Origins: C.C. Rider, Easy Rider, See See Rider

Subject: sea sea rider - see see rider - cc rider
From:
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:18 AM

Does anyone know the lyrics for this song I know there are quite a few versions. What are the origins of the song?

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Click for related thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:30 AM

Can you give us a little more information - more lyrics for example

Patrish

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Frug
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:45 AM

The song I think you're after is C C Rider you can see and hear it on Songfile.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Orac
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:49 AM

Methinks yor spelin nott to gudClick here

Subject: Lyr Add: C. C. RIDER (from Terry McGhee)
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:49 AM

CC rider or See See Rider are usual variants. Try Harry's Blues Lyrics in the Mudcat Links or here. If you look in the Allmusic guide Click Hereyou'll find practically every blues artist has recorded a version.
Such as Terry/Mcghee:below

C.C. Rider
Traditional

C.C. Rider, see what you done done, Lord, Lord, Lord
Made me love you, now your man done come
Well, you made me love you, now your man has come

C.C. Rider, where did you stay last night, Lord, Lord, Lord,
Tell me right on where did you stay last night
You come home this mornin' the sun was shinin' bright

Did you, did you get that letter that I thrown in your backyard? Lord, Lord, Lord
Did you get that letter that I thrown in your backyard?
Well, it read I would come to see you, but your best man's got me barred

Well, I'm goin' away baby, I won't be back till fall, Lord, Lord, Lord
I'm goin' away baby, I won't be back till fall
Well, if I find me a good girl, I won't be back at all

I'm gonna buy me a shotgun, long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Gonna buy me a shotgun, long as I am tall

How's that, Stewie?
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:53 AM

Should have ended:
I ain't gonna shoot you because you don't love me,
Gonna kill you because you was doin' me wrong

Fumble fingers didn't paste the last 2 lines, sorreeee!
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:08 PM

And I was hoping this was a request for some new nautical parody, maybe about some mean ol' merman. Hmmmmm...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 02:53 PM

Me too. RtS - was that your brilliant performance on Mudcat radio last night? Does Dick Greenhouse have CDs?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 03:03 PM

Dear Guest--

Don't know details, but "C.C. Rider" would be a folk etymology for "Easy Rider," that being in general a person of easy virtue. An easy rider could be of either sex; an "easeman" would be approx. the same but specific to men. An easeman might be a pimp or a giggolo, living off of women. A woman e.r. doesn't have to be a prostitute necessarily--just somebody who plays the field, married or not.

Roger the Skiffler overlooked the last line in his last verse. (That line, in a three line "twelve bar blues" is called "the sting in the tail.") In Barbara Dane's version it was, "If you don't love me, won't love no man at all." Borrowing from Jimmie Rodgers, you might also do it, "Gonna shoot that woman, just to see her fall."

Chicken Charlie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 06:11 PM

Chicken Charlie's on the right track. Carl Sandburg also thought "CC" might have derived from "easy rider." He adds in his notes in American Songbag that "John Lomax and I heard this song in Austin, Texas, in an old saloon, The Silver King, operated as a soft drink parlor by a Mexican negro, Martinez." Martinez, himself, sang them the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 07:37 PM

Charley--

I must be remembering that from Sandburg, then. He's my beau ideal. Ever read "Slabs of the Sunburnt West?" or any of his other poetry? A truly multi-faceted man. Wonder if he played an instrument. Better quit before I get nailed by the Thread Creep Coppers. :)

Charlie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:41 PM

Charlie -

Gosh, yes! Sandburg played guitar and recorded some of his collected songs; I have one of his albums which includes "I'll Ride An Old Paint." O.K., I just dug the album out and it's FLAT ROCK BALLADS by CBS Records; Sandburg was almost 80 at the time. There are great pictures of him singing and playing. I believe he was also good buddies with Studs Turkel who, amazingly enough, is still around and writing.

Charley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 08:46 PM

Hmm. Have to look for those things. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 03:55 AM

No, I wasn't on Mudcat radio.
1) Because I'm only online at work
2)because my voice and kazoo are registered with the police as lethal weapons
When I sing, people say "what's that chord?" Or is it "what discord."?
My only public performances are among tolerant Greek friends in the Summer (not long now, Yorgos!)when they want to clear their taverna and I've had enough brandy!
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider
From: echo
Date: 26 Apr 01 - 12:00 PM

Rodger the Skiffle Thanks for posting the lyrics for C C Rider, I'm playing it now. Changed the words around a bit as I have a version by Bea Booze, so I've had to change the gender. Anyway thanks for spending the time. I'm playing it tuned to D with the capo on 3rd so I think that makes F. All the Best.

Subject: Lyr Add: SEE SEE RIDER (from Miss. John Hurt)
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 09:07 AM

And a second version:

SEE SEE RIDER
(Version by Mississippi John Hurt)

You see, see, rider, you see what you have done?
You made me love you
Made me love you, now your man done come
You made me love you, now your man have come

Ain't no more potatoes, the frost have killed the vine
Well, the blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind
The blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind
The blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind

You see, see, rider, you see what you done?
You done made me love you
You made me love you

I've told you, baby and your mama told you, too
"You're three times seven, you know what you wanna do,
three times seven, you know what you wanna do,
you're three times seven, you know what you wanna do"

If I had-a listened to my second mind,
Lord, I wouldn't -a been sittin' here and wringin' my hands and cryin'
I wouldn't been sittin' here, wringin' my hands and cryin
' I wouldn't been sittin' here, wringin' my hands and cryin'

You see, see, rider, you see what you have done?
You done made me love you
You made me love you

RtS

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Live recording by Mississippi John Hurt - order of verses somewhat different:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFGuXoorp6k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcR3rufZyaA
(long performance at the 1964 Philadelphia Folk Festival)

Subject: Lyr Add: SEE SEE RIDER (from Ma Rainey)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 01 - 09:22 AM

Ma Rainey's version, better for a female singer:
See See Rider

traditional
recording of 1924

SEE SEE RIDER
(version by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey)

See see rider, see what you have done, Lord, Lord, Lord
Made me love you, now your gal has come
You made me love you, now your gal has come

I'm goin' away, baby, I won't be back till fall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Goin' away, baby, won't be back till fall
If I find me a good man, won't be back at all

I'm gonna buy me a pistol, just as long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord
Shoot my man, and catch a cannonball
If he won't have me, he won't have no gal at all

See See Rider, where did you stay last night? Lord, Lord, Lord
Your shoes ain't buttoned and your clothes don't fit you right
You didn't come home till the sun was shining bright

RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider? / C. C. Rider
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 14 - 11:25 PM

Seeee see, rider.
See what you done done.
Lawd, lawd, lawd.
Made me love you,
Now your girl done come.
You made me love you,
Now your gal done come.

I'm go'n away, baby,
Won't be back till fall.
Lawd, lawd, lawd.
Go'n away, baby,
Won't be back till fall.
If I find me a good man,
I won't be back at all.

I'm gonna buy me a pistol,
Just as long as I am tall.
Lawd, lawd, lawd.
Gonna kill my man and,
Catch the Cannonball.
If he don't have me,
He won't have no gal at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: sea sea rider? / C. C. Rider
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 27 Jan 14 - 12:06 AM

As a BTW, Easy Riders was the name of a short-lived skiffle group that played once - or maybe twice - at the Nancy Whiskey Club at the Princess Louise in High Holborn in 1956. Long-forgotten by any living person but one - i.e me. Members were Sandy Sandfield (deceased?), lead guitar, vocals; John Brunner (deceased), harmony guitar [never made it as musician, but became a highly regarded, best-selling, Hugo &c award-winning sf writer, who coined the term 'worm' for self-replicating computer malware in one of his stories]; & me, rhythm guitar, washboard, vocals.

~M~

Subject: RE: Origins: C.C. Rider, Easy Rider, See See Rider
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 08:24 PM

I was thinking we needed a DTStudy thread on this song, but I think this thread is an undiscovered gem that needs to be resurrected as an origins thread. Here's what the Traditional Ballad Index has to say about this song:

Easy Rider

DESCRIPTION: "Easy rider, see what you have done... Made me love you, now your man done come." The singer expresses regret about the relationship between men and women, but hopes to do better in the future
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recording, Ma Rainey)
KEYWORDS: love courting husband infidelity floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (7 citations):
Sandburg, pp. 246-247, "C. C. Rider" (2 short texts, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 22, "Easy Rider" (1 text, 1 tune)
Courlander-NFM, p. 19, "(See See Rider)" (1 tune, partial text); cf. pp. 152-153 (apparently a combination of this song with "Satisfied") (1 text, 1 tune)
Burton-TNSingers, pp. 136-137, "Easy Rider" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 75, "Easy Rider" (1 text)
DT, EASYRIDR*
ADDITIONAL: Moses Asch and Alan Lomax, Editors, _The Leadbelly Songbook_, Oak, 1962, p. 89, "Easy Rider" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #10056
RECORDINGS:
Texas Alexander, "Easy Rider Blues" (Vocalion 02856, 1934)
Bea Booze [pseud. for Muriel Nichols], "See See Rider Blues" (Decca 8633, 1942; Decca 48055, n.d.)
Jimmie Davis, "Easy Rider Blues" (Bluebird B-5570, 1934)
Scott Dunbar, Celeste Dunbar & Rosie Dunbar, "Easy Rider" (on MuSouth05)
Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Easy Rider Blues" (Paramount 12474, 1927)
Tom Johnson & John Copeland, "See See Mama" (on MuSouth05)
Sam McGee, "Easy Rider" (Vocalion 5254, c. 1929; rec. July 25 1928)
Ma Rainey, "See See Rider Blues" (Paramount 12252, 1925)
Leo Soileau, "Easy Rider Blues" (Paramount 12808, 1929)
Chuck Willis, "C. C. Rider" (Classic Wax CW-0004, rec. 1957)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Little Birdie" (theme)
cf. "Chilly Winds" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Vesta and Mattie's Blues" (floating lyrics)
NOTES: The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang's "b" definition [of "easy rider"], "a woman who is sexually promiscuous or easily seduced", is the one that applies here. (Another definition, interestingly enough, is "guitar.") - PJS
Last updated in version 3.1
File: LxU022

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Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2014 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics, which come from Lomax:

EASY RIDER (C.C.RIDER)

Easy rider, see what you done done, Lawd, Lawd,
Easy rider, see what you done done,
Easy rider, see what you done done,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Made me love you, now yo' man done come, Lawd, Lawd,
Made me love you, now yo'man done come,
Made me love you, now yo'man done come,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

When you see me comin', h'ist yo' windows high, Lawd, Lawd,
When you see me comin', h'ist yo' windows high,
When you see me comin', h'ist yo' windows high,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

When you see me leavin', hang yo' head an' cry, Lawd, Lawd,
When you see me leavin', hang yo' head an' cry,
When you see me leavin', hang yo' head an' cry,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

If I was a headlight on some western train, Lawd, Lawd,
I'd shine my light on cool Colorado Springs,
I'd shine my light on cool Colorado Springs,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

I'm goin' to the nation and the territo', Lawd, Lawd,
Tryin' to fin' a honey gal I know,
Tryin' to fin' a honey gal I know,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

If I was a catfish swimmin' in the deep blue sea, Lawd, Lawd,
I'd keep those women from fussin' over me,
I'd keep those women From fussin' over me,
Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Note: Often sung with two repeated lines, followed by a rhyming third
line (2 lines from verse 1, tag line from verse 2). "Hey hey
etc." sometimes omitted. One can insert "floater" verses from
just about any standard blueTUNE FILE: on' like my peaches, don'
CLICK TO PLAY
shake my tree etc.)
From Folk Song USA, Lomax
@blues
filename[ EASYRIDR
TUNE FILE: EASYRIDR
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

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This page (click) on the song is interesting, but the use of the term "registrated for copyright" makes me wonder about its credibility.

Subject: Lyr Add: SEE SEE RIDER BLUES (from Ma Rainey)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Oct 14 - 08:55 PM

RtS posted a version of the song from Ma Rainey above. I don't know for sure, but I suspect she recorded the song multiple times.

The Library of Congress has an interesting piece on the song here:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/essays/Ma%20Rainey.pdf


Here's my transcription of a Ma Rainey recording I found on Spotify:

SEE SEE RIDER BLUES
(version by Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey)

I'm so unhappy, I feel so blue,
I always feel so sad,
I made a mistake, right from the start,
Lord, it seems so hard to part.
Oh, but this letter that I will write,
I hope he will remember when he receives it.

See, see, rider, see what you done done, Lord, Lord, Lord,
Made me love you, now your gal done come,
You made me love you, now your gal done come.

I'm goin' away, baby, won't be back till fall, Lord, Lord, Lord,
Goin' away, baby, won't be back till fall;
If I find me a good man, I won't be back at all.

I'm gonna buy me a pistol just as long as I am tall, Lord, Lord, Lord,
Gonna kill my man and catch the Cannonball,
If he don't have me, he won't have no gal at all.

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Added later:
Click here for a Ma Rainey discography. I read 1925 on the record label for "See See Rider Blues," but the recording date was 15 Oct 1924. Note that Louis Armstrong played cornet in Rainey's band.

Subject: ADD Version: See See Rider (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 02:41 AM

I guess I have to disagree with RtS on the Mississippi John Hurt version, too. Not really disagree we're listening to different versions. This is what I hear on the Library of Congress recording:

SEE SEE RIDER
(version by Mississippi John Hurt)

See, see, rider, you see what you done done?
You done made me love you, now your man done come
You made me love you, now your man done come
You made me love you, and now your man done come

Ain't no more potatoes, the frost have killed the vine
Well, the blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind
The blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind
The blues ain't nothin' but a good woman on your mind

If I had-a listened to my second mind,
Lord, I wouldn't -a been standin' here and wringin' my hands and cryin'
I wouldn't been standin' here, wringin' my hands and cryin
' I wouldn't been standin' here, wringin' my hands and cryin'

[not in this version:
I've told you, baby and your mama told you, too
"You're three times seven, you know what you wanna do,
Three times seven, you know what you wanna do,
You're three times seven, you know what you wanna do"]

See, see, rider, you see what you done done?
You done made me love you, now your man done come
You made me love you, now your man done come
You made me love you, and now your man done come

In this version, Hurt doesn't leave out as many words. In the live versions, he substitutes guitar work for some lines.

Subject: ADD Version: C C Rider (Big Bill Broonzy)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 03:32 AM

This 1934 recording by Big Bill Broonzy, is closer to what the Grateful Dead and other recent musicians do.

C C RIDER
(version by Big Bill Broonzy)

C C Rider, see what you done done.
C C Rider, see what you done done.
C C Rider, see what you done done.
You done made me love you and now your man done come.

Tell me Rider ain't I been good to you?
Tell me Rider ain't I been good to you?
Tell me Rider ain't I been good to you?
I give you all of my lovin' so now what more can I do?

My home's on the water, don't like no land at all.
My home's on the water, don't like no land at all.
My home's on the water and I don't like no land at all.
My Rider done got so that she treats me like a dog.*

I see now Rider you don't mean me no good.
I see now Rider you don't mean me no good.
I see now Rider you don't mean me no good.
But you got another man and it's known out in the neighborhood.

Additional verses from later recordings:
I'm goin' away, baby, sure don't want to go,
I'm goin' away, baby, but I sure don't want to go,
I'm goin' away, baby, but I sure don't want to go,
When I leave you this time, you'll never see me no more.

I love you baby, but I hate your little dirty ways,
I love you baby, but I hate your dirty ways,
I love you baby, but I hate your dirty ways,
When I leave you this time, gal, I'm goin' away to stay.


*1957 recording: I'd rather be dead than to stay here and be your dog.
Another Broonzy recording: So goodbye baby, I'm tired of being your dog.

Subject: RE: Origins: C.C. Rider, Easy Rider, See See Rider
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 06:16 AM

Looking at Ma Rainey's discography, she didn't record this title more than once unless you count other takes made at the session. It was recorded not in 1925 but on 16th October 1924. Originally issued on Paramount 12252.

Hoot

Subject: ADD Version: See See Rider (Eric Burdon)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 14 - 10:18 PM

So, I'm sure I did not learn this song from Ma Rainey, Mississippi John Hurt, or Big Bill Broonzy. I'm not sure where I heard it. Maybe it was this version by Eric Burdon and the Animals. Anybody know of other pop versions that sold well? Can't say I like this one.


SEE SEE RIDER
(version by Eric Burdon)

Oh see, see see rider, girl see what you've done
Oh oh, see see rider, see what you've done now
You've gone away and left me and now
And now the blues they come oh yes they do

Oh well I'm goin' goin' away baby and I won't be back till fall
Oh yes I am goin' away baby and I won't be back till fall
If I get me a good lookin' woman, no no no, I won't be back at all oh right
Now see see rider, I love you yes I do, and there isn't one thing darling
I would not do for you, you know I want you see see
I need you by my side, see see rider, oh keep me satisfied

And a see see rider see see rider
See see rider, see see rider, see rider
See see rider, you keep on a ridin', keep on a ridin'
Here it comes baby look out
Beat it all right don't lose it now, come on, come on, yeah

Here she comes she's oh right
She's so fine she's all mine
See see come on Jenny dig a ride now, hey

Well I'm goin', goin' away baby and I won't be back till fall
Yes, I'm goin', goin' away baby and I won't be back till fall
If I find me a good lookin' woman, no no no, I won't be back at all
And that's the truth baby listen I'm goin' all right
Somebody told me somebody told me
I jump catch on I leave it oh right oh right ah

Songwriters
HURT, JOHN S /

Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group