Same melody as Digging My Potatoes

Subject: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 02 Jul 20 - 11:52 PM

Hey, y’all. I’ve noticed how whenever one of the old blues guys had a hit, they (no doubt at the urging of their record companies) would put out more songs with the same groove and melody. e.g. Listen to Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning, and then I Asked Her For Water, and a few others.

So I figure there must be a song with the same melody as Digging My Potatoes. Here’s Big Bill Broonzy's version that I’m most familiar with.

Anyone know anything?

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 01:10 AM

thanks

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 03 Jul 20 - 06:04 PM

I like the blues but it's not my favourite music, so although the tune sounds familiar I just can't remember which song it reminds me of.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: cnd
Date: 06 Jul 20 - 04:09 PM

I don't recognize the tune as being similar to another blues song, but I do listen less to blues than other music.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 11:41 AM

Thanks for trying, y'all. I'll keep looking.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 12:13 PM

Might I suggest "That's Alright Mama" by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 05:15 PM

Here's the link to a video, Hootenanny:

"That's Alright Mama" by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

We've been waiting and hoping for someone who knows and loves the blues to come into this thread.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 08 Jul 20 - 05:49 PM

And the song I kept thinking of when I first heard Big Bill Broonzy's version of Digging My Potatoes after reading this thread was Going Up the Country performed by Canned Heat but I was fairly sure that was not what the answer was.

I just listened again to the Big Bill Broonzy song and I am still hearing Going Up the Country in my head.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 02:29 PM

Thanks, guys. Neither one of those options grabs me. I'll keep looking.

Playing the blues would be so much easier if I didn't feel the need to skip lyrics that obviously dislike women.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 04:12 PM

I know what you mean about that conflict between good music and lyrics which can be cringeworthy. One of my favourite Irish tunes which I've been learning to play is called The Limerick Rake. I heard it on an album by The Pogues but even though I don't sing, the song lyrics make me cringe and then I can't enjoy playing the tune. It's a first-person song about a womaniser.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 07:30 PM

Diggin’ My Potatoes
Big Bill Broonzy, Washboard Sam

Refrain:
Baby, they diggin' my potatoes
Lord, they trampin' on my vine
Now I've got a special plan now baby
Lord, that a-restin' on my mind

Now, I don't want no cabbage sprouts,
Bring me a solid head.
S'pose they call the wagon . . . (?)
I catched him in my bed
You know they -- (REFRAIN)

Now my vines is all green
'Tatoes they all red
Never found a bruised one
Till I caught them in my bed
You know they -- (REFRAIN)

Now, I've been all around
Lookin' up and down
Never found my baby
'Cause she was layin' in another town

I know she's diggin' my potatoes
Lord, she's trampin' on my vine
Yes, now I got a special plan now baby
Lord, that a-restin' on my mind
Yes, I've got a special plan now baby
Lord, that a-restin' on my mind

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Sunny Joe
Diggin’ My Potatoes lyrics © Leeds Music Corp., Universal-mca Music Publishing Div. Of Universal Music Corp.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 11:38 PM

I could be wrong, but to me, this song implies a sense of ownership and entitlement over his wife/girlfriend. I try not to be judgy of people who can look past these things (some performers are very serious about reproducing the original song), but I like to feel like I’m not promoting that sentiment.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 11:52 PM

Oops!Hit Submit too soon. Is that how you read it too?

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 01:25 AM

I just listened to the lyrics sung by Big Bill Broonzy in the video and there are some differences to the lyrics I found and posted here.

Instead of:

"S'pose they call the wagon"

I think it is:

"I'm supposed to call the wagon" which I think means call the police.

There are also a couple of extra verses which are not included in the ones I found. I'm not good at hearing lyrics. Maybe someone else can add them here.

Paul, I would interpret this particular song as a man upset because his wife or girlfriend is cheating on him, he's expressing his anger and frustration, but also I think he's threatening to do some physical harm to the other man and possibly also to her.

I can understand the feelings he is expressing, but also I think there is a sense of ownership or entitlement. It's a tricky situation, and it's just human nature to feel upset, angry, hurt, and to want to try to fix the situation or take revenge.

In this particular case, it's hard for me to say that it is disrespectful of the woman but there are many, many other songs which are worse in my opinion. The jury is out on this one, I think.

Look at it this way, if you recognise the nature of the sentiment and are in two minds about singing the song, then you are probably more enlightened than some others who would sing it without a second thought.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 01:40 AM

Helen...Limerick rake, has a number of hidden meanings, twisting a cow that will never run dry. is a reference to drinking poteen. the vers that mentions stockings that are white, is a ref to her maidenhood   being unsullied, if you like the tune why not sing champion at keeping em rolling, by maccoll or farewell to the humber and dogger by yours truly, both use that tune, sorry for thread drift

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 03:03 AM

Thanks for the alternative suggestions Sandman. I don't sing so it makes little difference out loud as to the lyrics, but if I could hear another set of lyrics in my head it might help. LOL It's a really good little tune.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 04:17 AM

Tom Paxton also used that tune for ‘The High Sheriff of Hazard’, on I think his first album. You can’t keep a good toon down...

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 06:19 AM

Oh Dear,

If you are looking for blues to be PC you are going to have a problem.

Mostly blues singers tell it like it is (or told it like it was}.

Folk music and political correctness don't go together.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 04:44 PM

You’re right, of course, Hoot. It’s hard to be as PC as we’d like to be, but I like to keep above a certain line, anyhow. There are many songs way worse than this one, but I don’t sing them.

Subject: RE: Same melody as Digging My Potatoes
From: Helen
Date: 11 Jul 20 - 05:06 PM

It's difficult to judge songs from a bygone era based on current socially accepted standards. I guess you could introduce the song and explain what you think and feel about it before you sing it.