Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special

Subject: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Roberto
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:07 AM

Please, help me get the text of The Midnight Special as sung by Fiddlin John Carson. Its title is Stockade Blues. Here is what I can get out of the first two stanzas:

When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right
Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight
For the police will get you, he'll carry you down
You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade blound

Wake up in the morning, ere the bell … ding
You can look on the table, see the same old thing
… cold coffee, as bitter as gall
If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Roberto
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 06:14 AM

Same, with a correction and the number of stanzas:

1.        When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right
Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight
For the police will get you, he'll carry you down
You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade bound

2.        Wake up in the morning, ere the bell go ding
You can look on the table, see the same old thing
Well a cold, cold coffee, as bitter as gall
If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all

3.        …

4.        …

5.        Yonder come my woman. Oh, how do you know
By the great big Cadillac and the lonesome whistle she blow
With a package on her shoulder and a paper in her hand
Oh mister warden, won't you release my man?

6.        When you go to Atlanta …

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 08:46 AM

I listened to a sound sample at Allmusic.com. I can suggest a couple of corrections:

...hear the bell go ding.

Well it's old cold coffee...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Stewie
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 10:20 AM

Hi Roberto, this song was not part of Fiddlin' John's repertoire. Apart from the opening verbal exchange with Marion 'Peanut' Brown, he had no part in the recording. It is a duet between Brown and Rosa Lee Carson [Moonshine Kate].

Below is my transcription.

STOCKADE BLUES

Spoken:
Fiddlin' John: This is Fiddlin' John himself with Moonshine Kate and old Peanut Brown - that old Peanut drunk again as usual.

Peanut Brown: I ain't drunk, I'm sleepy.

Fiddlin' John: You ain't drunk, you just tired of totin' whisky. The city got me out to keep these streets clean. If they don't, I will: I'll stick you in the garbage can.

Peanut Brown: Don't stick me in that garbage can.

Fiddlin' John: Well, I'll let you go if you sing this song.

Peanut Brown: Okay.

When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right
Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight
For the police will get you, he'll carry you down
You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade bound

Wake up in the morning, hear the bell go ding
You can look on the table and see the same old thing
Well a cold, cold coffee as bitter as gall
If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all

You're not at home now, boy, you are down in the sticks
Little men get shovels, big men get picks
Little men get shovels and do your (sic) best
If you don't, when night comes, you'll get no rest

For the man he will know you, he's as sly as a fox
And when you get to the building, he'll throw you in a box
Wake up in the morning, feel dizzy as a ?? [sounds like 'hare' or 'hen']
Say anything about it, you get a rap on the head
   
Yonder come my woman - oh, how do you know?
By the great big Cadillac and the lonesome whistle she blow
With a package on her shoulder and her papers in her hand
Oh mister warden, won't you release my man?

When you go to Atlanta, you'd better not ball
Polices in Atlanta got eyes like a hawk
They'll throw you in the jailhouse and the boys will shout
They'll send you to the chain gang and forget to turn you out


--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Roberto
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 10:37 AM

Thank you very very much! Roberto

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Stewie
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 10:47 PM

Roberto, pleased to be of help. Correction: 'ball' in first line of final stanza should read 'bawl' - senior moment!

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Richie
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 12:11 AM

Hi,

I'd be curious to know where they got their version. Pete Cutrell is credited with recording the first version in 1926. This was eight years and several other versions later.

I'd presume it was a rewrite.

Anyone have details?

Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: GLoux
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 08:51 AM

Here's a link to an earlier thread about a very similar song: Walk Right In Belmont (Watts & Wilson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 01:28 PM

Where does "midnight Special" come in?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Oct 08 - 09:23 PM

The relationship between 'Stockade Blues' and 'Midnight Special' is the tune and a few images. It is another jail piece set to a known tune. Meade includes it under 'Midnight Special' in his prison songs category, but gives no clue to its provenance.

--Stewie.