Lyr Req: Unlucky Blues (from Bert Williams)

Subject: Bert Williams: 'Unlucky Blues'
From: GUEST,Mat in Alaska
Date: 20 May 00 - 08:22 PM

I'm trying to find a sheet music source for a song sung by Bert Williams..."Unlucky Blues." Williams was a black vaudevillian. I've seen digitized copies of his sheet music elsewhere on the web, but can't seem to find this one, my favorite.

Subject: RE: Bert Williams: 'Unlucky Blues'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 May 00 - 06:37 PM

You've probably gotthis link already.

There should be somebody on the Mudcat who can help you - after all it's "Folk and Blues Music resources". Anyway, this is just to send it up the top of the page so that someone who can help can notice it.

Subject: RE: Bert Williams: 'Unlucky Blues'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 May 00 - 02:38 PM

Subject: Lyr Add: UNLUCKY BLUES (Lewis, Robinson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Oct 09 - 01:22 PM

The following lyrics are transcribed from the sheet music at Indiana University:


UNLUCKY BLUES
Words and music by Ted Lewis and J. Russel Robinson
As featured by Ted Lewis in "Greenwich Village Follies"
New York: Irving Berlin, Inc., 1920.

1. Not since those bygone days of old Jonah
Has a person had such luck as mine.
Seems that I was born just for sorrow,
And the sun on me won't shine.
I've lost 'most ev'ry friend I had.
I'm just a good man feelin' bad.
Bred in Kentucky, I should be lucky,
But somehow I'm forever sad.

CHORUS: I've got those unlucky blues,
Right from my head to shoes.
Even my mailman he
Don't bring me nothin' but bad news, Lawd help me.
Gals turn me down.
They say I'm just a clown.
My old landlord's lookin' for rent.
When he comes 'round, it's me for a tent,
Because the panic pursues
With those unlucky blues.

2. Once 'pon a time I jumped in the river
Just to try to throw myself away,
But some folks they dived in right after me
And spoiled a perfect day.
Nobody ever treats me kind.
Don't nothin' seem to ease my mind.
These "anti" doin's have caused my ruin.
Someday I'll leave this world behind. CHORUS

[You can hear a complete recording by Al Bernard, 1920, at The Internet Archive. I have also listened to a few sound samples of Bert Williams, and I think he sings nearly the same lyrics.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Unlucky Blues (from Bert Williams)
From: reggie miles
Date: 10 Feb 11 - 07:05 PM

I was on my way to a gig and had some extra time. So, I stopped to check out a likely location that might have have some sweet old stuff to gawk at. I found this song, on a Columbia Graphophone Company 78rpm record, #A2941, at that antique store in Leavenworth, WA. Yes, the lyrics are virtually identical to what Bert sings in his version with only a few very minor differences.

I enjoy Bert's material and try to offer some of his stuff whenever I'm invited to share my music at special events. Unlucky Blues sounds like a good candidate to add to my list.

Jim, Thanks for posting the lyrics.

Reg