"...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
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 »
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":
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 »
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."
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.
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 »
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.
Thanks, Stuart, banjochris, and Blues Vintage. I made the changes you suggested. I never noticed before, he does pronounce the first syllable of "reception".