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"...probably the low point of my music-listening career": Mississippi bluesmen Skip James and John Hurt trying to perform a version of "Waiting for a Train" with one playing waltz time and the other 4/4 - David Evans quoted in Nolan Porterfield's biography of Jimmie Rodgers

Author Topic: Son House Lyrics  (Read 12135 times)

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Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #30 on: March 18, 2020, 04:36:51 PM »
No, it's in E standard, Chris.  Listen to Son hit the low root of the IV chord on the open fifth string in the first verse, at :27 and :31 as well as in subsequent verses.  It's in E standard for sure.  That note is not available in cross-note.  EDITED TO ADD:  Oops, just realized you were using Son's own parlance, Chris.
All best,
Johnm
« Last Edit: March 18, 2020, 04:40:25 PM by Johnm »

Offline banjochris

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #31 on: March 19, 2020, 11:36:36 AM »
Yeah I was just fooling around!
Chris

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #32 on: March 20, 2020, 12:37:20 PM »
Yeah, I took me a little while to figure out you was japing me, Chris.  Doh!

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #33 on: September 13, 2020, 06:06:43 PM »
Hi all,
Son House was recorded by Alan Lomax in Robinsville, Mississippi for the Library of Congress on July 17, 1942. This version of "The Pony Blues" comes from that session. Son played the song in Vestapol, and used a slide sparingly, but oh so effectively. The integration of his vocal phrasing with his accompaniment is of great complexity, and delivered with absolute assurance. I've tried to capture the stop-and-go nature of his vocal phrasing with the commas in the transcription. Of course, they're just an approximation of what Son sang. Here is "The Pony Blues":



INTRO

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, mm-hmmm, mmmm
Mm-mmmm, mmmm, mm-mm-hmm-mm

Why don't you, catch my pony, now saddle, up my black mare
Ohh, my pony, saddle up, up my black mare
You know, I'm gon' find my baby, well, in, the world somewhere

You know, he's a travelin' horse, and he's too black bad
He's a travelin' pony, I declare, he's too black bad
You know, he's got a gait, now, no Shetland ain't, ain't never had

You know I, taken him by the reins, and I led him around and around
I say I, taken him, by the reins, and I, I led him, around and around
You know, he ain't the best in the world, but, he's the best ever, in this town

You know, he's a travelin' horse, and he don't, deny his name
He's a travelin' pony, and he don't, deny his name
You know, the way he can travel, is a low-down, old dirty shame

"Why don't you, come up here, pony, now come on, please let's us go."
I say, "Come up, get up now, please pony, now let's us go.
Lest we, saddle on down on, the Gulf of, of Mexico."

You know, the horse that I'm ridin', he can fox trot, he can lope and pace
I say, the pony, I'm ridin', he can fox trot, he can lope and pace
You know, a horse with that many gaits, you know, I'm bound to, win that race

Mmm-mm, he's a travelin' horse, and he don't, deny his name
He's a travelin' pony, he don't, deny his name
You know, and the way he can travel, is a low-down, old dirty shame

CODA

Edited 9/14 to pick up corrections from lyndvs

All best,
Johnm


« Last Edit: September 14, 2020, 06:11:10 AM by Johnm »

Offline Lyndvs

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #34 on: September 13, 2020, 11:41:35 PM »
You know, HE ain't the best in the world, but, he's the best ever, in this town

Why don't you, COME up HERE pony, "Now come on, please let's us go."
I say, "Come up, get up now, please pony, now let's us go.
Lest we, saddle on down on, the Gulf of, of Mexico."

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #35 on: September 14, 2020, 06:11:53 AM »
Thanks for the catches, lyndvs, I have made the corrections. Thanks!

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #36 on: September 14, 2020, 02:36:20 PM »
You might call this whining.


3.3 he's got a gait    he got a gait

4.1 taken him by the reins    take him by the reins

4.2 around and around    around and 'round

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #37 on: September 14, 2020, 03:38:53 PM »
Harry, I'll take the "he" in verse two and reject the others. He says "taken" both times in that verse, though he swallows one of them a bit. Same with the second "around". I wouldn't call it whining--more not having enough to do.

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #38 on: October 03, 2022, 03:27:28 PM »
Hi all,
Son House recorded "Depot Blues" in 1941 for the Library of Congress, accompanying himself in E position in standard tuning. I'd very much appreciate help with the tagline to the last verse, which I've never heard well. Here is his performance:



INTRO

Uhhhhh, well,
Look-a-here, honey, I ain't gonna cry no more

I went to the depot and I, I looked up on the board
I went to the depot, I looked up on the board
Well, I couldn't see no train, I couldn't hear no whistle blow

Engineer blowed the whistle, and the, fireman, he rung the bell
Ohh, ohh, the fireman, he rung the bell
You know my woman is on board, she's a-wavin' back "Fare you well"

I had the strength I would, set this train off the track
Mmm-mmm, I would set this train off the track
Lest she make me a promise she, gon' bring my baby back

Mmm-mmm, she ain't comin' back no more
I don't believe, you ever comin' back no more
Mm, you leavin' now, baby, but you hangin' crepe on my door

Mmm-mmm, I'm gon' miss you from rollin' in my arms
Mmm-mmmm, I'm gon' miss you from rollin' in my arms
Well, I can't get no reception, baby, I'm gonna sit down and telephone

CODA

Edited to pick up corrections from Stuart, banjochris and Blues Vintage

All best,
John 

 
« Last Edit: October 03, 2022, 06:09:43 PM by Johnm »

Offline Stuart

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #39 on: October 03, 2022, 04:05:06 PM »
This is a tough one, John. I think you have what Son pronounces correct, but the word he had in mind is less than clear--not to me, anyway. It could be "reception" (other "--ception" words don't seem to fit the context), but we've also heard "satisfaction" in lines like this one, although the pronunciation doesn't strongly suggest it. --Just another exercise in futility by yours truly, I guess.

Offline banjochris

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #40 on: October 03, 2022, 04:48:30 PM »
I'd lean towards "reception" there too, I think. PS It's "honey," not "baby" in that first sung line.
Chris

Offline Blues Vintage

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #41 on: October 03, 2022, 05:11:56 PM »
I think the last line starts with a quick well

Well I can't get no reception, baby, I'm gonna sit down and telephone

Offline Johnm

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Re: Son House Lyrics
« Reply #42 on: October 03, 2022, 06:10:54 PM »
Thanks, Stuart, banjochris, and Blues Vintage. I made the changes you suggested. I never noticed before, he does pronounce the first syllable of "reception".

 


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