Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)

Subject: DT Correction: Weave Room Blues
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 02:18 AM

Can anybody come up with an original recording date for "Weave Room Blues"? I'm researching the song for a friend and trying to find out if it's still under copyright.
I can get a recording license from the Harry Fox Agency at songfile.com, but if it's earlier than 1923, I don't need it. As far as I can tell, all the Dixon Brothers recordings were made between 1936-38, so probably we do need a license for this one. But an exact date would help.
-Joe Offer-

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There are a few differences in the lyrics in the Folksinger's Wordbook. The main mistake in the DT is that last word "shoes." Here are the words from Folksinger's Wordbook:

WEAVE ROOM BLUES
(Dorsey Dixon)

Working in a weave-room, fighting for my life
Trying to make a living for my kiddies and my wife
Some are needing clothing and some are needing shoes
But I'm getting nothing for them but them weave-room blues

I got the blues, I got the blues
I got them awful weave-room blues
I got the blues, the weave-room blues

With your looms a-slamming, shuttles bouncing on the floor
And when you flag your fixer, you can see that he is sore
I'm trying to make a living, but I'm thinking I will lose
Cause I'm a-getting nothing but them weave-room blues*

The harness eyes are breaking and the doubles coming through
The devil's in your alley and he's coming after you
Our hearts are aching, let us take a little snooze
For we're simply dying with them weave-room blues*

Slam outs, break outs, knot ups by the score
Cloth all rolled back and piled up on the floor
The bats are running ends, the strings are hanging to your shoes
We're simply dying with them weave-room blues shoes

Copyright Dorsey Dixon Estate
@work @weaving
from the Folksingers Wordbook

On the Dorsey Dixon Babies in the Mill CD

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Also on Shanachie Hard Times Come Again No More, Vol. 2 recording by Fisher Hendley - Hendley's is a good recording, with a few differences in the lyrics. Anybody have information on him?

The song is listed at songfile.com as written by "dixon."

Babies in the Mill notes say all Dorsey Brothers recordings were made from February 12, 1936; to to September 25, 1938 - they recorded over 60 songs on wax during that time, released on the Bluebird and Montgomery Ward labels.

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*The Dixon Brothers and Fisher Hendley sing, "We're going crazy with them Weave-Room Blues."

Any other background information on this song that might be of interest?

Subject: RE: Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)
From: 12-stringer
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 03:41 AM

2/12/1936, Charlotte, NC.

Subject: RE: Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)
From: 12-stringer
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 03:47 AM

The Hendley recording dates from 2 years later, by the way -- 12/1938, at Spartanburg, SC, for a different label.

Subject: RE: Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 03:59 AM

Thanks a lot, 12-Stringer. I think the cut on my Babies in the Mill CD was recorded by Dorsey Dixon in 1962, but the CD booklet doesn't say which cuts were recorded when.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)
From: rich-joy
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 04:15 AM

Good song, Joe.
I learnt mine from the singing of the wonderful Maggie Holland in the English Country Blues Band ("No Rules" 1982, Plant Life label) and the main differences to the lyrics were :
BOOZE instead of "snooze"
and to end that same verse : "Coz we're going crazy with these weave-room blues" rather than the last line shown above (which is repeated on the last verse anyway)...
They didn't cite their source, other than Dorsey Dixon.


I'm sure Stewie will know something though!!!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Origins: Weave Room Blues (Dorsey Dixon)
From: Cool Beans
Date: 06 Oct 05 - 10:13 AM

For years, I've been singing a one-line parody:
Working in a rudyard, kipling for my life....