Topic: Jack Gowdlock Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Jack Gowdlock had only two solo titles released, both of which were recorded at a session in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 29, 1931. Gowdlock also recorded two religious titles with Blind Gussie Nesbitt, neither of which was ever issued. I sure would like to hear those duet performances--it's hard to imagine Gussie Nesbitt working in a duo. For the mis-titled "Poor Jane Blues", Gowdlock accompanies himself out of E position in standard tuning, sticking the the 8-bar format that was customarily used for "Crow Jane". His little time stroke between verses reminds me of Ed Bell's "Mean Conductor Blues". He was some great verses I've not heard before. Here is "Poor Jane Blues":



Crow Jane, Crow Jane, don't you hold your head so high
Lord, you must remember, you got to lay down and die

Says if I had wings, like a bluebird in the air
Well, I'll build my nest in some high rider's hair

You mistreated me, Crow Jane, Lord, you drove me f'om your door
Lord, the Good Book said, buddy, gonna reap just what you sow

GUITAR INTERLUDE

I got the lovin' fair brown, Lord, she lives out on the square
If you wanta die easy, let me find you there

Hold your backbone steady, roll your stomach 'round and 'round
If I don't find no bottom, can I keep on easing down?

Your kid gal quit you, what you think for you're better to do?
Take all your money, and then put you in the street

Said my brown got hair, like a maremaid on the sea
Ev' time she go to bed, buddy, she wraps it all around me

GUITAR INTERLUDE (Spoken: Lord, I laid there and eat)

Says I can read, I can write, but I sure can't spell my name
I can ride a streetcar, but I sure can't ride the train

I got two fair brownies, you sure can't tell' em apart
One is my lover and the other one is my heart

Says she weeps like a willa, Lord, she moans like Norah's dove
I got a gal up the country, Lord, I really love

Say what-a way, what-a way, do the Red river run?
Right by my back door, honey, to the rising sun

CODA

Edited 3/28 to pick up corrections from Harry, Johnm and islandgal

All best,
Johnm



 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Dough Rollin' Blues", Jack Gowdlock once again accompanied himself out of E position in standard tuning. His signature lick reminds me of Bo Carter's "Old Devil". Some more really interesting verses are to be found here. Here is "Dough Rollin' Blues":



INTRO

Lord, look-a here, look-a here what lovin' made me do
Lord, Look-a here, look-a here what lovin' made me do
Done made meeeeeeeee love you, honey, look how you done done

Lord, I seen you somewhere, but I just can't 'call your name
Lord, I seen you somewhere, gal, just can't 'call your name
Looks like thaaaaat gal, honey, me and her rode the train

Lord, I ain't been to her house, baby, but I been told
Lord, I ain't been to her house, but honey, I been told
'Cause she roll her belly like grandma roll her dough

Lord, roll on mama, mama, do roll on
Lord, I say roll on mama, mama, do roll on
Be suuuuuure, rider, please don't roll too long

Lord, if you take my rider, you sure can't keep her long
Lord, if you take my rider, you sure can't keep her long
Lord, if you take my rider, you sure can't keep her long
Don't give her right jellyrollin', she's sure gon' come back home

Lord, but he's got dead man's finger, babe, and a black cat bone
Lord, he got a dead man's finger, babe, and a black cat bone
Every time I leave her, buddy, got to come back home

Lord, look-a here, look-a here what lovin' made me do
Lord, look-a here, look-a here what lovin' made me do

CODA

Edited to pick up corrections from Harry and Johnm

All best,
Johnm

[Blues Vintage]

Some suggestions for "Poor Jane Blues"

3.2 Lord, the Good Book said, buddy, you gonna reap just what you sow

4.1  I go got the lovin' fair brown, Lord, she lives out on the a square

6.1 Your kid gal quit your you, what you think for you your better to do?

7.1 Every time she go to bed, buddy, she wraps it all around me

final line - Tight right by my back door, honey, to the rising sun

[Blues Vintage]

"Dough Roller Blues"

4th

Lord, I ain't been to your house, pretty baby, but I been told
Lord, I ain't been to her house, but honey, I've been told
'Cause she roll her belly like grandma roll her dough

6th

Lord, but he's got dead man's finger, baby, and a black cat bone
Lord, he got a dead man's finger, baby, and a black cat bone
Every time I leave her, buddy, and I got to gotta come back home

[Johnm]

Hi Harry,
Thanks for your suggestions.

In "Poor Jane Blues":
   3.2 You were right
   4.1 "got" was right, but it is "the" square, not "a" square as you suggested
   6.1 First 'you" was right, second one should be "you're"
   Final line, "Right" is correct.

In "Dough Rollin' Blues"
   4.1 There is no "pretty", it should just be "baby, but I been told"
   4.2 It is "I", not "I've"
   6.1 There is a "but" after "Lord"
   6.3 You're right

I've made the changes for the corrections you suggested that were right. Also re-listening caught several other mistakes I made originally that we both missed and corrected them, too. Thanks!

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
In the second verse of "Dough Rollin' Blues", I think the context of the first two lines makes it seem like "call" is more likely "recall" with the first syllable elided.
All best,
Johnm

[islandgal]

Hi John,

Re:Poor Jane Blues, Judging from Jack Gowdock's pronunciation of the letter o, I'd like to suggest a change from:
One is my liver and the other one is my heart.
To:
One is my lover and the other one is my heart.

[Johnm]

You certainly are right, islandgal, and I have made the change. Thanks! It should have struck me how weird it would be to characterize a partner as your liver!