Lyr Req: Hard Luck Child (Skip James)

Subject: Lyr. Req: Hard Luck Child
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 09:33 PM

Anyone have the lyrics to "Hard Luck Child" by Skip James, I believe Sonny Terry also recorded it.

There's also an obscure version called, "Ain't It Hell, Boys" by the Smoky Mountain Ramblers.

Thanks,

Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr. Req: Hard Luck Child
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Nov 02 - 10:41 PM

No luck. Harry's Blues is actually up right now, but it's not there either.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Luck Child
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:37 AM

According to AMG/All Music Guide,
"Hard Luck Child" appears on 6 Skip James albums: "Complete 1931 Session", 1986; "Complete Recorded Works (1931)", 1990; "50 Years: Mississippi Blues in Bentonia", 1998; "Complete Early Recordings of Skip James", 1994; "Live: Boston, 1964", 1994; "Complete Bloomington Indiana Concert, V", 1999. It's also on the collection "American Folk Blues Festival '67."

A version performed by Sonny Terry and Alonzo Scales appears on Sonny Terry's "Complete Recordings 1938-1945", 1996. I transcribed these lyrics from a sound sample:

Lord, my mother she's gone. Father done drove me to moan. (2x)
Well, I ain't got no friends, well, since mother's gone.

Encore Music and some other sites advertise a music book called "The Skip James Blues Collection" which contains Be Ready When He Comes / Cherry Ball Blues / Crow Jane / Cypress Grove Blues / Devil Got My Woman / Drunken Spree / Four O'Clock Blues / Hard Luck Child / Hardtime Killing Floor Blues / I'm Gonna Yola My Blues Away / I'm So Glad / Illinois Blues / Special Rider Blues

An article called Can't Find No Heaven: The Mysteries Of Skip James contains this quote:

I've been to the Indian nation, and I've been to the territo'
I've been to the nation, I've been to the territo'
And I'm a hard luck child, catch the devil everywhere I go...

(The latter phrase also appears in Big Bill Broonzy's "Southbound Train.")

Subject: Lyr Add: HARD-LUCK CHILD
From: masato sakurai
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 04:40 AM

From a lyrics sheet to Skip James (King of the Blues 8) (P-Vine (Japan) PCD-2263):

HARD-LUCK CHILD (rec. 1931)

I been to the Nation, and I been to the killin' floor
I been to the Nation, I been to the killin' floor
And I'm a hard-luck child... everywhere I go

You work out... long old lonesome road
You work out... Holler, long old lonesome road
I'm got to leave from here
Gotta catch the first train that blows

She used to be mine, but look who got her now
She used to be mine, but look who got her now
And he sure can't keep her
She don't mean him no good no now

Now I b'lieve to my soul, my mama's bad-luck child
I b'lieve to my soul, my mama bad-luck child
And if I wouldn't... women would run me wild

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: HARD-LUCK CHILD
From: Chris C
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 01:00 PM

Slight variations appear in the Skip James Blues Collection (Hal Leonard):

I've been to the nation, and I've been to the territo(ry)
I've been to the nation, and I've been to the territo'
And I'm a hard luck child, catch the devil ev'rywhere I go

He work, I've said, on a long old a-lonesome road
He work, I said, way out on a long old lonesome road
I'm got to leave from here, gonna catch the first train that blow

She used to b mine, but look who's got her now
She used to b mine, but look who's got her now
And he sure can't keep her, she don't mean him no good no how

Now I believe to my soul I'm mama('s) bad luck child
Now I believe to my soul I am mama's bad luck child
Ad if I wasn't, these women would run me wild

-Chris

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Luck Child
From: Richie
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 08:57 AM

Thanks Masato and Chris for the lyrics.

I have this song as the "blues" version of "Way Downtown or "Late Last Night When Willie Came Home."

Does anyone see the connection?

-Richie