Lyr Add: The Blues of Blind Willie McTell

Subject: Lyr Add: B&O BLUES #2 (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 07:18 PM

B&O BLUES #2
(Blind Willie McTell)

I'm gon' grab me a train, I'm goin' back to Baltimore
Well I'm gon' grab me a train, goin' back to Baltimore
I'm gonna find my baby, 'cause she rode that B & O

I'm goin' to act like a rambler, and I can't stay home no more
I'm goin' to act like a rambler, and I can't stay home no more
'Cause the gal I love she rode that B & O

She said, "Daddy, I'm leavin', and I can't come back no more"
She said, "Daddy, I'm leavin', and I can't come back no more"
And if she don't come back, I'm goin' down in Ohio

(Ah play it now, you'd feel bad when she should leave you too,
trouble, boy, trouble...)

I never would have thought that my baby would treat me so
Well, I never would have thought that my baby would treat me so
Ah she broke my heart, when she grabbed that B & O

Now she wants to come back, and I can't use that child no more (not at all)
Now she wants to come back, and I can't use that child no more
'Cause I got another hot mama, and she lives in Baltimore

(Play it a little bit now boy, stand by you gonna hear it again, next year...)

from The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (Columbia C2K-53234) & Doing That Atlanta (1927-1935) (Yazoo 1037)

Subject: Lyr Add: COME ON AROUND TO MY HOUSE MAMA (McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 07:21 PM

COME ON AROUND TO MY HOUSE MAMA
(Blind Willie McTell)

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody there but me
Call me a hotshot rider and a cheater, colored from Tennessee
Take it easy, don't get rough, just wanna tell you that I know my stuff

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody home but me
In the evening, ain't nobody home but me
In the morning, ain't nobody there but me

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody there but me
That's why you hear me screaming and crying, going back to Tennessee
Can't read and write, can't spell my name, I can really drive your man's heart insane

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody home but me
I mean, ain't nobody there but me
I love my corn and I love my booze, I really give your man the blues

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody home but me
I mean, ain't nobody there but me
Pull down your window, lock up your blind
I'll tell you something that'll change your mind

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody home but me
Late at night, ain't nobody there but me
Went to the door, the door was locked
Think my baby done changed the lock

Come on around to my house baby, ain't nobody there but me
That's why you hear me moaning, going back to Tennessee
Wake up in the morning 'bout half past three
Think my baby done pooped on me

Come on around to my house mama, ain't nobody there but me
In the evening, ain't nobody home but me
In the morning, ain't nobody there but me
I'm by myself, ain't nobody home but me

Ain't nobody home but me
You hear me talking, ain't nobody there but me
About now, ain't nobody there but me


from The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (Columbia C2K-53234) & Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1927-1931) (Document 5006, 5007, 5008)

Subject: Lyr Add: BROKE DOWN ENGINE (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 07:23 PM

BROKE DOWN ENGINE
(Blind Willie McTell)

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel
Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel
You all been down and lonesome, you know just how a poor man feels

Been shooting craps and gambling, mama, and I done got broke
Been shooting craps and gambling, mama, and I done got broke
I done pawned my pistol, baby, my best clothes been sold

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord,
Lordy, Lord

I went down in my praying ground, fell on my bended knees
I went down in my praying ground, fell on my bended knees
I ain't crying for no religion, Lord, give me back my good girl please

If you give me back my baby, I won't worry you no more
Give me back my baby, I won't worry you no more
Don't have to put her in my house, Lordy, just lead her to my door

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord,
Lordy, Lord

Can't you hear me, baby, rappin' on your door?
Can't you hear me, baby, rappin' on your door?
Now you hear me tappin', tappin' across your floor

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drive at all
Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drive at all
What make me love my woman, she can really do the Georgia crawl

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell
Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell
If you're a real hot mama, come take away daddy's weeping spell


from Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1927-1931) (Document 5006, 5007, 5008)

Subject: Lyr Add: COOLIN' BOARD (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 10:56 PM

COOLIN' BOARD
(Blind Willie McTell)

Undertaker, undertaker, please take it slow
You're takin' the one I love, won't bring her back no more
Don't a man feel bad, when his baby's on the coolin' board
Don't a man feel bad, when the hearse pulls up to his door

Undertaker, undertaker, don't drive so fast,
seem like every minute going to be my last
I tried to help her, people, I did all that I could,
one out of a million who meant me any good

When I walked up to her bedside, her breath was gettin' low
She looked at me and said, "Honey, I can't love you no more"
My heart struck sorrow, my tears falling down,
watching my baby settled into the ground

Said I walked up to where they're throwing dirt in Ella's face
Wanted to jump into her grave and take her place
I realize I won't see my girl again,
swear to God I loved her, she was my only friend

from Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3 (1933-1935)

Subject: Lyr Add: DEATH ROOM BLUES (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 12:10 AM

DEATH ROOM BLUES
(Blind Willie McTell)

Tombstones is my pillow, cold grounds is my bed
Tombstones is my pillow, cold grounds is my bed
The blue skies is my blanket, and the moonlight is my spread

Early one morning, death walked into my room
Early one morning, death walked into my room
Oh well it took my dear mother, early one morning soon

She left me moanin' and cryin', moanin' like a turtledove
She left me moanin' and cryin', moanin' like a turtledove
Death walked in and got my dear mother, and the only friend I loved

Mmm, eehh, cryin', Lord have mercy, and she was the only friend I loved

Ever since my mother died and left me all alone
Ever since my mother died and left me all alone
All my friends have forsaken me, people I haven't even got no home

Mmm, feel like moanin' and cryin'
Mmm, feel like moanin' and cryin'
Death walked in a got my mother, and that was the only dear friend of mine

recording of 1933
from The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (Columbia C2K-53234) & Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1 (1927-1931) & Atlanta Blues, 1933 (John Edwards Memorial Found),

Subject: Lyr Add: DELIA (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Amos
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 12:13 AM

DELIA
(Blind Willie McTell)
Traditional


Delia, Delia, how can it be?
You love that old rounder, but you don't love me
Well, that's one more rounder gone
Delia, Delia sitting all around
Some of your old rounders gonna pay my way back home
Sitting on the housetop, high as I can see
You love that old rounder, but you don't love me

Delia's poor mother took a trip out West
When she returned, Delia lyin' in rest
Delia's mother wept, Delia's father moaned
They'd have wanted their poor child to die at home
Rubber tired buggy, two-seated hack,
took Delia to the graveyard, never brought her back

Kenny lookin' high, Kenny lookin' low,
Shot poor Delia with that hated .44
Delia, Delia, wouldn't take no one's advice
Last words I heard her say were, "Jesus Christ!"
Judge said to Kenny, "Here's a natural fact:
you going to wait in jail till Delia come back"

Kenny's in the basement, drinking from a silver cup
Delia's in the graveyard, never come back up
Kenny said to judge, "What's the fuss about?
Just that no good woman trying to put me out"

from Complete Library of Congress Recordings (1940) (Document BDCD-6001) & Legendary Library of Congress Session (Elektra 301),

Subject: Lyr Add: PAL OF MINE (Harold Dixon)
From: Amos
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 07:14 PM

Subject: RE: Pal of Mine Blind Willie Mctell
From: Mick Pearce (MCP) - PM
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 06:00 PM

There's a set on youtube from 1949: Blind Willie McTell - Pal Of Mine. Here's the text (fairly accurate I think).

Mick


PAL OF MINE
(Harold Dixon)


I am thinking today
Of my loved one far away
One that we used to know.
One so kind and true
Lover I'm always thinking of you
Even though it's back in those days of long ago.

Chorus:
Call me back, Pal O' mine,
Let me live there once again.
Call me back there to your heart, Pal O' mine, O Pal O' mine.
Let me thrill with a charm
While I linger in your arm
As I did in those days have gone by.
Let me roam once again
Down in old lovers' lane
I'll kiss your love lips so divine.
Let me gaze in your eyes,
While I find Paradise,
Call me back to your heart, Pal O' mine.

Call me back, Pal O' mine,
Let me, once again,
Let me live there once again O dear Pal O' mine.
Let me thrill you with a charm
Whilst I linger there in your arm
As I did in them old lonely days went by.
Let me roam once again
Down in old lover's lane
And I'll kiss your sweet lips so divine, so divine
Let me gaze there in your eyes,
While I find Paradise,
Call me back to your sweet heart, Pal O' mine.


Now call me back now, Pal O' mine,
While I say "So long"
Maybe then I'll see you all alone
I'm gonna gaze there in your eyes,
But I'm gonna leave you, darling, in Paradise,
But call me back now to your heart, sweet Pal O' mine.



Source: Blind Willie McTell, Atlanta 1949 take 2 (as Pig & Whistle Red and Curley Weaver)

Subject: Lyr Add: BROKE DOWN ENGINE (Blind Willie McTell)
From: Roberto
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:13 AM

I think this transcription is more like what Willie McTell sings, but I'm not sure of the last line in the 5t stanza, that I took from an internet source. R

BROKE DOWN ENGINE
Blind Willie McTell

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel
Feel like a broke down engine, mama, ain't got no drivin' wheel
You been down and lonesome, you know how a poor man feels

I been shooting craps and gambling, mama, and I done got broke
I been shooting craps and gambling, honey, and I done got broke
I done pawned my pistol, mama, and my best clothes been sold

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord

I went down to my praying ground and fell on bended knees
I went down to my praying ground and fell on bended knees
I ain't crying for no religion, Lordy, give me back my good girl please

If you give me my baby, Lord, I won't worry you no more
If you give me my baby, I won't worry you no more
You ain't got to put her in my house, Lordy, only lead her to my door

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord

Don't you hear me, baby, rappin' on your door?
Don't you hear your daddy rappin' on your door?
Can I get off sneak living and tapping, playing tip light across your floor

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivers at all
Feel like a broke down engine, mama, ain't got no drivers at all
What make me love my woman? She can really do the Georgia crawl

Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord
Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell
Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell
If you're a real hot mama, drive away daddy's weeping spell

I won't be back no more, baby

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blues of Blind Willie McTell
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:33 AM

Roberto - I did a transcription of that some years ago and had the same trouble with that line (otherwise my transcription is pretty much the same as yours). I've just had a look at my transcription and I had that line (tentatively) as:

Can I get a house snake living and tapping playing tip-fly across your floor

(actually it might not be quite that - the copy I find is a rough transcription and I can't quite make out some of my own writing!).

I'll try and dig out the recording later and have a listen again; it's much better now with the aid of computer audio!

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Blues of Blind Willie McTell
From: Roberto
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 09:59 AM

Thanks, Mick. R