Chord Req: Scottsboro Boys (Leadbelly)

Subject: Chord Req: Leadbelly's 'Scottsboro Boys'
From: GUEST,new dealer
Date: 17 Feb 06 - 09:51 AM

I've listened to Leadbelly's "Scottsboro Boys", even slowed it down, and I'm having more difficulty (than I usually have) figuring out the chord structure. I'd be grateful for any help anyone can provide. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Scottsboro Boys (Leadbelly)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 08:09 AM

It looks like the lyrics have never been posted at Mudcat, let alone the chords. So here is what I was able to transcribe from a sound sample:

Go to Alabama, and you'd better watch out.
The landlord'll get you, going to jump and shout.
Scottsboro Boys, Scottsboro Boys, tell you what it's all about.

I also found this brief quote:

I'm gonna tell all the colored people living in Harlem ...(unintelligible). Don't you never go to Alabama and try to sing.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Scottsboro Boys (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST,Chris Chandler
Date: 17 Aug 10 - 07:28 PM

-Below is my best attempt at translation. It's quite open to modification. Text with slashes around it represents significant unsurity.


Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya what/ it all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya what/ it all about

I'm gonna talk to Joe Louis
/And it all angered/ me
Don't even try to think about it
Alabama /ree/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
/Even the old/ nigger here
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/And/ try to live

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Gon' tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell ya/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Living in Harlem /swing/
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/Just try to sing/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Gon' tell ya/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell it/ all about

I'm gonna tell all the colored people
Livin' in Harlem /swing/
Don't ya ever go to Alabama
/Just try to sing/

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell what it's/ all about

Go to Alabama and ya better watch out
The landlord'll get ya, gonna jump and shout
Scottsboro Scottsboro Scottsboro boys
/Tell what it's/ all about

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Scottsboro Boys shout
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 14 - 12:29 PM

Subject: RE: Scottsboro Boys (Leadbelly)
From: Felipa
Date: 06 Jan 23 - 07:31 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wrongful_convictions_in_the_United_States
"Following an altercation with a group of white teens, nine black teenagers were accused of rape by two women, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price. The Scottsboro case is considered a landmark case, prohibiting racial discrimination in the jury selection process, as no blacks were allowed to be considered to serve on the jury before which the teenagers would be tried."

The only one of the Scottsboro Boys not sentenced to death was the youngest, 12 years old.

https://20thcenturyhistorysongbook.com/song-book/race-relations/the-scottsboro-boys/

"Clarence Darrow became involved in the appeal of the convictions. The successful appeal led to several more trials, with the same results, despite the fact that the two women who brought the charges retracted the allegations. There were more appeals and eventually all nine boys were paroled, freed or pardoned. (Carter, D.T., Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South; Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center website,http://www.scottsboro-boys.org/history.html.)

"Lead Belly wrote a song about the incident in 1938, “The Scottsboro Boys.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrXfkPViFIE) [substituted link as the one given at the History Songbook is no longer available]

lyrics given at the 20th Century History Songbook look similar to those given by Chris Chandler above. There are just a few differences.

"(The song ends with Lead Belly’s spoken recitation about the Scottsboro Boys incident.)

"In 2010, there was a Broadway musical based on the Scottsboro Boys incident called “The Scottsboro Boys: The Musical,” music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. A video of cast interviews and songs, “The Scottsboro Boys on Broadway Closing Night!” is on YouTube at http://youtu.be/0tYtSZlWyvY."