Topic: Little Hat Jones lyrics

[GhostRider]

Some comments, GhostRider, some trivial.    This topic started long before I was active on Weenie, so I might have the odd suggestion re the early lyrics.   I'll try to do this in a week or so.
 
Rolled From Side to Side Blues
 
1.1/2 MISTER FREDDIE, MISTER FREDDIE IS A MAN THAT YOU WOMENFOLKS KNOW
This seems right, but I'm torn between Freddie and Faraday. And LHJ pronounces "you" as "chou"
1.3 LORD, I'M tryin' TO get my sweet woman like MISTER FREDDIE got his girl
2.3 Pretty woman make HER man love her, people, and shake hands and go
Perfect
3.1 DON'T never take no woman, I'm speakin' 'bout, to be your friend
This is right.
3.2 I said man, DON'T never take no woman, I'm speakin' 'bout, to be your friend
3.3 Aww, she get all OF your money then look what a hole YOU'RE in
I'd change "of" to "o'", but that's trivial
5.3 I didn't have no blues, UNDERSTAND THAT things weren't goin' ON right.
Understand is certianly right but I hear "but" not "that" after.
6.3 'CAUSE I've (no A) got one eye on my pistol, keep the other one on your trunk.
After repeated listening, you're right, except that we both but the word "eye" in, when he doesn't say it, "'Cause I've got one on..." Interesting

Thanks again, dingwall. That first line I wouldn't have gotten in a million years. I'll make the changes.

Alex

[uncle bud]

Some very minor points. One of my favourite tunes.

I hear Little Hat pronounce it as 't'you more than chou. How's that for minor?  (Sorry, chou just looks French to me, and LH isn't singin' about cabbage.)

I think Mister Freddie is right.

For verse 5.3. I hear "I didn't have no blues, understand, but things wasn't goin' right"

In 6.3. I think he does sing "got one eye on my pistol". He runs everything together and barely makes the line.

Nice job, guys. Little Hat can be tough to decipher IMO.

[dingwall]

Just had a look at Reply #1 from waxwing on this topic, and have to modify my undertaking to comment on the earlier Little Hat transcriptions.       
                      ---------------------
Quote from: waxwing on August 24, 2003, 10:16:39 AM
So you guys know, I have all the current Volumes of these lyric transcriptions. However, I am not keen on posting whole songs on the web. But, if you post what you've got, as Lindy did, I'll look up Bob's transcriptions of the missing bits. Only seems fair to Bob.
                      ---------------------
Thanks for the kind remarks elsewhere in your post.   I appreciate what you say, waxwing about not posting whole songs, but not just that it's being fair to me.   Although I have posted a few whole songs, I don't as a rule, in deference to people who bought my books.   Anyway, I assume you have thrown in book suggestions which, accepted or not, will save a repetition from me.   However, one of the books has a second edition (none of the others have), and I imagine you don't have that, since I recently mentioned 'Sweet land of blue cheese' in response to what seemed a problem.   Four of the lyrics are in this second edition.   I've already thrown in my pennyworth for two of them, leaving 'Hurry Blues' and 'Kentucky Blues'.    I'll go over these in about a week. 

(Sorry, I don't know how to do Weenie quotes properly!)

[dingwall]

At the cost of being considered stupidly pernickety, here's my thoughts, GhostRider, on the two further Little Hat songs.   But first, re  'Rolled From Side To Side Blues' line 5.3, I still think it's 'that' after many hearings.   The sense is different in 'no blues, understand, but' with the extra comma.   Also, I agree with Andrew's 'wasn't'. 

5.3 I didn't have no blues, UNDERSTAND THAT things WASN'T goin' ON right.


Kentucky Blues (This is based on your version at REPLY #33)
Little Hat Jones
1930
solo acoustic guitar
Standard tuning, E position, pitched at F.

2.1 Well, whilst we here tryin' TO have our fun
2.2 S'POSIN' the law jumped up and said "Nobody run!"
2.4 Long gone and I'M got away lucky
2.5 'Cus (??or 'CAUSE better??) I'M gonna leave Seguine, I'll be just like a submarine
3.4 DON'T WANNA LET YOU sing this worried song"
4.1 WELL, I ONCE HAVE KNOWED A man they CALLED him Austin Jack
4.2 Stopped 'EM(??) put the bloodhounds RIGHT on my track
4.3 'CAUSE the BLOODHOUNDS JUST could not catch my scent
4.4 Do you know they couldn't tell where LI-LITTLE(??a stumble) Hat went
4.5 'Cus I left Seguine, people I WAS just like a submarine.
6.1 Well HERE(??) come the Santa Fe just PUFFIN' and flyin'
6.2 Oughta SEEN me when I reached up and really caught them BLIND(This sounds singular and is almost always that way ? 'ride the blind' and so on)
6.3 They said "That's another long gone, from Kentucky
6.4 Long gone and then got away lucky
6.5 'Cus HE left Seguine, HE WAS just like a submarine"(Quotation is over the three lines)
8.5 'Cus I'm leavin' San Antoine, I declare I(??) ain't comin' here no more
9.4 WANNA tell you 'bout YOUR MONEY that your father had

Just by the way, I note twelve lyrics (from about half the pre-war blues) with submarines, suggesting that there might be over twenty in all pre-war.   I'll list these if anyone is interested 


Hurry Blues    (Comments here are on your version at REPLY #35.  I've separated the x2 lines, as I suggest some differences.)
 
2.1 I NOTICE EAGLE'S on A dollar, other side "In God We Trust" (I had 'know there's' and have just noticed(!) it's 'notice' ? makes sense too -  one eagle, not plural, and in second line, checking it's a genuine coin.)
2.2 I NEED TO NOTICE EAGLE'S on A dollar, ON(??) THE other side "In God We Trust"
2.3 Well, a woman loves a man but I know THIS (??quite clear, rather than 'dis') dollar's WORTH
4.1 HAS you ever loved a woman, man,---
4.2 I SAY, have you ever loved a woman, one---
6.3 AND I MAY STOP AT TOWNS WHERE I HAVEN'T NEVER been before.
9.1/2 Some time you hear me singin' "Nearer, OH My God to Thee"
9.3 THEN again you hear me singing, "Sweet land of blue cheese"

[GhostRider]

Dingwall:

Don't worry about being persnickety, I like persnickety. Your efforts are much appreciated.

And I'd love to see the submarine list.

Alex

[dingwall]

Submarine in pre-war Blues and Gospel lyrics.       

LITTLE HAT JONES        KENTUCKY BLUES                       
 Well, whilst we here tryin' to have our fun.
 Supposin' the law jumped up and said "Nobody run."
 Well, you know I'm long gone, from Kentucky.
 Long gone and I'm got away lucky.
 'Cause I'm gonna leave Seguin, I'll be just like a submarine.

BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON   RABBIT FOOT BLUES                         
 Got an airplane baby, now they're gonna give me a submarine.
 An airplane, now they're gonna give me a submarine.
 Gonna get that Kaiser and we'll be seldom seen.

WILLIAM & VERSEY SMITH  EVERYBODY HELP THE BOYS COME HOME
  Now Kaiser Bill, he didn't have no friends.
 Come all you workers on defence.
 Goin' into England, that's what I mean.
 Whilst evadin' that submarine.

BARBECUE BOB            EASE IT TO ME BLUES
 I'm gonna buy me a gun, airplane and a submarine.
 I'm gonna buy me a gun, airplane and a submarine.
 Gonna kill everybody ever treat me mean.

ROOSEVELT SYKES         THIRD DEGREE BLUES                       
 Before I stand your doggin', mama, I know I'd let you go free.
 Before I stand your doggin', mama, I have to let you go free.
 You're bustin' my heart wide open like a submarine in the deep blue sea.

WEBSTER TAYLOR          WORLD IN A JUG
 I'm gonna get me a submarine.
 Gonna get me a submarine.
 Gonna get me a brand new rider, gonna call her Katherine.

BILLIKEN JOHNSON        SUN BEAM BLUES
 Don't need a air-o-plane, steamboat or submarine.
 Don't need a air-o-plane, steamboat nor submarine.
 But if I miss the Sun Beam, I will be seldom seen.

THE HOKUM BOYS          YOU CAN'T HAVE NONE OF THAT
 See that carload o' money goin' down to the bank.
 As far as you're concerned, it's a submarine tank.
 You can't have none of that, you can't have none of that.
 Just get your mind off it, you can't have none of that.

SISTER CALLY FANCY      DEATH IS RIDING THROUGH THE LAND
 You're dependin' on your navy,
 And your great submarines.
 You had better plan, should war break out,
 To bring Jesus on the scene.

VICTORIA SPIVEY         BLACK SNAKE BLUES
 I'd rather be a catfish swimmin' in that deep blue, Lord, beneath a      submarine behind a floatin' boat. 
 I'd rather be a catfish, Lord, in that deep blue sea.
 Than to stay here in Texas, treated like they wanted to do me.

IDA COX                 ONE TIME WOMAN BLUES
 I'll get me a cannon, pistol and a submarine.
 I'll get me a cannon, pistol and a submarine.
 To blow down every man that treats a one-time woman mean.

MARTHA COPELAND         BLACK SNAKE BLUES.
 I'd rather be a catfish swimmin' in that deep blue, Lord, beneath the  submarine behind a floatin' boat.
 I'd rather be a catfish floating in the deep blue sea.
 Than to stay here in Texas treated like they want to do me.

MARTHA COPELAND         HOBO BILL
 His buddy asked him what two did he mean.
 He said, "An air?o-plane and a submarine."
 Ride on, ride on, Hobo Bill.

[doctorpep]

As far as "Kentucky Blues" is concerned, I would think it'd be "tell you about the mother that your father had", as opposed to "tell you about the money that your father had". Perhaps the Dozens spawned the infamous "your mama"/"yo' mama" jokes around today. Great job deciphering the lyrics, guys!

[Rivers]

This thread has been dormant for a while, time to kick it back into life.

I've become enthused about the Bye Bye Baby Blues melody after being reminded of it by hearing a cover by a duo named The East River String Band, nice unpretentious music, not earth shattering but they do a good job on Bye Bye. So I searched weenie to see what we had on the subject.

The Little Hat lyrics never made it to weeniepedia I noticed so I'm going to put them up. Since he recorded so few we can be completists easily enough.

Who here plays Bye Bye Baby Blues, and how do you do it? I can figure it out for sure, but I'm just starting on it so any insights you can share would be welcome. Sounds likely to be played out of G position capoed at first fret, the original is pitched at A flat or thereabouts. My first stab at it I was playing out of an E position but that doesn't seem to work for the whole tune.

Do we have a thread for 'blues with no V chord', because this song is one, the V isn't even really implied.

[Rivers]

[edit - whoops I see Ghost already did this one, missed it first time through. Oh well, we can argue some more about half-words, apostrophes etc]

Bye Bye Baby Blues - Little Hat Jones
San Antonio, Saturday 14 June 1930, OKeh 8815
G position pitched A flat

[instrumental verse]

Well it's bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye
Bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye
Well I'll prob'ly never see you anymore, may God bless you everywhere you go
But it's bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye.

[instrumental verse]

Well I'm leavin' sweet baby, can't carry you
Said I'm leavin', sweet baby, don't you wanna go?
Well I'll prob'ly never see you anymore, may God bless you everywhere you go
But it's bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye.

[instrumental verse]

Well I tried to love my sweet woman, she couldn't understand
Said I tried to love my sweet woman, she didn't understand
Well I tried to love my sweet woman, but the woman didn't seem to understand
But I know she's realized it's trouble since she met another man.

So it's bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye
Bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye
Well I'll prob'ly never see you anymore, may God bless you everywhere you go
For it's bye bye, pretty baby, baby bye bye.

[outro]

[uncle bud]

Who here plays Bye Bye Baby Blues, and how do you do it? I can figure it out for sure, but I'm just starting on it so any insights you can share would be welcome. Sounds likely to be played out of G position capoed at first fret, the original is pitched at A flat or thereabouts. My first stab at it I was playing out of an E position but that doesn't seem to work for the whole tune.

G position, as I recall. Though I haven't played it in eons, since the vocal is way out of my range and I never compensated for that with a capo or transposition.

[Mike Brosnan]

This tune is one of the reasons I keep my guitar tuned a whole step low...  I play "Bye-Bye Baby" in G position pitched to F or F# (depending on how my lungs are feelin' on any given day...).  I've heard this tune played with a quick V chord and it really doesn't work for me.  Our man Mr. Stovepipe does a great version of this on YouTube.  I really like the way this tune sounds when it's played slower than Little Hat's original.

[Rivers]

I've started up the weeniepedia entries for these. I've been careful to use the finished version of each. So far I have Corpus, Kentucky and Bye Bye entered. What's the definitive CD release for LHJ? It needs to go on the artist page:
http://www.weeniecampbell.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Little_Hat_Jones

[GhostRider]

Folks:

There is a quick V chord in Bye Bye Blues, in Bar 7. He plays a tonic melody note (D, third fret 2 string) followed by the 7th (C, first fret 2 string) over and A-D alternating bass?

Lots of third string melody notes on this one.

The complete works of LHJ are on the Document release entitled "Texas Blues"

Alex

[Rivers]

I half disagree, and half agree. I reckon it's a melody passing note played over the IV, implying the V... 

[GhostRider]

Kentucky Blues (This is based on your version at REPLY #33)
Little Hat Jones
1930
solo acoustic guitar
Standard tuning, E position, pitched at F.

2.1 Well, whilst we here tryin' TO have our fun
2.2 S'POSIN' the law jumped up and said "Nobody run!"
2.4 Long gone and I'M got away lucky
2.5 'Cus (??or 'CAUSE better??) I'M gonna leave Seguine, I'll be just like a submarine
3.4 DON'T WANNA LET YOU sing this worried song"
4.1 WELL, I ONCE HAVE KNOWED A man they CALLED him Austin Jack

Agreed

4.2 Stopped 'EM(??) put the bloodhounds RIGHT on my track
4.3 'CAUSE the BLOODHOUNDS JUST could not catch my scent
4.4 Do you know they couldn't tell where LI-LITTLE(??a stumble) Hat went

4.2 I still think its 'n', but I grant there's an "eey" aspiration on the front. Leaving
4.3 I think blindest is quite clear here. The vowel sound to me is "i" not "oo". Anyone else? Leaving for now.
4.4 I agree that there is a stumble

4.5 'Cus I left Seguine, people I WAS just like a submarine.
6.1 Well HERE(??) come the Santa Fe just PUFFIN' and flyin'
6.2 Oughta SEEN me when I reached up and really caught them BLIND(This sounds singular and is almost always that way ? 'ride the blind' and so on)
6.3 They said "That's another long gone, from Kentucky
6.4 Long gone and then got away lucky
6.5 'Cus HE left Seguine, HE WAS just like a submarine"(Quotation is over the three lines)
8.5 'Cus I'm leavin' San Antoine, I declare I(??) ain't comin' here no more

Agreed

9.4 WANNA tell you 'bout YOUR MONEY that your father had

9.4 I think YOUR is "the", pronounced th'. Agree with the rest

Alex

Kentucky Blues
Little Hat Jones
1930

solo acoustic guitar
Standard tuning, E position, pitched at F.

Introduction (instrumental)

(1) Instrumental

(2)Well, whilst we here tryin' to have our fun
S'posin' the law jumped up and said "Nobody run!"
Well you know I'm long gone, from Kentucky
Long gone and then got away lucky
'Cus I'm gonna leave Seguine, I'll be just like a submarine

(3) Well my woman poked her head out from way under the bed
She said "Please don't let 'em kill (deleted me)Mr. Little Hat dead"
I said "No use to worryin' sweet mama, ain't gonna be here long"
Don't Waznn let you sing this worried song
'Cus I'm gonna leave Seguine, I'll be just like a submarine.

(4) Well, I once have knowed the man they call him Austin Jack
Stopped 'n' put the bloodhounds right on my track
Course the blindest could not catch my scent
Do you know they couldn't tell where the Little Hat went
'Cus I left Seguine, people I's just like a submarine.

(5) Instrumental

(6) Well yon' come the Santa Fe just puffin' and flyin'
Oughta seen me when I reached up and really caught them blind
They said "That's another long gone, from Kentucky
Long gone and then got away lucky
'Cus you left Seguine, you's just like a submarine"

(7) Instrumental

( I'm gonna sing this song, ain't gonna sing no more
(instrumental)
(instrumental)
(instrumental)
'Cus I'm leavin' San Antoine, I declare I ain't comin' here no more

(9) Well I don't play the dozen and neither the ten
'Cus she keep on talkin' I'll ease ya in
Well you keep on talkin' 'till you make me mad
Well I tell you 'bout th' money that your father had
'Cus I don't play the dozen, I declare, man, and neither the ten

(10) Instrumental

Outro