Topic: J.T."Funny Papa" Smith's Lyrics

[GhostRider]

"Hard Luck Man Blues" is the only surviving track (why would someone record only 1 song) recorded in early November 1930.

3) I've got a woman in Seymour, one in Tyler, (don't) you know I'm feelin' blue (x2)
Leave what I'm in jail now on Chicago Avenue.

This is "I've got to leave but I'm in jail now on Chicago Avenue"

5) I've been in jail in Texas, been in jail in Alabama, been in jail in Louisiana, been in jail in Indiana.
I got a fool about women goin' jail down in Tennessee.
But the Chicago Avenue jail is too much jail for me.

This sounds like either "Actin' a fool about women got in jail down in Tennessee" or "I get a fool about women got in jail..."

I like the Verse 3 change. perfect

In Verse 5 I (after about 15 listens) like the Actin a fool... version.

I'll make the changes, thanks Unkie Bud.

There are still a few more unresolved bits in some o the remaining lyrics. Sure would be nice to finish them off. Anyone?

Alex

[uncle bud]

Tell It to the Judge No. 2

Spoken intro (TIttJ-style guitar backing in latter part)
Dessa: Good mornin' judge, how do you feel this mornin'?
FPS: Why hello there Betty, why here you come back up here again, didn't ch'ya.

Again a minor point, but he says "didn't you" or at worst "didn't yuh".

Dessa:No judge, I didn't come, they brought me here.
FPS: I'm sorry Betty.

1) They got you charged with handlin' liquor (now, Betty) tell me what is your plea? (x2)
You know I've been agivin' you many breaks but the breaks this mornin' belong to me.

2) I'm guilty kind old judge, please, treat me nice and kind
spoken: yea, 200 and costs.
I'm guilty kind old judge, please, treat me nice and kind
spoken: I did that bit already.

"I did that Betty already"

'Fore I've been home () bed to get money to pay my fine.

"For I'll send home and try my best to get money..."

3) Now, I know you're a pretty good woman, and livin' in a nice neibourhood.
spoken: Thank you, judge!
Now, I know you're a pretty good woman, Betty  and you live in a mighty nice neibourhood.
But I think 100 and costs and 30 days in the Bridewell will do you good.
spoken: Oh, me!

Well you's a pretty good woman and livin' in a nice neighborhood
I know you's a pretty good woman, Betty  and you live in a mighty nice neighborhood.

4) I've never seen a judge as mean as you before (x2)

Minor point but it's "I never seen" not I've.

6) You can do as you please, 30 days won't make me cry. (x2)
spoken: I didn't think it would make me cry, Betty.

"I didn't think it would make you cry, Betty"  (not "make me cry")


Sorry, screwed up the quote tags on this one. I think is readable now, though not exactly clear! Let me know if you have questions.

[GhostRider]

Tell It to the Judge No.1

Spoken introduction (with guitar playing behind in parts)
Dessa: Who's that knockin' on my door?
FPS: Police officer. Open this door 'fore I shoot the knob off.
Dessa: Wait man, I'll let you in.
FPS: Where that booze at?

A minor point but I'm pretty sure he says "Where's" not "Where". It's not that audible but I believe it's there.

2) (Mama) You can lose your temper (mama), but please don't lose your head. (x2)
I'm gonna search this shack this mornin', come on and ( get ) this search warrent read.

come on and hear this search warrant read.

4)Last time I searched this shack (you know) I found a half a pint of gin (x2)
Now whats the meanin' of all this here liquor, call the wagon 'cus I'm gonna run you in.

Again a minor point, but he says "going to run you in" not gonna.

5) (Please) Give me a break, don't make me pay no fine (x2)
That judge ( darn don't like me ), 'cus I been here so many times.

Tricky. I am hearing "That judge'll darn now lynch me 'cause I been here so many times."

Again, I like all of these and will make the changes.

Alex

[uncle bud]

The other song FPS recorded in mid-Feb. 1931 was "Corn Whiskey Blues", a rather mournful tune about drinkin'. Adding to the somber note is the slightly out-of-tune guitar and the turnaround which I really like, E-Am-E.

It's nice, isn't it? The other person who does this kind of I-IVminor-I move, I think, is Papa Charlie Jackson.

Corn Whiskey Blues

2) I can tell when (I got) the blues is comin', I can't he'p but feel so low down (x2)
Then I wants to get drunk and pitch a booger () all over town.

I think this is right, though obviously sounds a little odd to modern ears. I take "pitch a booger" to mean party out on the town, booger being short for booger rooger, meaning a good party.

[uncle bud]

Howling Wolf Blues - No. 3
1931
Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo I (B^b)

Instrumental introduction

1) I know you heard me howl before (and) you see it was not my least time. (x2)
I'm howling to keep the other wolves away from this here she-wolf of mine.

It's "last time" not least.

3) When I prowl at night, I want meat and that's all my crave (x2)
And if you watch me two in the mornin', you'll see me makin' it back to my cave.

Minor point, but I hear "And if you watchin'..."

4) They trappin' me in Texas, also St. Angelo (), Columbus (), New Mexico and Toledo, Ohio.
Followin' me from Kansas City, caught me in the city of Chicago.
But the she-wolf has got me now friend and won't let me prowl no more.

I think the place names are correct. The last line where you have "friend" is hard to hear but I think the line is

But the she-wolf has got me now I'm sayin', ain't goin' let me prowl no more

5) I take time when I'm prowlin' and wipe my tracks out with my tail (x2)
 I of' get blue and start howlin' and the hellhound gets on my trail.

Again hard to hear but the start of the last line sounds to me like "It often gets blue and start howlin'..."

I often would make more sense, but not what I'm hearing. Maybe a flubbed line?

6) I'm that wolf that digs a hole and stick my nose down in the ground (x2)
Howl right by you and you'll swear that I was a whole other side of town.

There's no contraction, it's "you will swear".

A good one!

[uncle bud]

Mama's Quittin' and Leavin' - Part 1
1930
Key of A, Standard tuning
Capo II (B)

3) I know and dog me baby with your '45. (x2)
And I couldn't do nothin' but wring my hands and cry.

This is "I know you 'buked and dogged me baby with your '45"

5) No, you tryin to beat () me baby and use me as a child (x2)
But it's goin' to hurt you to your heart when I leave you for a while.

Tricky! She doesn't say the first line the same way twice. Sounds like it could be "Though you try to be clean..." the first time, whatever that means. The second time it sounds like "Though you try to be mean baby..."

[uncle bud]

Mama's Quittin' and Leavin' - Part 2
1930
Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo II (B)

Instrumental introduction

1) I'm tired of bein' sorry when I know I'm doin' the best I can (x2)
To keep from bein' your dog daddy, I'm goin' to get me a brand new man.

First line is "I'm tired of bein' scolded when I know..."

4) I know I can't keep you mama, I taken you from my bosum friend (x2)
I can see the rascal's gettin' lucky, I know your gonna take him back again.

"I know the reason I can't keep you mama, I's taken you for my bosom friend
I know the reason I can't keep you mama, I taken you for my bosom friend..."

5) You know all this time, thinkin' you was all mine and I come to find you was worse all the time.
And I didn't say a finnin' () 'till six months after you left.
I'll give you one more chance to make a man out of yourself.

"You know all this time, thinkin' you was all mine, and I come to find you was worse all the time
And I didn't save one penny till six months after you left"

In that first line I kind of think I hear "work" rather than worse. Not sure.

[uncle bud]

Before Long
1931

4)It won't be long, (?) rainy day
Gimme my shirt and tie baby, I'll get out on my way.
But before long, you'll need me, yes, ba-baby 'fore long.

It won't be long, for the break of day

11) Ain't like I treated you to dog me all the time.
Look like it do you good somebody, (the same one that) saw me cryin'

This verse is a mess but I think I'm hearing the word "mistreated" in line 1. In line 2, I am almost hearing the word "hesitate" as in "hesitate an' saw me cryin'". Whatever that means!

[GhostRider]

Mama's Quittin' and Leavin' - Part 2
1930
Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo II (B)

Instrumental introduction

1) I'm tired of bein' sorry when I know I'm doin' the best I can (x2)
To keep from bein' your dog daddy, I'm goin' to get me a brand new man.

First line is "I'm tired of bein' scolded when I know..."

4) I know I can't keep you mama, I taken you from my bosum friend (x2)
I can see the rascal's gettin' lucky, I know your gonna take him back again.

"I know the reason I can't keep you mama, I's taken you for my bosom friend
I know the reason I can't keep you mama, I taken you for my bosom friend..."

5) You know all this time, thinkin' you was all mine and I come to find you was worse all the time.
And I didn't say a finnin' () 'till six months after you left.
I'll give you one more chance to make a man out of yourself.

"You know all this time, thinkin' you was all mine, and I come to find you was worse all the time
And I didn't save one penny till six months after you left"

In that first line I kind of think I hear "work" rather than worse. Not sure.

Boy, thanks again, Unkie Bud.

I agree with all of these except the "...taken you for my bosum friend" part of Verse 4. I still hear "..taken you from my bosum friend" and I think it makes more sense this way with respect to the third line of the verse.

I'll make the changes.

Thanks again,
Alex

[GhostRider]

Mama's Quittin' and Leavin' - Part 1
1930
Key of A, Standard tuning
Capo II (B)

3) I know and dog me baby with your '45. (x2)
And I couldn't do nothin' but wring my hands and cry.

This is "I know you 'buked and dogged me baby with your '45"

5) No, you tryin to beat () me baby and use me as a child (x2)
But it's goin' to hurt you to your heart when I leave you for a while.

Tricky! She doesn't say the first line the same way twice. Sounds like it could be "Though you try to be clean..." the first time, whatever that means. The second time it sounds like "Though you try to be mean baby..."

Unkie Bud (and BJ way back):

I like these edits, though I'll go for "Though you try to be mean..." twice.

Thanks,
Alex

[uncle bud]

I agree with all of these except the "...taken you for my bosum friend" part of Verse 4. I still hear "..taken you from my bosum friend" and I think it makes more sense this way with respect to the third line of the verse.

Yup, relistening numerous times I agree it's "from" and it makes more sense that way...

Edited to add: the third line that follows this is missing the word "right":

"I can feel that rascal's gettin' lucky, I know you gonna take him right back again"

Only Howlin' Wolf 3 and Before Long left to add to Keys to the Highway. Check out the corrections above.

[GhostRider]

Howling Wolf Blues - No. 3
1931
Standard tuning, Key of A
Capo I (B^b)

Instrumental introduction

1) I know you heard me howl before (and) you see it was not my least time. (x2)
I'm howling to keep the other wolves away from this here she-wolf of mine.

It's "last time" not least.

3) When I prowl at night, I want meat and that's all my crave (x2)
And if you watch me two in the mornin', you'll see me makin' it back to my cave.

Minor point, but I hear "And if you watchin'..."

4) They trappin' me in Texas, also St. Angelo (), Columbus (), New Mexico and Toledo, Ohio.
Followin' me from Kansas City, caught me in the city of Chicago.
But the she-wolf has got me now friend and won't let me prowl no more.

I think the place names are correct. The last line where you have "friend" is hard to hear but I think the line is

But the she-wolf has got me now I'm sayin', ain't goin' let me prowl no more

5) I take time when I'm prowlin' and wipe my tracks out with my tail (x2)
 I of' get blue and start howlin' and the hellhound gets on my trail.

Again hard to hear but the start of the last line sounds to me like "It often gets blue and start howlin'..."

I often would make more sense, but not what I'm hearing. Maybe a flubbed line?

6) I'm that wolf that digs a hole and stick my nose down in the ground (x2)
Howl right by you and you'll swear that I was a whole other side of town.

There's no contraction, it's "you will swear".

A good one!

Thank, Unkie Bud.

I agree with all of these and will make the changes.

Alex

[GhostRider]

Before Long
1931

4)It won't be long, (?) rainy day
Gimme my shirt and tie baby, I'll get out on my way.
But before long, you'll need me, yes, ba-baby 'fore long.

It won't be long, for the break of day

11) Ain't like I treated you to dog me all the time.
Look like it do you good somebody, (the same one that) saw me cryin'

This verse is a mess but I think I'm hearing the word "mistreated" in line 1. In line 2, I am almost hearing the word "hesitate" as in "hesitate an' saw me cryin'". Whatever that means!

Unkie Bud:

Your correction to verse 4, I just don't hear. I have no plausible alternative, but I don't think you have it (for a change).

In Verse 11 I think mistreated is right in the first line, but I'm not sure about hesitate.

Could anyone out there give this one a listen a see what they think, maybe someone with the Slow-down program thing. This is the last FPS tune to get finished, and that would be cool. Can anyone help? An .mp3 of this tune is appended on page 4 of this thread.

Thanks,
Alex

[uncle bud]

I'm not convinced of my reading either, Alex, though I don't hear "rainy day". Here is a slowed-down and quick and dirty EQ'd version of the line in question attached as an mp3.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[dj]

I think it's "It won't be long before the break o' day..." with "the" pronounced "dee".