10 Sep 08 - 11:14 PM (#2436966) Subject: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel From: Jim Krause There's a scrap of a Mance Lipscomb lyric going through my head. I can't remember all the verses to Rocks and Gravel. Here's what I remember: Chorus Rocks and Gravel makes a solid road (2X) Takes the gal I love to satisfy my soul. 1. I went to the racetrack to see my pony run. If he wins any money, gonna take my baby some. (CHO.) 2. I went to the depot and looked up on the board Said "Good times here, but better on down the road." (CHO.) |
10 Sep 08 - 11:31 PM (#2436975) Subject: LYR ADD: Rocks and Gravel - Mance Lipscomb From: katlaughing Here's what I found from HERE: Rocks and Gravel Mance Lipscomb Standard E V1 Rocks and Gravel makes a solid road (x2) Takes a do-right woman to satisfy my soul V2 Well, I'm goin' out west just ta see my pony run Goin out west to see my pony run If I win any money I'm gon' send my good girl some V3 Here's a dollar mama, made it in the rain (x2) It's a hard ol' dollar made it just the same V4 That's your tone daddy, every time you come (x2) I ain't got no money but I'll soon have some V5 Man in the army, wants a furlough home (x2) About face rookie, you ain't been here long V6 Man in the army eatin' out of trough (x2) Just waitin' for Uncle Sam to try and pay him off V7 Got a girl in the country, she won't come to town (x2) Got one in Louisiana and she's water bound V8 I can't see how can you, treat your daddy mean (x2) When you lay all night in your daddy's arms and dream |
11 Sep 08 - 12:14 AM (#2437014) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel From: Q (Frank Staplin) Mostly revision of old verses. |
11 Sep 08 - 03:37 AM (#2437080) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel From: katlaughing Well, do you have the old verses? It's not in the DT and a search only brings up a few references and incomplete lyrics. |
12 Sep 08 - 11:39 AM (#2438405) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel (Mance Lipscomb) From: Jim Krause Thanks Kat. You're still here, I see. Yeah, I know, I don't post near as often as I used to. Thanks for the assist. Jim |
12 Sep 08 - 02:44 PM (#2438604) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel (Mance Lipscomb) From: Q (Frank Staplin) The verses are floaters from old African-American secular songs, many of which used the two-line rhyme. It would take some time to find all the actual uses, but a few examples, and then strung together to make a song like "PO' BOY LONG WAY FROM HOME" gives the idea. There must be many hundreds (thousands?). Two of them are from jodies, Azizi should recognize them. Going to the race track to see my pony run; If I win any money gonna give Caledonia some. (Collected 1915-1916 from track layers; from White, American Negro Folk Songs) It takes the rocks and gravel to make a solid road, It takes a good-lookin' woman to satisfy my soul. (Heard at fertilizer plant, Al, 1915, same reference) Takes rocks and gravel to make a solid road, I love you woman but your husband is a man I do despise. (Samer reference; from workers at dolomite quarry in Alabama) Boat's up de ribber an' she won't come down B'lieve to my soul she's water-boun'. Oh, my ragtime Liza Jane. (Same reference, railroad gangs, 1915, Alabama) Examples from PO' BOY- I wish a 'scushion train would run, Carry me back where I cum frum. My mother daid an' my father gone astray, You never miss you mother till she done gone away. No need, O babe, try to throw me down, A po' little boy jus' come to town. So she laid in jail, back to de wall, Dis brown-skin man cause of it all. or 'LOOKED DOWN DE ROAD Looked down de road jes' far as I could see, Well, the band did play "Nearer my God, to thee." and etc. I liked these- If my girl refuse me, shove me into the sea, Where de fishes an' de whales make a fuss over me. and extended into four lines- When I'se been dead, you needn't bury me at tall, You mought pickle my bones in alkihall; Den fold my han's "so", right across my breas'; An' go an' tell de folks I'se done gone to rest. Also many in Odum and Johnson, The Negro and His Songs. |
13 Sep 08 - 01:00 AM (#2438978) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel (Mance Lipscomb) From: Barry Finn There's a thread somewhere that uses the "Rocks & Gravel make a solid rod" but I don't know where it is. Takes rocks and gravel, honey, to make a solid road, now sugar Takes rocks and gravel, honey, to make a solid road, Well-a, it takes rocks and gravel, honey to make a solid road, now sugar It take a good looking woman honey to make a good looking whore. "Prison work some called "Early In The Morning" Barry |
13 Sep 08 - 02:58 PM (#2439349) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel (Mance Lipscomb) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Several old "Rocks and Gravel" songs. It takes gravel and rock to make a solid road, But it takes a chocolate baby to satisfy my soul. I'm going to build me a railroad from Birmingham to Rome (GA) Ain't nobody going to ride but a chocolate baby to the bone. Coll. AL, railroad crew, 1915; in White, American Negro Folk Songs, Gang Laborers, No. 49. White has a couple of fragments of "Early in the Morning," but I can't find a better version I had somewhere. Please post yours, it's a good example of the type. |
20 Jun 12 - 08:53 PM (#3366048) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rocks and Gravel (Mance Lipscomb) From: SINSULL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwB7B00usv0 Only took a few years but...this is the Ian and Sylvia version. Brilliant stuff! |