Topic: Mattie Delaney Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Mattie Delaney recorded "Tallahatchie River Blues" on February 21, 1930 in Memphis, according to the information included on the JSP "Mississippi Blues" set.  She accompanied herself out of D position in standard tuning for the song.  She was the possessor of one of the most intense vocal head tones in all the country blues, in a class with Ishmon Bracey and Rube Lacy in that regard, and was a fine guitarist as well.  Her inclusion here seems long over-due.



SOLO

Tallahatchie River risin', Lord, it's mighty bad
Tallahatchie River risin', Lord, it's mighty bad
Some peoples on Tallahatchie done lost everything they had

Some people in the Delta, wondering what to do
Some people in the Delta, wondering what to do
They don't build some levees, I don't know what become of you

High water rising, got me troubled in mind
High water rising, got me troubled in mind
I got to go and leave my daddy behind

SOLO

Lord, this water risin', and I sure can't swim
High water risin', and I sure can't swim
But if it keep on risin', sure gon' follow him

Gon' pack my suitcase, go back to Tennessee
Gon' pack my suitcase, go back to Tennessee
For this Tallahatchie River done got the best of me

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Mattie Delaney recorded "Down The Big Road Blues" the same day she recorded "Tallahatchie River Blues".  She accompanied herself out of G position in standard tuning on "Down The Big Road Blues", and the song is an especially strong one-chord number.

 

I can't go down that big road by myself
I can't go down that big road by myself
If I can't carry you, I carry someone else

I asked him, "How 'bout it?", and he said, "All right"
I asked him, "How 'bout it?", and he said, "All right"
I asked him, "How long?", and he said, "All night"

I asked him, "How 'bout it?", said he didn't know how
I asked him, "How 'bout it?", said he didn't know how
"But I will do you, mama, like a calf would do a cow"

SOLO

I'm a travelin' woman, I got a travelin' mind
I'm a travelin' woman, I got a travelin' mind
If you don't take me back, daddy, sure gon' lose my mind

My Mother said six months before I was born
My Mother said six months before I was born
She were gonna have a good time, wouldn't never stay at home

I feel like cryin', ain't got no tears to spare
I feel like cryin', ain't got no tears to spare
I had a happy home, and I wouldn't stay there

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[catyron]

"Some peoples on bad acid done lost everything they had"

Just sayin' :-)