Lyr Req: Rough Alley Blues (Blind Willie McTell)

Subject: Lyr Req: Rough Alley Blues
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 07 - 11:28 AM

Does anyone have the words to Rough Alley Blues as sung by Blind Willie McTell? It can be found on the following albums:

1990 Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2 (1931-1933)
1994 The Definitive Blind Willie McTell
1998 Blind Willie McTell 1927-1949   
2000 Nothing But the Blues
2002 Definitive Blind Willie McTell
2003 The Classic Years 1927-1940
2004 Mr. McTell Got the Blues
2005 Statesboro Blues: The Early Years 1927-1935   

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rough Alley Blues
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 May 07 - 10:17 PM

I listened to several sound samples, and here's what I think I hear:

ROUGH ALLEY BLUES
Mary Willis
As sung by Blind Willie McTell & Ruth Mary Willis
(In these verses, she sings the first 2 lines of each verse and he sings the third.)

Close down your windows and let down all your blinds.
Close down your windows and let down all your blinds.
So the next-door neighbor, baby, won't hear your best friend cryin'.

Take it low down and easy; don't let your bedspring moan.
Take it low down and easy; don't let your bedspring moan.
So your next-door neighbor, baby, won't hear you grieve and groan.

***
I take it to my room and lay it 'cross my big brass bed.
I take it to my room and lay it 'cross my big brass bed.
I guess I'll be my own singer(?), ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rough Alley Blues
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 15 May 07 - 07:16 AM

Here's some additions to Jim Dixon's:

3rd verse:

Go wild, baby, I'm not scared to fear. (Aw, sing it, baby)
Go wild, baby, I'm not scared to fear.
Then I'll give it all to you, mama, like a Cadillac changing gear.

3rd line to the 4th verse (something like ???)
I guess I'll be my own singer, neighbours turn cherry red.

(Play that thing boy. Aw, play that thing for me and miss Mary, 'Cause it's gettin good. It drove my partner out of town. I wouldn't have done it without that old Harris street corner.)

It was a mean old miller that taught me how to grind.
(Taught you how to twist too, I believe.)
It was a mean old miller that taught me how to grind.
And it was a married woman , mama, that learned me that old s(h)un-shine.

I'm going down this alley and get me two more drinks of booze.
(They have police down there. They'll sure arrest you.)
I'm going down this alley, get me two more drinks of booze.
Because I'm drunk now, mama, and I've got those old rough alley blues.

(Stand by, people, if you wants to know it all.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rough Alley Blues (Blind Willie McTell)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 07 - 11:31 AM

Heh, thanks for your help. That old dawg...