Lyr Req: songs by Josh White

Subject: Josh White Lyrics
From:
Date: 21 Feb 01 - 10:30 PM

I'm looking for lyrics from the Josh White album "Chain Gang Songs and Spirituals" such as "Trouble", "Nine-foot Shovel" etc. Any help will be appreciated...........Jim

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 12:45 AM

bluesman —

I've got a Josh White songbook at home. I'll try to remember to bring it to work tomorrow night and, if I get a chance, I'll copy some words for you.

keep this thread alive.....

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 12:57 AM

bluesman —

me again.....

while I'm trying to remember that book and get some things added, you might type Josh White in the digitrad search bar at top left. That brings up a number of his songs, tho' not either of the ones you've mentioned above.

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From:
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 02:26 PM

David, I will really appreciate any help you can give me with the Josh White songs. My dad bought that album for me around 1958 when I first started playing guitar. The album got away from me someway and I've tried unsuccessfully to find another. It is the best Josh White album I've ever heard. One side is of chain gang songs and the other side is spirituals. I'm working on an acoustic show of old blues and gospel and would dearly love to include some songs from this album. Thanks again..........Jim

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 06:08 PM

Bluesman,

could you give me a list of what you want, specifically. If I've got those I'll put them in the system first and add others as time allows.

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: rangeroger
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 10:45 PM

David, I also have a Josh White songbook. After reading this thraed I checked my collection and sure enough there it was.Mine has the picture of Josh on the cover with a lit cigarette behind his ear.If it is different from yours, I will be glad to supplement any songs you may not be able to find.

Although looking at the discography in the back, I found two separate albums instead of the one that bluesman is looking for.

"Chain Gang Songs" (Elektra,EKL-158 & EKS-7158) and "Spirituals and Blues" (Elektra,EKL-193 & EKS-7193

rr

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 22 Feb 01 - 10:57 PM

Rangeroger — obviously the same book, published in 1963. Don't want to remind you how old we're getting, but I bought mine for $2.95.

Ah, the good ol' days!!!!

david

Subject: Lyr Add: TROUBLE (Josh White)
From: ddw
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 12:01 AM

TROUBLE
Words and music
By Josh White
Well, I've always been in trouble
'Cause I'm a black-skin man
Yes, I beat a white man
And they locked me in the can
Well, they took me to the stockade
Wouldn't give me no trial
And the judge, he said,
"You black boy — forty years on the hard rock pile

Lord, I'm trouble, trouble
Sure can't make me stay
Lord, I'm trouble, trouble
Jail break due some day

Now I'm wearin' cold iron shackles
From my head down to my knees
And that mean old keeper
Lord, is all time kicking me.
Well, I went up to the walker
And the head-boss, too
And I said, "Please, all you big white folk
Won't you see what you can do?"

CHORUS: Lord, I'm trouble, trouble....

Well the sheriff winked at the policeman
Says "I won't forget you nohow
You better come back and see me again, boy
About forty years from now."
Well, I went back to the walker
He looked at me and said
"Buddy, don't you worry 'bout forty
'Cause in five years you'll be dead."

FINAL CHORUS:
Lord, I'm trouble, trouble
Makes me weep and moan
Lord, I'm trouble, trouble
Since the day I was born
Lord I'm trouble, trouble
Sure won't make me stay
Lord, I'm trouble, trouble
Jail break due some day.

Subject: Lyr Add: SILICOSIS BLUES (Josh White)
From: ddw
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 12:19 AM

Jim — started to type in DIP YOUR FINGERS IN THE WATER, but I can't recall ever hearing it and I can't make heads nor tails of how it's laid out in the book. 'Fraid I'll just go on to another one until I can get it sorted out.



SILICOSIS BLUES
Trad./New music and words by Josh White

Silicosis, you made a mighty bad break of me
Silicosis, you made a mighty bad break of me
Robbed me of my youth and health
All you brought poor me was misery.

Silicosis, you're a dirty robber and a thief
Yes, silicosis, you're a dirty robber and a thief
Robbed me of my right to live and all you brought poor me is grief.

I was there diggin' that tunnel for just six bits a day
I was diggin' that tunnel for just six bits a day
Didn't know I was diggin' my grave — silicosis was eatin' my lungs away.

Six bits I got for diggin' — mmm, diggin' that tunnel hole
I got for diggin' — six bits for diggin' that tunnel hole
Takes me 'way from my baby and sure done wrecked my soul

I says Mama, Mama, Mama, please cool my fevered head
I says Mama, Mama, Mama, cool my fevered head
Going to mee my Jesus, God knows I'll soon be dead.

Now tell all my buddies, tell my friends you see
Tell all my buddies, tell my friends you see
I'm going 'way up yonder and please don't grieve for me.

Subject: Lyr Add: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
From: ddw
Date: 23 Feb 01 - 12:37 AM

Jim,

I'll put in one more and then I'll have to call it quits for tonight. Won't be back at work until Monday night, but maybe if you need something specific Rangeroger can pick up where I'm leaving off for now.

This is my all-time favorite of Josh's spirituals and the one I sang as a memorial for my music partner who died about eight weeks ago.

The blurb with it says:
A song widely associated with Ethel Waters, and the title of her autobiography. Josh recalls singing the old spiritual long before he met Ethel in New York.

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Trad.

Why should I feel discouraged
And why should the shadows fall
And why should my soul feel lonely
And I dream of a heaven I know
When Jesus is my portal
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the little sparrow
And I know He watches over me

CHORUS:
And I sing because I'm happy
Oh yes, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on that sparrow
And I know He watches over me

Soometimes my way gets cloudy
And sometimes my work seems in vain
Sometimes my soul feels lonely
And the world has me bound down in chains
'Tis then I call on Jesus
He hears me though I, I can't explain
Then donw comes the Holy Spirit
and my soul feels good again
Then Down comes the Holy Spirit
And my sou feels good again

CHORUS:

FINAL ENDING
And I know Jesus watches over me

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 24 Feb 01 - 09:16 AM

David, Didn't get a chance to get on yesterday, but found the lyrics you sent in this morning. I want to thank you so much for making my day today. I've been trying to remember the lyrics to "Trouble" for years and years. I'm getting ready to get the guitar out and sing it for my girlfriend, who found this site. I never forgot the way that Josh played this song on guitar, and though I don't play it quite as well as he did, I get by pretty well on it. This morning I located two albums on the Net called Chain Gang Songs and also the album Spiritual and Blues. The album I had was a combo of the two, I think. If it's not too much "Trouble" lol would you send a list of the song titles you have for the chain gang songs. The only other song I distinctly remember is "Nine Foot Shovel". Bless you again for making this a memorable day in my musical life. Thanks.........Jim

By the way, thanks for the other two songs, which I will try to find the music for. If you or anyone else knows where I can find a copy of the books you guys have, please let me know

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 10:36 AM

Just checked through some of the older threads on Josh and found a message someone sent in with a URL to a seller that has bunches of Josh CD's. Found some CD's with the chain gang and spirituals that I had been looking for. Wanted to repost this in case anyone might want it. Want to thank everyone for their help........Jim

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 10:39 AM

The URL didn't show up on the previous message, gonna try it again.......Jim http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1667562214/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/discography.html/ArtistID=WHITE*JOSH

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Peg
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 10:54 AM

i'd love suggestions for selected recordings of this amazing performer who I have recently discovered. what should my first CD purchase be?

thanks!

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: rangeroger
Date: 25 Feb 01 - 06:19 PM

Jim,here are the titles for "Chain Gang Songs" from te discography in the back of the book;

Trouble
'Twas on a Monday
Going Home Boys
Nine Foot Shovel
Crying Who? Crying You
Dip Your Fingers in the Water
The Old Ship of Zion
Mary Had a Baby
Did you Ever Love a Woman
Every Time I Feel The Spirit.

cross-referencing the titles to the lyrics in the book,I can only find "Going Home Boys" as on that hasn't already been mentioned or the lyrics posted.Will post that one if you want.

Peg,try the site Jim posted the URL for, and get "Josh White Sings the Blues" and "Josh White Sings" if they have them.If not, most anything will do.

rr

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 06:30 PM

Peg,

Far be it from me to disagree with the esteemed rangeroger on many things, but if you're looking for JW at his best and you're just getting into his stuff, I suggest his 25th Anniversary album. It has a very theatrical version of John Henry on it that incorporates a number of other great songs into a talking narrative. It also has a good cross-section of his other things — blues, gospel and ditties. Great album.

Don't have time now, but later in the evening I'll try to find a site with a good JW discography and post a link.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 10:22 PM

Hi Folks, Never thought that when I started this thread that so much good would come out of it. Haven't had a lot of time in the past couple of days to respond to your messages, sorry!!! Peg, it's great to find any Josh White lovers. To me he is God!!! LOL He led such an awesome life and really had his music together.

Rangeroger, please tell me where to find the lyrics to all the titles you posted in your message. And I would appreciate it if you posted the lyrics to "Going Home Boys".

David, can't wait until you find a place to buy his 25th Anniversary album, will certainly purchase that one. Hope we can keep this thread going and get a bunch of folks responding. "JOSH WHITE IS KING"!!!!! LOL..........Jim

Subject: Lyr Add: GOIN' HOME BOYS
From: rangeroger
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 11:00 PM

Jim, unfortunately I don't know where to find the rest of the lyrics from that album. David, I am absolutely crestfallen that you disagreed with me. LOL. Those happen to be the only 2 albums I have of Josh White, so I chose them.

GOIN' HOME BOYS

Well, I'm goin' home, boys, Cry'n won't make me stay
Goin' home, boys, cry'n won't make me stay
My time is up, throw these chains away

Now, when they brought me here, boys, I lost my brother, too
White folks took and shot him, was nothin' I could do
But I'm goin' home boys, cry'n won't make me stay
My time is up, throw these chains away

I heard from my mama, her letter made me cry
If she could only see me, I'm sure she'd surely die
But I'm goin' home boys, cry'n won't make me stay
My time is up, throw these chains away

Just as sure as the train, boys, rolls up in the yard
I'm gonna leave this rock pile if I have to ride the rods
I'm goin home, boys, cry'n won't make me stay
My time is up, Throw these chains away.

Notes on the song from the book

Josh first recorded the song for the 1940 " Chain Gang" album on Columbia, though Lawrence Gellert claims to have first printed it in a book," Me and My Captain ( Chain Gangs),in 1939. A protest song in words of strength that never equivocate.

rr

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 11:05 PM

Bluesman & Peg — if the blue clicky thing-fairy is working tonight, you can find a bunch of Josh's music here

Before you hie off to buy there, however, check some of the suppliers you can find in the Mudcat links and see if you can get the music from a supplier who gives Max a little cut of the action.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 11:12 PM

OK, the clicky works, but that site doesn't list the 25th Anniversary album. Maybe it's not on CD, tho' I can't imagine it not being. I'll continue to poke around and post it if I can find it.

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 08:08 AM

Rangeroger, Thanks for the lyrics to "Goin' Home Boys". Just printed them and I'm going to get the acoustic out and play it. I would appreciate help from anyone else in finding sites that would have Josh White lyrics on them...........Thanks.............Jim

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: ddw
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 12:40 AM

Jim,

Have you twigged on this site?

david

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 03:22 PM

Hi Folks, I have a couple of other requests for Josh lyrics. I plan to do a festival on July 4th and want to do a medley of his chain gang songs. The songs I need the lyrics for are: 'Twas on a Monday, Nine Foot Shovel, Crying Who? Crying You, Dip Your Fingers in the Water. Any help will be appreciated.....Jim

Subject: Add: Josh White Lyrics
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 06:19 PM

DT harvesters,

There are lyrics for 4 Josh White songs in this thread, but nobody has put an ADD: in the thread title yet

Subject: Lyr Add: NINE FOOT SHOVEL
From: Stewie
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 09:02 PM

Hi Jim, I have a couple of them. I have made transcriptions for you of 'Nine Foot Shovel' and 'Cryin' Who? Cryin' You!' which was recorded in 2 parts. The first part of the first line in stanza 2 of 'Cryin' Who?' part I is difficult to decipher - I have put in square brackets what it sounds like to me. Perhaps someone can correct it.

Re your festival presentation, you may be interested in reading the following marvellous reviews of prison songs by Fred McCormick on the Musical Traditions site:

Click Here

And Here

NINE FOOT SHOVEL

Got a nine foot shovel, my pick is four foot long
Got a nine foot shovel, my pick is four foot long
I'm in the world of trouble when I'm singin' this song

If you use a pick and shovel, sure caint mess around
If you ain't a man, sure God bring you down
'Cos I've been shovellin' (shovellin') all day just like a fool
I'll tell you, buddy, they don't teach that in school

I got to get up in the morning (the morning), face the risin' sun
Get my pick and shovel, grab my lunch and run
Cap'n don't like me (cap'n, cap'n), laggin' me all the time
Some day I'll take my shovel, he'll leave this world behind

Well, I guess you gettin' tired of listenin' to my song (that weary song)
Guess you gettin' tired of listening to my song
I'll take my pick and shovel and I'll travel on

Note: words/phrases in parentheses are sung as response to leader.

CRYIN' WHO? CRYIN' YOU! (Part I)

Please, Mr Bossman, tell me what I've done
How come you lock me 'way from the light of sun
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

[For eleven blue coats] come runnin' after me
I ain't done nothin', why caint they let me be
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

Judge he said three days, I turned my head aside
Ninety more years, lord, I hung my head and cried
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

Asked the mean ol' cap'n could he stand to see me cry
Said, 'Lowdown black man, I'd rather see you die'
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!


CRYIN' WHO? CRYIN' YOU! (Part II)

Chains 'round my shoulder, my feet is bracelet bound
Jump when cap'n calls you, or else he'll knock you down
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

Sleep on a pallet in a dirty cell
Sure could sleep better if I was dead in hell
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

Jail guard beat me so much, right down to my shoes
Say he'll kill black man, but know I'll kill him too
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

Feel my black hell risin', raise me six foot high
Don't care about nothin', a man is born to die
I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!

I hear danger singin', I hear danger moan
Cryin' who? Cryin' you!


Source: transcriptions from reissues on Joshua White 'Joshua White 1933-1941' Best of Blues B.o.B. 7 CD.

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: GUEST,bluesman4123
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 02:12 PM

Stewie, Thanks much for the lyrics. I think that the words you had in parentheses were actually "forty-leven bluecoats". (That is an old Southern expression I have heard in the past) Thanks again.......Jim

Snuffy, I don't know how to Add the above lyrics, but if you or someone else will tell me how, I'll be glad to do it. I also have lots of other lyrics I could add also. Any help will be appreciated..........Jim

Subject: You can put anything here
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 06:25 PM

Bluesman,

If you're posting lyrics, alter the subject box from 'RE: Josh White Lyrics' to 'ADD: Nine Foot Shovel' or whatever the song is. That makes it easier for the DT harvesters to find new lyrics for inclusion in future issues of the Digital Tradition database.

Go back to my original posting and look at the Subject: line, and look at the Subject: line of this posting to see what I mean.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Josh White Lyrics
From: Stewie
Date: 30 Apr 01 - 06:28 PM

Hi Jim, my pleasure.

What Snuffy meant - and I forgot to do - was to put 'ADD' in the subject box just below 'Reply to Thread': at the moment it reads 'RE: Josh White Lyrics' and, if you post a song in your reply to the thread, that should be changed to 'ADD: Josh White Lyrics' or 'ADD: Nine Foot Shovel & Cryin' Who' or whatever. The important thing is to have an 'ADD'. That will draw its presence to the attention of Joe Offer or one of his clones so they may consider whether or not it is suitable for harvesting for the DT. This can be done only before you submit the message - once it is submitted, you can't change it. If you wish to post songs that are not related to the particular thread, start a new thread for each song with 'LYRIC ADD' and its title.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by Josh White
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 12 - 02:53 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: songs by Josh White
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Jan 12 - 08:30 AM

Yup - the greatest.....in any tradition. Loved the guy's music when he was alive. The Elijah Wald biography should be compulsory reading for anyone who wants to open their mouth on the subject of folksong.

No one anywhere has captured with such intensity the relationship of a folk artist to the modern world.

Giving my age away and perspective, as Josh died some time ago. the modern world indeed......

Subject: Lyr Add: EVIL HEARTED MAN (Josh White)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 01:31 PM

You can hear this, and see an image of the record label, at The Internet Archive.

EVIL HEARTED MAN
As recorded by Josh White, 1942.

When the sun rose this mornin', I was feelin' mighty bad.
My baby said: "Good mornin';" Hell, it made me mad,
CHORUS: Because I was evil, evil-hearted me.
I'm just downright evil, evil as a man can be.

Well she even cooked my breakfast and she brought it to my bed.
I took a sip o' coffee an' throwed the cup at her head,
CHORUS: Because I was evil....

I'm so out to the devil, trouble is all I crave.
I'd rather see you dead an' layin' in your grave.
CHORUS: You know I'm evil....

Well, I don't even care if it rains from now on
An' the gal I love hadn't never been born,
CHORUS: Because I'm evil....

Well, I don't even care, if my baby leaves me flat.
I got forty-leven others, if it comes to that.
CHORUS: You know I'm evil....