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Stewie Lyr Add: songs by Tommy Johnson (16) Lyr Add: ALCOHOL AND JAKE BLUES and BLACK MARE BLU 12 Oct 99


Greetings Ruslan, it took me a while to get this together. Here goes:

There are some slight textual differences in Jeff Todd Titon's transcriptions of the 2 'Lonesome Home Blues' unissued Victors 45463-1 and 45463-2 (he calls them 'Lonesome Blues') to what you have given. Cf Jeff Todd Titon 'Early Downhome Blues' University of North Carolina Press 2nd Ed 1994 pp 81-83. (For example, he has: 'Won't you iron my jumper starch my overalls', and that sounds right to my hearing). He also has a transcription of 'Lonesome Home Blues' Paramount 13000 (L 230-2) at page 92. There is a slightly different transcription of the same at page 251 of David Evans 'Big Road Blues' Da Capo Press 1982 [even the experts can't agree on what they are hearing]. Titon also has a transcription of 'Maggie Campbell Blues' at page 95. Evans also has transcriptions of 'Cool Drink of Water Blues' (p 134), 'Big Fat Mama Blues' (p237) and 'Big Road Blues' (p 269). I understand (I don't have it) there are some transcriptions in another David Evans book 'Tommy Johnson' Studio Vista London.

The following are my attempted transcriptions of 2 of the Paramounts for which you are missing lyrics. These unissued takes are very rare and, like many old Paramounts, sound like they were recorded under water and pressed on to corrugated cardboard. These will definitely be subject to correction, but I gave them my best shot. We are probably entering new territory here – I am unaware of any transcriptions of these.

Tommy Johnson: 'Alcohol and Jake Blues' Pm 12950 c. December 1929

Square brackets = spoken by a second voice.

Alcohol, alcohol I am sure, lord, killin' me
[Is that so, boy?]
Alcohol, mama, sure lord killin' me
[Well, let it 'lone then]
If alcohol don't kill me, lord, I'll never die.

I woke up early this morning, I had alcohol round my bed
[What happened then?]
Early this morning, alcohol was round my bed
If I don't get drunk, I'll be losin' my (broken ?) mind.

Mm mm, mm mm, mm mm, mm mm
[The morning a long time (?)]
Mm mm I ain't gonna be here long
[Morning a long time, boy]
'Cos I'm hatin' time, mama, got you on my mind.

I drank so much jake, but I can't get me that lemonade
[And that sure mess you up]
Drank so much jake, dear god, give me the lemonade
[Sure mess you up, boy, that (?) is a fact]

If I don't quit drinking, alcohol gonna kill me dead.
[You're no lyin' man]
Mm mm, mm mm, mm mm
[You ain't got (?) ]
Sure gonna kill me dead if it don't kill me, lordy, I'll put me down
[You ain't gotta put 'em on me 'cos you got 'em]

I woke up early this morning, I had alcohol on my mind
Woke up this morning, alcohol was on my mind
I got the alcohol blues, man, I can't rest me here.

Source: Transcription from Various Artists 'Jake Leg Blues' Jass J-CD-642

Tommy Johnson: 'Black Mare Blues' Pm 13000 c. December 1929

Hitch up my buggy, saddle my black mare, saddle my black mare
Hitch up my buggy, saddle my black mare
Went to find my woman, but she wasn't there.

I've been drinkin' all night, baby, drank the whole night long, drank the whole night long
I've been drinkin' all night, baby, yes the night before
I've been drinkin', I ain't go sober yet.

I'm goin' back home, fall down on my knees, fall down on my knees
I'm goin' back home, girl, fall down on my knees
(?) ain't nothing, mama, (happy ?) as you please.

Mm mm I ain't gonna stay no more, ain't gonna stay no more
Mm mm ain't gonna stay no more
Saw you last night, mama, and the night before.

Ah, you gonna have 'em, troubles of your own
Ah, you gonna have 'em troubles of your own.

Source: Transcription from Various Artists 'Delta Blues Vol 1 1929-1930) Document Limited Edition DLP 532.

I hope the above assists you, and can I thoroughly recommend the Jake Leg Blues CD (if you can still get it). It is musically satisfying (and has both white and black performers) but also makes for an important historical document of an American tragedy – the jake paralysis story. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance, regards Stewie.


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