad trouble don't last always

She used to be my sweet milk
(But she ) soured on me
We won't be together
Like we used to be
I keep on walkin', trying to walk my trouble away
And I'm so glad trouble don't last always

I got the bad luck blues mama
Bad luck ? ? ? *
You say bad luck fall on everybody
Seem like I'm the only one
And I keep on walkin', trying to walk my trouble away
I'm so glad trouble don't last always

I got coffee grinds in my coffee
Boll weevils in my meal
Tacks in my shoes
Keep stickin in my heels
I keep on walkin', trying to walk my trouble away
I'm so glad trouble don't last always

* I've been singing "Bad luck times I've known", but I don't know...
« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 12:10:50 PM by Johnm »

Offline waxwing

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Re: Walkin My Troubles Away
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2004, 04:38:27 PM »
Hey Thumb,
Here's what I get for the second and third verses from a pretty good copy on the Yazoo Truckin' My Blues Away CD, slowed down a little bit with Transcribe!:

You used to be my sweet milk
You soured on me
We won't be together
Like we used to be
I keep on walkin', tryin' to walk my trouble away
I'm so glad trouble don't last always

I got the bad luck blues mama
Bad luck time done come
You say bad luck fall on everybody
Seem like I'm the only one
I keep on walkin', tryin' to walk my trouble away
I'm so glad trouble don't last always
(Play that thing now, boy)

Yeah, I really dig this song. Great lyrics.
Hey, you gonna try and make it down to see Del and Steve at the Freight on June 23 (I think)? Let me know, maybe we could get together beforehand. How 'bout you, Miller?
All for now.
John C.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
George Bernard Shaw

“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.”
Joseph Heller, Catch-22

http://www.youtube.com/user/WaxwingJohn
CD on YT

Offline thumbstyle

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Re: Walkin My Troubles Away
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2004, 05:13:13 PM »
Ah, that's got it! Thanks for that, Wax.

I had planned to see Del and Steve at Schoenberg's on the 24th, but seeing as it's a triple bill (with Roy Book Binder) at the Freight on the 23rd, I do believe I'll change my mind. Plus there's better eats in Berkeley than Tiburon.  :D

So yeah, let's meet up!

Dave

Sweet Bone Willie

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Baby you gotta change your mind.
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2004, 12:35:55 PM »
I'm working on Blind Boy Fuller's "Baby you gotta change your mind" and am having some trouble trying to decipher the lyrics on the second verse after the instrumental break.  Is it "Up 'fore the judge(jury?) my eyes(?) wouldn't tell, beatin down(?) my gal I got a full pardon(?) yell(?!?!)".  Thanks for the help.

« Last Edit: July 16, 2020, 12:11:36 PM by Johnm »

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Baby you gotta change your mind.
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2004, 01:33:12 PM »
Hi Willie,

I had heard this as:

Up 'fore the judge, my eyes full of tears
For beatin' down my gal I got four, five years

But haven't listened to it in awhile to see if I hear any differently now. It's a hard line to hear.

And welcome to WeenieCampbell.com!
« Last Edit: April 18, 2005, 06:11:40 PM by Johnm »

Sweet Bone Willie

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Re: Baby you gotta change your mind.
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2004, 02:43:55 PM »
That makes a lot more sense.  That a big help!  Thanks.

Offline frankie

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Re: Baby you gotta change your mind.
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2004, 08:30:57 AM »
Up 'fore the judge, my eyes full of tears
For beatin? down my gal I got four, five years

Pretty sure I hear it as beatin' *up* my gal...  oh - it makes all the difference! 

f <- not above minutiae... ever.

Offline uncle bud

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Re: Baby you gotta change your mind.
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2004, 05:56:04 PM »
[f <- not above minutiae... ever.

Just makes you all the more loveable, Frank. ;) I'll listen again. Certainly "beatin' up" would be the more standard way to go.

I like this song a lot and haven't played it for ages. Will be revisiting it on the gitfiddle.

chipmonk doug

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Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2005, 06:51:27 AM »
Ok, time for some help.  I've got the music where I can use it.  RGD is too adlib to be a working version, but more fun.
Save me mumbleing through this when I add it to my set list.  Check what I've got and see if you can fill in the ???



Mama Let Me Lay It On You ? Blind Boy Fuller

Ch
Mama let me lay it on you
Mama let me lay it on you
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

I?ll buy you a diamond ring
Now ????? shake that thing
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

inst

I?ll try live true to you
Nothing else I know to do
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

inst

I?ll you a ford machine
Then I?ll furnish you the gasoline
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

inst

I?ll buy you a ford machine
Then I?ll ??????? gasoline
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Ch

I got me a ding a ling
I?ll ding it sure as one two 3
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

????? fallin? out
Said over another man?s wife
I?ll do anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Ch

inst
« Last Edit: July 23, 2020, 06:09:09 PM by Johnm »

Offline dj

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2005, 07:44:22 AM »
Here's what I hear:

1:  Now I ask you t' shake that thing

 Not quite sure of this.  The I and ask seem kind of elided together, and it sounds more like yo' than you, though in the rest of the song Fuller clearly pronounces "you".

2:  Then I'll fill it fulla gasoline

3:  I got me a stingoree
     I'll sting it sure as one two three

You didn't ask about this one, but I think your interpretation is clearly wrong.

4:  Baby we had a fallin' out

The first word could be Babe.  Fuller really crams those words in there.  In practice, when singing that fast, I think "Baby we..."  and "Babe we..." come out sounding identical.

chipmonk doug

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2005, 03:30:56 AM »
Thanks I made the changes you pointed out.


lebordo

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2005, 12:41:51 PM »
1: Now I ask you t' shake that thing

What I hear for this line is

? ? ?Now it's gonna shake that thing

2: Then I'll fill it fulla gasoline

Here, my ears pick up

? ? ?Then I'll just pour the gasoline

3: I got me a stingoree
 I'll sting it sure as one two three

I agree completely with this.

4: Baby we had a fallin' out

Here, I don't hear Babe OR Baby -- i hear only

? ? ?We had a fallin' out


I should also point out that this song was actually titled Mama Let Me Lay It On You No. 2 -? easy to pick out because in addition to Blind Boy Fuller's vocal and guitar, you also have harmonica by Charlie Austin (Sonny Terry accompanied two other tracks from this same session of 8 songs, but Charlie Austin accompanied this track, according to Blues & Gospel Records, 4th ed.

Details for No. 2 are Mx 22681-1, recorded Apr 5 1938; issued on Vo 04237 and Cq 9158

For comparison purposes, I'll post two additional replies -- one Fuller's first version of Mama Let Me Lay It On You, from April 1936, and the second with Walter Coleman's version of Mama Let Me Lay It On You, recorded two month earlier.? Personally, I think I prefer the Coleman version, because it's a little raunchier.? All three versions are on the juke.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2005, 09:32:27 PM by lebordo »

lebordo

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2005, 12:48:31 PM »
Ok, here's Fuller's 1936 version of Mama Let Me Lay It On You.? Underlined portions are best guesses, so ideas are welcome.

Mama Let Me Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller acc. own guitar
(Mx 19145-2, recorded Apr 29 1936; issued on ARC 6-08-54, Vo 03071, Cq 8756 and Cq 8770)



(Inst intro)

Mama let me lay it on you
Mama let me lay it on you
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
Let me lay it on you

I'll buy you a straggler's suit? ? ? ?{ changed from ... stragler's ... }
Cut your throat to boot? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? { changed from ... short toot toot }
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you

Mama let me lay it on you
Please m'am let me lay it on you
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
Let me lay it on you

I'll buy you a bag of shoes
I'll cut your throat to boot? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? { changed from ... throat toot toot }
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
Let me lay it on you

(Inst)

Why I'll buy you (a) gingham dress
Baby I don't want no mess
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you

Well baby let me lay it on you
Please m'am let me lay it on you
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
(I ain't jokin') I want to lay it on you

(Spoken)
Now baby let me lay it on you
Please m'am.
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
(inst repeat prev line)

I'll buy you a fish tail coat
Baby I'll go cut your throat
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you

Baby let me lay it on you
Mama please let me lay it on you
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you
(inst repeat prev line)

I'll buy you a Cadillac Car
So you can ride [tomorr'              {was to moms
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
Let me lay it on you

Please m'am let me lay it on you
Oh baby let me lay it on you
I'll give you anything in this whole round world
If ya let me lay it on you
(inst repeat prev line)
« Last Edit: July 23, 2020, 11:22:29 AM by Johnm »

lebordo

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2005, 12:58:13 PM »
Finally, here's the earliest version of Mama Let Me Lay It On You listed in B&GR, Walter Coleman's Feb 1936 recording.? Again, underlined portions are best guesses, so ideas are welcome.

Mama Let Me Lay It On You - Walter Coleman acc. own g and unknown 2nd g
(Mx 90611-C, recorded Feb 8 1936; issued on De 7157)
 
(Inst intro)

A mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Then I'm goin' up stairs
T' turn your lamp down low
An' if your bed breaks down
See me pilin' on the floor

No it's a mama let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Mama let me lay it on you? (uhh-huhh)
Give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

I'm goin' to buy you a diamond ring
A baby see you shake that thing
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

I'm goin' to buy ya (a) brand new bed
So ya can pin it through your thin man's head
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Boy if you ever wake up
I'se sick holdin' hands
Feel for your midnight rider
Piling with another woman's man

Now just baby let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Darlin' let me lay it on yo (mmm-humm)
Give anything in the whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

Now it's a boot and a dollar
A-mama six months ain't long
Any woman can get a man now days
Can't a playtin' name been out long

Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you
I'd give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

It's mama pull off your dress
And put on your nightgown
I got a funny feelin' baby in my back
Mama won't you tie it down

Now it's a mama let me lay it on you
A mama let me lay it on you (mmm-humm)
Give anything in this whole round world
Mama let me lay it on you

(Instrumental to end)
...
...? (spoken) Ahh, play it till I get back to George Street
...
...? (spoken) Ahh, stomp that thing
...

Offline dj

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Re: Mama Lay It On You - Blind Boy Fuller
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2005, 02:26:40 PM »
Quote
short toot toot, throat toot toot

I think both of these are "throat to boot".

Quote
to moms

I hear "So you can drive tomorr'" (elining the final syllable of "tomorrow").

I think all your other underlined words or phrases are correct.  Like you, I clearly hear "Stargler" or "Stargler's".  Was that a department store or something?

I never heard Walter Coleman's version of this.  Love his lyrics.  Thanks for pointing it out.

 


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