Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)

Subject: Lyr Req: brownie mcghee's 'don't pity me'
From: GUEST,doodley
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:28 PM

i'm lookin for lyrics of brownie mcghee's song 'don't pity me' from lp 'sonny terry & brownie mcghee at the bunkhouse'. can't find it anywhere.. thanks in advice

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: brownie mcghee's 'don't pity me'
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:34 PM

How does it start out? Do you have the first line?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: brownie mcghee's 'don't pity me'
From: GUEST,doodley
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 07:57 PM

yes there is some kind of row beetwen terry and mcghee and then brownie sings something like:

you put me down, goin' up the hill
livin' in your heart and i would stand still
but you know my life, people it's just one... (can't understand)

i'm not shure but i think it goes like this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: brownie mcghee's 'don't pity me'
From: Peace
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 10:52 PM

Have you asked the folks at

Tweed's Blues

?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 08:53 AM

Here's a bit more of the song, from a sound sample:

I've hardened my heart. It has no more pain.
Well, every loss from now on will be my gain.
You know, time, time changes everything. Don't pity me.

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T PITY ME (Brownie McGhee)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 11:51 AM

I transcribed this from a recording by Hawkey Franzen & Sture Nordin at YouTube. The recording was made in Stockholm; I assume they are Swedish, but the performance is excellent.


DON'T PITY ME
Brownie McGhee

1. You put me down, goin' up the hill,
Believin' in your heart that I would stand still,
But you know, life [is] just one little bitty wheel. Don't pity me.

2. I've hardened my heart. [It] has no more pain.
Well, ev'ry loss from now [on] will be my gain.
You know time, time changes ev'rything. Don't pity me.

[BRIDGE] And I can walk by myself, talk by myself.
I don't even have to bother you.
Girl, no, my only happiness [is] my friends I guess.
I have to keep on, keep on with my blues.

3. Skies are blue. So am I,
Pretendin' that I'm happy. God knows that I'm dissatisfied.
I'm just too, too damn evil to cry. Don't pity me.

[BRIDGE] Well once upon a time all your time was my time all the time.
Now it seems the time you have for me is gone.
Havin' a little tough luck. Ain't gonna give up.
I'm gonna keep on, keep on and on.

[REPEAT 3]


[I like the attitude displayed in these lyrics. He's neither groveling ('come back, baby') nor angry ('you'll get yours someday') but just saying, 'I'm strong; I'll get over it.']

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 12:06 PM

Brownie does a really nice version of this on the soundtrack cd to Bert Jansch's "Acoustic Routes" film.

David E.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: GUEST,Tom in Dublin
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 12:19 PM

This is a little closer to the way Brownie sang it:

DON'T PITY ME

You put me down, goin' up the hill
Believin' in your heart that someday I'd stand still
But you know, life's just one little bitter pill so don't pity me

I've hardened my heart. have no more pain
Well, ev'ry loss don't you know's gonna be my gain
An' You know time changes ev'rything so don't pity me

Bridge:
And I can walk by myself, talk by myself
I don't even have to bother you
Oh friends I guess my only happiness
Is to hold to on to my blues

Skies are blue, So am I
Pretendin' I'm happy. God knows that I'm dissatisfied
But I'm just too, too damn evil to cry so don't pity me

Bridge:
Well once upon a time all your time was my time all the time
Now it seems your time for me is gone
An' havin' a little tough luck. But ain't gonna give up
I'm gonna keep on, keepin' on.

Skies are blue, So am I
Pretendin' I'm happy. God knows that I'm dissatisfied
But I'm just too, too mean to cry so don't pity me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: Max
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 03:48 PM

Video of Brownie on Rainbow Quest

Me attempting it.

Without question, one of Brownie's best. Jaw dropping good.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 11:22 PM

Excellent video Max. Great Job!

JAB

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Pity Me (Brownie McGhee)
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 01:15 AM

Great song, sung great! Brownie is a master and Max isn't too shabby either.

Subject: Lyr Add: DON'T PITY ME (Brownie McGhee)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 15 May 16 - 02:46 PM

This is the version he did on a Pete Seeger show:

You put me down, goin' up the hill,
Believin' in your heart someday, that I'd stand still,
People you know life, is just one bitter pill, oh yes it is,
Don't pity me.

Too proud to beg, you understand,
I can make it God knows if anyone else can,
But I know time, waits for no man, oh no,
So don't pity me.

You know why?

I can walk by myself, stay by myself,
I don't even have to bother you,
Oh well friends I guess, my only happiness,
Is just to hold on, to my blues.

Skies are blue, so am I,
Pretending I'm happy, god knows, I'm dissatisfied,
Cos I'm just too, just too mean to cry, oh no,
Don't pity me.

Once upon a time your time was my time, all the time,
But it seems like the time you had for me now is gone,
If you know I'm havin' a little tough luck, I'm not gonna give up,
I'm gonna just keep on, holdin' on.

I've hardened my heart, It has no more pain,
Every loss don't you know is gonna be my gain,
Cos I know time, gonna change everything, oh yes,
Don't pity me.

I can walk by myself, stay by myself,
I don't even have to bother you,
Oh well friends I guess, my only happiness,
Is just to hold on, to my blues.

Skies are blue, so am I,
Pretending I'm happy, oh Lord, I'm dissatisfied,
But I'm just too, just too mean to cry, oh yes I am,
Don't pity me.

Too mean, sometimes I get even,
So don't pity me.