Chord Req: Chattanooga Sugar Babe (Norman Blake)

Subject: Norman Blake's,Sugar Babe
From: Jeep man
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 07:31 PM

As you all probably know I am seriously lacking in talent and skill, and rely on Mudcat for charity. Example:

Norman Blake's Sugar Babe, is he playing a plunky old open back banjo or what. This is the latest burning question from JEEP

Subject: Chattnooga Sugar Babe, Norman Blake
From: Jeep man
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:14 PM

I have searched the DT and Forum and Google and everything I can think of. Does anyone have Norman Blake's lyrics to his "Chattanooga Sugar Babe"? I found lots of versions but not his. Help, Jeep

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Click for other versions

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Chattnooga Sugar Babe, Norma
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 03:25 PM

You've probably seen that you can buy The Norman Blake Anthology which contains the lyrics?

Or... post a request on the Yahoo Norman Blake community message board

Can't find anything else, either.

Noreen

Subject: Lyr Add: CHATTANOOGA SUGAR BABE (from Norman Blake
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 03:44 AM

This was a tough one to understand, and there was no lyric sheet in this CD.
-Joe Offer-

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CHATTANOOGA SUGAR BABE
(as performed by Norman Blake)

Ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe.
Ain't no money to buy cocaine, sugar babe.
Ain't no money to buy cocaine,
Swell your nose and rot your brain, sugar babe.

Woke up this mornin', blues all around, sugar babe.
Woke up this mornin', blues all around, sugar babe.
Woke up this mornin', blues all around,
Threw on my rags and walked downtown, sugar babe.

[instrumental break]

Standin' on the corner, don't you see, sugar babe.
Standin' on the corner, don't you see, sugar babe.
Standin' on the corner, don't you see
They hauled me away for vagrancy, sugar babe.

A few more days in Silverdale, sugar babe.
A few more days in Silverdale, sugar babe.
A few more days in Silverdale
Workhouse blues done turn me pale, sugar babe.

[instrumental break]

Leave that red whiskey alone, sugar babe.
Leave that red whiskey alone, sugar babe.
Leave that red whiskey alone
Gives you the palsy in your bones, sugar babe.

Whatcha gonna do when the rent comes round, sugar babe?
Whatcha gonna do when the rent comes round, sugar babe?
Whatcha gonna do when the rent comes round
I'm gonna ball me a jack and leave this town, sugar babe.

Way down by the lock and dam, sugar babe.
Way down by the lock and dam, sugar babe.
Way down by the lock and dam,
Swear to God I'm gonna sink or swim sugar babe.

Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out, sugar babe?
Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out, sugar babe?
Whatcha gonna do when the meat gives out
Stand on the corner with your mouth in a pout, sugar babe.

Something-or-other (nine-string reefer, high street reefer) cost a dime, sugar babe.
Something-or-other cost a dime, sugar babe.
Something-or-other cost a dime
Used to smoke it all the time, sugar babe.

Over on old Cameron Hill, sugar babe.
Over on old Cameron Hill, sugar babe.
Over on old Cameron Hill
The whooped me till I couldn't stand still, sugar babe.

On down around Moccasin Bend, sugar babe.
On down around Moccasin Bend, sugar babe.
On down around Moccasin Bend
The boat done come and gone again, sugar babe.

Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe.
Chattanooga is a fine old town, sugar babe.
Chattanooga is a fine old town
You get a little crazy, you're (bughouse?) bound, sugar babe.

Transcribed from Norman Blake's 1998 CD, "Chattanooga Sugar Babe."

filename[ CHATSUGR
JRO
Oct01

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Chattanooga Sugar Babe (Norman Blak
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 09:41 AM

The Norman Blake Anthology by Norman Blake, Steve Kaufman (Pacific, MO: Mel Bay Publications, 1998) is viewable online at Google Books in "preview" mode, and it includes CHATTANOOGA SUGAR BABE.

Joe's transcription is substantially correct except in verse 9:

"Ninth street reefer cost a dime" etc.

In verse 12, "bughouse bound" is correct.