Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)

Subject: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues by Roscoe Holcomb
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 10:40 AM

hello

I was wondering if anyone had the lyrics and or chords to Graveyard Blues by Roscoe Holcomb

so fr on lyrics i have

I got up this morning, with the blues all around my bed
I got up this morning, with the blues all around my bed
I had a dream last night, that the woman I love was dead

Well I went to the graveyard this morning, and I fell down on my knees
Well I went to the graveyard this morning, and I fell down on my knees
I asked that good old grave digger, to give back my woman if he please

Well that grave digger got up (this morning, first body in the ground?)
Well that grave digger got up (this morning, first body in the ground?)
He said im sorry pretty woman but your man has said his last good byes

Well I hung my head and I wanted to scream
Well I hung my head and I wanted to scream
I woke up this morning and I found (those balls on his feet?)

i was wondering if anyone knew if that was mostly right, except for the parts in parenthesis, which i cannot make out.

also if anyone had the chords that would be awesome since i came up with 5 different ways of playing it but none sound right.

thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues by Roscoe Holcomb
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 12:20 PM

Surely just a straight basic twelve bar blues chord sequence.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues by Roscoe Holcomb
From: 12-stringer
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 02:50 PM

Last line is "I found out it was only a dream." I don't have a handy mp3 of this for the other ? line and can't remember the lyrics for it. Offhand, my recollection is that it's in open tuning, but if not it's played out of standard G positions. If you're not on a dial-up connection (like I am), try youtube and see if the b/w video of Roscoe playing it is still available -- it's on one of the DVDs of old time music from Stefan Grossman's company, and these go up on youtube from time to time (but usually get taken down again).

This is best known as "Graveyard Dream Blues," and was recorded by some of the urban femme blues singers of the 1920s. I think I have an mp3 of it by Ida Cox. There's also an excellent western swing version (as "Graveyard Blues") by Bob Dunn's Vagabonds, with Leo Raley as vocalist, from around 1941.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues by Roscoe Holcomb
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 06:32 PM

thanks for the help

id forgotten all about the youtube video, and that and the lyrics suggestion helped me get the rest

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: Fruitbear
Date: 06 Jan 10 - 11:42 PM

I think Roscoe Holcomb sings:

And I wrung my hands, said (I wanted) to scream
OR (I'm going)

It's a great song, huh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 03:56 PM

Not if you live in a graveyard ( Dusty Springfield is near my front door) like I do.......I need something to cheer me up !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 11:54 AM

"that grave digger got up this sweet mama, I looked squarely in her eye"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 01:12 PM

Hear Bessis Smith recording of 1923- Graveyard Dream Blues.

http:www.redhotjazz.com/bessie.html

Scroll down to song title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 01:49 PM

That's Bessie Smith-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Graveyard Blues (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: GUEST,Sorry, it's late.
Date: 08 Mar 13 - 05:01 AM

I think you found the chords since your message. Anyway, if it's not the case (which would be quite sad) here are my chords :

G
Well I woke up....
G
Well I woke up...
D
I had a dream last night ...

Then between the verses there's an instrumental

(G/A/B) C          G          D       G
It's quite simple. But he plays it "banjo style" that' why I wrote (G/A/B) before the C; these are simple strings played. Then on the C, he alternate C7 and C, before the D, he plays (G/A/B), and after the D, he plays (B/D/G/ G//E->D/B/G /A->B/D/B/G)
Hope you understand what I tried to write.
If you can't, there is a video on youtube, where you can see easily what he does on his guitar.
Good bye !

Subject: Lyr Add: GRAVEYARD BLUES (Roscoe Holcomb)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Mar 13 - 12:00 AM

There are at least 3 different recordings of Roscoe Holcomb singing GRAVEYARD BLUES, and the lyrics vary somewhat. I heard all of these on Spotify:


GRAVEYARD BLUES [3:44]
As sung by Roscoe Holcomb on "American Folk & Country Festival"
[This version was a live performance; there is applause at the end.]

I got up this mornin' with the blues all around my bed. (Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord)
I got up this mornin' with the blues all around my bed.
Had a dream last night, one that I loved was dead.

Well, I went to that graveyard this mornin' and I fell down on my knees.
Asked that good ol' gravedigger to give back my good man please.

That gravedigger looked me this mornin', right squarely in the eye.
That gravedigger looked me this mornin', right squarely in the eye.
Said, I'm sorra, pretty woman, but your man has said his last goodbye.

Lord, I wrung my hand, then I wanted to scream.
Lord, I wrung my hand, then I wanted to scream.
I woke up this mornin', found it was only a dream.


GRAVEYARD BLUES [2:28]
As sung by Roscoe Holcomb on "Mountain Music of Kentucky"

I got up this mornin' with the blues all around my bed. (Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord)
Said I had nobody to hold my achin' head.

Well, I went to the graveyard this mornin' and I fell down on my knees. (Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord)
And I asked that good ol' gravedigger to give back my good gal please.

Lord, that gravedigger looked me, sweet mama, right squarely in the eye.
Said, I'm sorra, pretty woman, but your man has said his last goodbye.

Then I wrung my hand, said I wanted to scream.
Lord, I wrung my hand, said I wanted to scream.
I woke up this mornin' and found it was only a dream.


GRAVEYARD BLUES [3:00]
As sung by Roscoe Holcomb on 3 albums: "An Untamed Sense of Control," "Classic Blues from Smithsonian Folkways," and "Music of Roscoe Holcomb and Wade Ward."

I got up this mornin' with the blues all around my bed. (Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord)
I got up this mornin' with blues all around my bed.
Had a dream last night, the one that I loved was dead.

God, I went to the graveyard this mornin' and I fell down on my knees.
God, I went to the graveyard this mornin' and I fell down on my knees.
Asked that good ol' gravedigger to give back my real good man please.

Lord, that gravedigger looked me, sweet mama, right squarely in the eye.
Lord, that gravedigger looked at me, sweet mama, right squarely in the eye.
Said, I'm sorra, pretty woman, but your man has said his last goodbye.

Then I wrung my hand, said I wanted to scream.
Then I wrung my hand, said I wanted to scream.
I woke up this mornin' and found it was only a dream.