Lyr Req: Pony Blues

Subject: pony blues
From: tom a.
Date: 14 Apr 98 - 03:23 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to pony blues.thanks.....

Subject: Lyr Add: PONY BLUES (Charley Patton)
From: Earl
Date: 14 Apr 98 - 03:45 PM

Pony Blues - Charley Patton

Hitch up my pony, saddle up my black mare
Hitch up my pony, saddle up my black mare
I'm gonna find a rider, baby, in the world somewhere.

Hello Central the matter with your line?
Hello Central the matter with your line?
Come a storm last night an' tore the wire down.

Got a brand new Shetland, man, already trained,
Got a brand new Shetland, baby, already trained,
Better get a little saddle, tie the loops on your rein.

Ain't a brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat?
Brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat?
But a jet-black woman, don't put your hands on me.

Took my baby, go meet the mornin' train,
I took my baby, meet that mornin' train,
An' the blues come down, baby, like showers of rain.

I've got somethin' to tell you when I get the chance,
Somethin' to tell you when I get a chance,
I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your man.

Subject: RE: pony blues
From:
Date: 14 Apr 98 - 04:59 PM

thanks earl. did son house do a version of this song?

Subject: RE: pony blues
From: Jon W.
Date: 15 Apr 98 - 10:15 AM

Son House recorded at least two versions of this song. I'll post the lyrics to both as soon as I can. Unlike Charley Patton, Son House felt it was important to stick to the theme of a song once you started singing, and his versions are pretty much about horses.

Subject: Lyr Add: PONY BLUES (Son House)
From: Jon W.
Date: 15 Apr 98 - 06:48 PM

Here is one Son House version:

THE PONY BLUES
Son House (recorded 1942)

Why don't you catch my pony, now saddle up my black mare.
Ohh, my pony, saddle up, ah my black mare.
You know I'm'a find my baby, well in the world somewhere.

You know he's a travelin' horse, and he's too black bad.
He's a travelin, a pony, I declare, he's too black bad.
You know, he got a gait now, no Shetland ain't never had.

You know, I took him by the reins, and I led him around and round.
I say I take by the reins, and I led him around and round.
You know, he ain't the best in the world, but he's the best stud in this town.

You know, he's a travelin' horse, and he don't deny his name.
He's a travelin' pony, 'n he don't deny his name.
You know, the way he can travel is a low down, ol' dirty shame.

Why don't you come up here, pony, now come on, please let's us go,
I say come up, get up now, please pony, now let's us go.
Let's we saddle on down on the Gulf of Old Mexico.

You know the horse that I'm ridin', he can foxtrot, he can lope and pace.
I say the pony, I'm ridin', he can foxtrot, he can lope and pace.
You know, a horse with that many gaits, you know I'm bound to, win that race.

Uhmm, he's a travelin' horse, and he don't deny his name,
He's a travelin' pony, 'n' he don't deny his name.
You know the way he can travel is a low down, oh dirty shame.

The other version I have is called "Shetland Pony Blues" and was recorded in 1941. It's on another tape and I'll have to find it later.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHETLAND PONY BLUES (Son House)
From: Jon W.
Date: 16 Apr 98 - 11:00 AM

Here's the other version:

SHETLAND PONY BLUES
Son House (recorded 1941)

Why don't you catch my shetland, and saddle up my black mare.
Why don't you catch my shetland, saddle up my black mare.
You know I'm'a find my baby, Lord in, in the world somewhere.

Well, he's a stallion horse, and he don't deny his name,
He's a stallion pony, he don't, deny his name.
You know the way he can travel boy's a low down, oh dirty shame.

Uhm, looky here horse, come on, and let's us go,
Ohh, eee, pony, come on up and let's us go.
Let's we saddle on down on the Gulf of Mexico.

You know, he's a travelin' horse, and he don't deny his name,
He's a travelin' pony, 'n' he don't deny his name.
Oooh, the way he can get out is a low down, oh dirty shame.

You know, I took him by the reins, and I led him around and around.
I took him, by the reins, I led, him round and round.
You know, he ain't the best in the world, but he's the best stud in this town.

Why don't you come up here horse, come on and let's us go,
I said, get up now horse, come on now, now let's us go.
Let's we saddle on down on the Gulf of Mexico.

Ummm, he's got four stocking feet, and great long, oh curly mane,
He's got, four stocking feet, great long, oh curly mane,
He got a high commotion like a I.C., oh passenger train.

By the way, Patton made another version also, called "Stone Pony Blues." It starts out something like

I got me a stone pony, I don't ride Shetland no more(2x)
You can find my stone pony hooked to my rider's door.

One more thing - these pony blues songs show a connection between the blues and the British Isles ballad tradition - variations of the verse "fetch my pony/saddle up my mare" being found in many ballads.