Topic: Brooks Berry Lyrics

[Johnm]

Hi all,
As far as I know, all of Brooks Berry's recorded performances come from the album "My Heart Struck Sorrow", on Prestige, for which she was accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell. The album, recorded by Art Rosenbaum, showcases a wonderful pairing, for Brooks Berry's soulful singing is masterfully backed by Scrapper, who sounds to have been at the absolute top of his game. His playing in E position in standard tuning for "My Man Is Studyin' Evil" may have been equaled, but I don't think I've ever heard it surpassed--it is perfectly remarkable playing, both in terms of imagination and execution, and I'm so thankful that Art Rosenbaum allowed such a long take, over six minutes. Indeed, Scrapper concludes the take with four consecutive solo passes, and he doesn't come close to running out of ideas. Here is "My Man Is Studyin' Evil":



INTRO

Said my man is studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Oh my man's studyin' evil, you'd be evil, too
Since the world's against me, I don't know what I'm gonna do

Don't nobody know my troubles, but me and the Good Lord
Don't nobody know my troubles, but me and the Good Lord
Says the man I love, he, treats me like I'm a dog

That an is evil, you'd be evil, too, oh yes, my
Man is evil, you'd be evil, too
Lord, the world's against me and I don't know what I'm gonna do

My life is a weakness, it's a weakness to you and me, oh my
Life is a weakness, it's a weakness to me
'Cause the world's against me and, Lord, and I don't know what I'm gonna do (Spoken: Now you take it, Slick.)

SOLO

My man is evil, you'd be evil, too, oh my
Man is evil, you'd be evil, too
Since the world is against me, I don't know what I'm gonna do

SOLO X 4

All best,
Johnm

 


 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Cold-Blooded Murder", Brooks Berry was accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell working out of D position in standard tuning. Brooks Berry dragged out the last syllable of "murderer" a little bit--it makes much more sense of the lyric. Scrapper didn't take a solo on this performance, but his playing is so alive and present and he goes through so many ideas in his response licks that a solo is not missed. It would have been fascinating to see Scrapper play in person and see how he was able to play so hard from his picking hand and still get such a big, clean sound, with no buzzing or bottoming out. Here is "Cold-Blooded Murder":



INTRO

You's a cold-blooded murderer, and you know your chance is good
You's a cold-blooded murderer, and you know your chance is good
I don't blame you, I'd be the same way if I could

Give me the money and I will, catch that train and go, don't have to kill me because you don't want me no more
Give me the money, I'll catch that train and go
Don't have to kill me, 'cause you don't want me no more

You's a cold-blooded murderer, and you know your chance is good
You's a cold-blooded murderer, and you know your chance is good
Lord, I will catch up with you, some day if I can

Right now I'm all by myself, if I can't get you I don't want nobody else
Right now, baby, I'm all by myself
If I can't get you, I don't want nobody else

I knowed you didn't want me, when you laid down 'cross my bed, you was tellin' me all the, what the neighbors said
You didn't want me, laid down 'cross my bed
You was tellin' me all the things, my next-door neighbors said

CODA

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Brooks Berry delivered another stellar vocal on "Can't Sleep For Dreaming", this time accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell in A position, standard tuning. The duo had such beautiful time together--it allowed for a very natural, conversational way of phrasing the vocal. Scrapper once again showcased his imagination, tone and beautiful bends. Here is "Can't Sleep For Dreaming":



INTRO

I woke up this morning, blues all in my room
I woke up this morning, blues was all in my room
I told my daddy, I'd have to be leaving here soon

Said the train is comin', tracks all out of line
Train is comin', tracks all out of line
And I'm wonderin' if my, baby's gonna be on time

SOLO

Say, just tell me, baby, how long are you gonna be here?
Tell me, baby, how long are you gon' be here?
I don't care if you leave here, please don't leave me here

SOLO

I can't sleep for dreamin', Lord, I can't laugh for cryin'
I can't sleep for dreamin', Lord, I can't laugh for cryin'
I woke this morning, everything was on my mind

Lord, I wonder, what in this world to do
Lord, I wonder, what in this world to do
I can't sleep for dreamin', just for worryin' about you

CODA

All best,
Johnm

 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Brooks Berry sang "I've Had My Fun", a cover of "Going Down Slow", with Scrapper Blackwell accompanying her out of A position in standard tuning. I love the way Brooks Berry sang the word "please" in the second verse. Here is "I've Had My Fun":



INTRO

Lord, I've had my fun, and I can't get well no more
Well, I've had my fun, and I can't get well no more
Lord, my health is failin' me and I'm goin' down slow

Please write to my mother, and tell her what a shape I'm in
Please write to my mother, and tell her what a shape I'm in
Tell her to pray for me, just Good Lord to forgive me for my sins

Tell her, don't send no doctor, that a doctor can't do no good
Tell her, don't send no doctor, 'cause a doctor can't do no good
'Cause I did not do, the things that I should

On that next train South, look for my clothes home
On that next train South, look for my clothes home
If you don't see my body, all you can do is moan

SOLO AND CODA

All best,
Johnm

 
 

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Brooks Berry and Scrapper Blackwell did a beautiful version on "How Long", with Scrapper capoed way up, playing out of A position in standard tuning, something he did fairly often when playing with Leroy Carr but was seldom recorded doing in his rediscovery period. Brooks Berry sings some verses not sung in the original Leroy/Scrapper version, and she sounds, beneficially, a little tired, or perhaps as though she had had a couple of drinks. Here is "How Long":



INTRO

How long, baby, how long, has that evening train been gone?
For so long, so long, baby, how long

I see the green grass, growin' in the field, I ain't seen the greenback, on the dollar bill
For so long, baby, for so long, baby, how long

If I could holler, like a mountain jack, go up on the mountain, and call my baby back
For how long, baby, how long, baby, how long

How long, baby, baby, how long, has your dirty work, been goin' on?
Baby, for how long, for how long, baby, how long

How long, baby, how long, must I keep my, watch in pawn?
For so long, for so lo-hong, baby, how long

SOLO

All best,
Johnm

[Johnm]

Hi all,
For "Blues And Trouble", Brooks Berry was accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell on piano, in E flat. I don't believe Scrapper was ever recorded playing piano in the '20s and '30s. He joins such other notable blues guitarists as Clifford Gibson, Henry Townsend, Pete Franklin, Skip James and Booker White as being able to double creditably on piano as well as guitar. I'd appreciate help with the beginning of the tagline of verse six and any other places I have wrong. Brooks Berry sounds like she was three sheets to the wind on this one. Here is "Blues And Trouble":



INTRO SOLO

Lord, it's blues and trouble, are my two best friends
Lord, it's blues and trouble are my two best friends
Lord, when blues walks out then, trouble just begins

Early in the morning, blues knocked on my door
Early in the morning, blues knocked on my door
"Lordy, I just come here to, worry you some more."

Did you ever wonder, what is on your mind?
Lordy, ever wonder, what is on your mind?
And the train is on time, but the, tracks is all out of line

And I cried last night, and I cried the night before
Lord, I cried last night, and I cried the night before
And it's blues and trouble, both knocked on my door

And I'm going back South where the, weather's warm the whole year 'round
I'm going back South where the, weathers warm the whole year 'round
Buy me a ticket, leave this bad-luck town

Hey-ey-ey-ey, what's wrong with me?
Hey-ey-ey-ey, what is wrong with me?
[Late entry, mumbled lyric] regular and I, can't find my used-to-be

I walked down the street, tears is rollin' down (Spoken: Hey now)
Walked down the street and the tears were rollin' down
I can't find nobody to, leave my trouble by

I wonder, I wonder, what's wrong with me?
I wonder, I wonder, what is wrong with me?
I can't find my regular, just give me, back my old used-to-be

I cried all night long, and the night before
I cried all night long, all the night before
Say if you can't get no relief here, down the road you go

CODA

All best,
Johnm





 

[banjochris]

I don't think an answer exists to the beginning of that tagline, John – she might have dozed off for a second!

[Johnm]

Thanks, Chris--that's what it sounded like to me, too. I'll just say "Late entry, mumbled lyric".

[MTJ3]

Scrapper accompanied himself on piano on "Morning Mail Blues" and "Blues That Make Me Cry" (Vo 02752-A and B, respectively), both recorded 21 February 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri.

[Johnm]

Thanks for that information, MTJ3.

[Blues Vintage]

That's Blackwell as "probably" on piano according to several sources.

[MTJ3]

Good point! According to B&GR the accompaniment for these sides by Blackwell is "probably own piano".  I don't know what the other "several sources" are.

The disc labels for both of these sides don't clarify or disambiguate.  They show the artist as Francis Blackwell with composer credit for Blackwell and describe the performance as "vocal with piano accompaniment".  The only artists who recorded at the St. Louis session were Carr, Blackwell and the Elder Oscar Sanders group.  Aurally, the pianist is not Carr and not the more sprightly pianist on the recordings by the Sanders group.  So that makes Blackwell the most likely suspect among those musicians.  Could another pianist have stepped in?  Sure it's possible. If Scrapper would have let him or her do so.

[MTJ3]

Johnm, In opening this thread, you wrote, in pertinent part: "As far as I know, all of Brooks Berry's recorded performances come from the album "My Heart Struck Sorrow", on Prestige, for which she was accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell." 

Four songs featuring Brooks appear on the "Live At 1444 Gallery" album.  That album can also be heard on the Document issue DOCD 5275. I think at least one song featuring her singing also appears on one of Art Rosenbaum's field recording collections; I don't have and haven't listened to that.

[Stuart]

Stefan Wirz has a page devoted to Brooks Berry:

https://www.wirz.de/music/berrybro.htm

And the recording from Art Rosembaum's collection (Vol. 1) is available for listening at the album's Bandcamp page (#58):

https://dusttodigital.bandcamp.com/album/art-of-field-recording-volume-i-fifty-years-of-traditional-american-music-documented-by-art-rosenbaum