Subject: Talking guitar blues???? From: Jeep man Date: 16 Feb 00 - 05:03 PM This is probably not the correct name. The first lines are:
If you want to get it trouble, I"ll tell you how to do it. Somebody out there should know this. I Hope. Jeep Man |
Subject: Lyr Add: TALKING GUITAR BLUES From: kendall Date: 16 Feb 00 - 06:52 PM This was recorded years ago by Hank Snow among others... TALKING GUITAR BLUES If you want to get in trouble, I'll tell you how to do it. Get a guitar, and then you're into it. You play all day, and you play all night. The folks say, "He'll never learn to play that thing right." Always griping. won't let you practice. I bought my guitar some time ago. The man said I'd learn in a week or so, Gave me a book and a pick or two, Said, "Now boy, it's up to you." The dirty dog, wish I could find him now. Cost me 4.95 too. Well, nevertheless I'd spent my dough, And I couldn't let it go to waste, you know, So I took that book, guitar and all, And went back home where the trees are tall, Way down in Tennessee. Good place to be when you've got a guitar. I labored long and labored hard, Trying to learn a few main chords. The book said 'twas easy as ABC, But brother, my fingers were killing me. Got sore right on the ends, couldn't mash the strings down, felt disgusted. For weeks and weeks I labored away. I could see ma's hair was turning gray. She felt nervous, ears ringing, Wanted to scream or scram, I don't know which. My sister, she took it the worst of all, 'Cause she got married that coming fall. She said, for love, but, I have my doubts. I think the guitar just chased her out, But, she wouldn't admit it. Game girl, just couldn't take it, that's all. My old man took it a different way, Said, "You may turn your ma's hair gray And drive your sister away from home, But, sonny, either you or I's gonna start to roam, And I'm not leaving. Now, you figure it out yourself." So, the very next morning when my clothes were packed, I slung that guitar across my back To search the world for my share of fame, But, all I found was heartaches, hand outs. Fellas, ya better leave them guitars alone. This is from memory, so, hope it's right.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Crowhugger Date: 16 Feb 00 - 07:45 PM Which Hank Snow album can it be found on? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Jeep man Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:46 PM Thanks, Kendall. I think this will do just fine. Jeepman |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 17 Feb 00 - 04:10 AM Lonnie Donegan slightly Anglicised it for his version but it is substantially the same. RtS |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: GUEST,cStu Date: 01 Sep 08 - 06:23 PM Lonnie Donegan's version gives the author as 'Tubb'. A little googling leads to "Ernest Tubb's Talking Blues" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Janice in NJ Date: 02 Sep 08 - 05:31 PM Cisco Houston recorded Talking Guitar Blues for Vanguard in 1961, a few weeks before he died of stomach cancer. Vanguard released it on I Ain't Got No Home, a posthumous LP of his last sessions. The only attribution of authorship is "Additional words by Cisco Houston." There is no indication of who wrote the original words to which Cisco added his own. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: GUEST,effsee sans cookie Date: 02 Sep 08 - 06:31 PM It is also on Steve Kaufman's 1997 album "Bullet Train" coupled with "blackberry Blossom". Sleeping Bear Productions, 022497. Recommended! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Bru Date: 02 Sep 08 - 07:27 PM Lonnie Donegan's version was on the B side of San Miguel - a 45 single I've still got somewhere. I always preferred Josh McCrae's Talkin' Army Blues, which came out a year or so later. |
Subject: Lyr Add: TALKING GUITAR BLUES From: Teribus Date: 03 Sep 08 - 11:15 AM The Josh McCrae's version went something like this: TALKING GUITAR BLUES If you want to get in trouble I'll tell you how to do it Just get a guitar, and then you're into it You play all day, and you play all night, folks say, You'll never learn to play it right, always fussin' at you, Wont let you practice, tryin' to run you out into the henhouse." Well I bought a guitar about a year ago, The man said I'd learn in a week or so, And he gave me a little book and a pick or two And said "There it's Bub, it's up to you." That dirty dog, Cost me all the money I had, $4.95, Cotton pickin' money too Well,never the less I'd spent my dough, And I couldn't let it go to waste you know, So, I took the little book, guitar and all Went back home where the grass grows tall, way down there in Missouri. Good place to be if y've got a guitar, awful if y' ain't Now for weeks and weeks I laboured hard To try and learn those few main chords The book said its easy as ABC, but oh my fingers was killin' me. Got sore right on the ends, couldn't mash the strings down, Wanted to quit, felt disgusted. Well I kept on playin' with all ma might, And I could see Ma's hair was turning white, Her face was lined with discontent, said her patience was pretty nigh spent She's nervous, agitated, wanted to scream. My sister, she took it the worst of all 'Cause she got married that coming fall She said, for love, but, I have my doubts I think that guitar chased her out She's a game girl just couldn't take it. Now Pa he took it in a different way He said son y' may turn your Ma's hair grey And chase your sister away from home But either you or me's boy's gonna roam And, I ain't leavin', never intended to, you figure it out So, the next day after ma clothes was packed I slung that guitar across my back I went off and I caught me a long freight train To search the world for my share of fame I ain't found any, just hardships, heartaches, hand outs |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Keith A of Hertford Date: 04 Sep 08 - 04:09 AM Anglicised lonnie Donegan version here |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Bru Date: 04 Sep 08 - 12:37 PM I'd totally forgotten about Josh McCrae's version of Talking Guitar Blues, although it was on the B side of Talkin Army Blues, and I must of listened to it. Getting on for 50 years now; record's long gone - just like my memory - but I do still have a recording of the A side. I'll post the lyrics to talking Army Blues later on. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Escapee Date: 04 Sep 08 - 02:20 PM Didn't Oscar Brand record this, too? |
Subject: Lyr Add: TALKIN' ARMY BLUES From: Teribus Date: 05 Sep 08 - 10:44 AM Talikin' Army Blues Sittin' with ma guitar playin' the blues Heard the Postman comin' he was bringin' bad news Got a letter said better get out of that civilian rut There's vacant bed awaiting in an Army hut I'm a man of few words didn't say nothin' much I just fainted. When a came to I told Mom and Dad But they didn't take it so very bad Dad said remember one thing son and you'll get by Keep your boots polished and yer powder dry Least that's what my old commander used to say And he got to be President or something like that When Ma got down to packin' ma stuff She said are you sure three pairs of Long Johns is goin' to be enough I said I thought that ought to do As I wasn't intendin' wearin' 'em anyhow Too darned itchy, you have to scratch Pretty good for polishing boots with though When I went off to catch ma train I said goodbye to Mom 'n' Dad 'n' Jane Jane said she'd wait for me till Hell froze Sure must have been a cold winter Got to the station without any harm There's this fella there with a band on his arm Said MP on it, didn't talk like no politician though He said "Hey you, country hick which way you headed Circle B or Oswaldvick" I said "man I'm just looking for the Army which way did it go" He said "Oh a funny man, well we've got a way with funny men in the Army" He was right. I took a lorry to the camp lined up and marched in There was a big fat fella with a double-chin Gave us some double-talk about not steppin' out o' line And writing letters to your MP 'n' stuff like that Which I thought was kinda mean of him But then he was a mean fella called himself an RSM Never did discover what a Retired School Master Was doin' in the Army Well they took me away and they cut off m' hair And they gave me a convict suit to wear With a pair of boots sized twenty-two And stuck needles in me till I was black 'n' blue Feelin' miserable. Then they decided that I needed exercise So the Sergeant took me and the rest of the boys And He showed us one of life's greatest joys, Marchin' We marched up and down and round and round Till the blood in m' head was beginnin' to pound And m' legs was beginnin' to fray at the ends And I was thinkin' of shootin' m' self, or the Sergeant. Then I thought I might work m' ticket But workin' your ticket's a hard thing to do You can talk to the doctor till yer face is blue 'Cos the MO don't care about hammered toes, homesickness or any of those His idea is that you're in the Army it's such a healthy life Cures of almost anything - even lying He's another one just like the Sergeant - Mean I guess they're just a pair of disillusioned idealists. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar Date: 12 Sep 08 - 06:00 PM Well, here's a thing. I wrote this song, Talking Army Blues, in 1959. Josh, my friend, put it on the B side of his Talking Guitar Blues recording, in direct competition with Donegan. When the disc came out, my song was preferred by the reviewers, and Top Rank reversed the sides! I got a message a few days ago seeking the words, and answered that I did not have a typed out version. The above has a verse, about Long Johns, that I had forgotten writing. A couple of understandable errors, Teribus [a Hawick person, I guess?]. "Hey you, country hick, you headed for Thirkleby or Osbaldwick?" "hammer toes" "cure you of anything - even life" After Josh recorded it I changed the RSM line to be Regional Scout Master. Wher Josh said 'mean' in the last verse, I say 'a bastard'. I shall send a link to this discussion to the guy who was seeking the lyric. Hurrah for Mudcat. Ewan |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking guitar blues???? From: Gene Date: 13 Sep 08 - 12:16 PM The Geezinslaw Brothers {aka Sam & Son} also recorded this song. and to my way of thinking, with a little more feeling than just "mouthing the words", as a few artists did. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Talking Guitar Blues From: paulwatts Date: 17 Nov 10 - 05:58 AM Hi Bru You said you had a copy in some form of Talkin Army Blues by Josh McCrae. Any chance of getting hold of an MP3 of it, please, as I've been looking for it for a while? My e-mail is paulwatts1946@googlemail.com. Many thanks. Regards Paul |
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