The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2649   Message #4164240
Posted By: BrooklynJay
02-Feb-23 - 05:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Whoa Back Buck (Leadbelly)
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Whoa Back Buck (Leadbelly)
Sixth transcription. According to my notes, this version/recording was also known as Ox Drivin' Blues.

Whoa Back Buck (Ox Drivin’ Blues) - Lead Belly version #6

Whoa, back Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Cunningham!
Whoa, back Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!
Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

[Spoken:]
This man, he were drivin' twenty yoke of oxen… an' he was a long way from home. And he looked down the road, looked like he could see his wife. An' he get a holler at the ol' oxen, "Ta-ya, whoa, yeah Buck, back up!"

[Sung:]
Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years ago,
I take Sal to the party-o,
I take Sal to the party-o,
All dressed up in her calico.

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

Me an' my babe come a walkin' down the road,
Wind from 'er feet knockin' sugar in the gourd,
Sugar in the gourd an' the gourd on the ground,
Wanna get the sugar, got to roll the gourd around.

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!
("Ta-ya, whoa! Yeah! Back up, whoa, Buck!")

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

Whoa, back Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

Man, I was skinnin' for Johnny Ryan
Puttin' my initials on a mule's behind!

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!
("Ta-ya, whoa! Yeah! Back up, whoa, Buck!")

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!

Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years ago,
Sellin' old [???] down ol' cotton-eyed Joe,
Cotton-eyed Joe, ran a cotton-eyed Joe's,
Wouldn't let him dance but a set or so.

Whoa, Buck, an' gee, by the lamb!
Who made the back-band? Whoa, goddamn!