The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71260   Message #1219733
Posted By: Joe Offer
06-Jul-04 - 02:27 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Levee Camp Moan (Texas Alexander)
Subject: Lyr Req: LEVEE CAMP MOAN (from Joe Savage)
That was enough to lead me to the lyrics in the Lomax book, Nerd. I think the singer was Joe Savage, but there was a Walter Brown present and participating during the interview.

Got me 'cused of thieving.
I can't see a thing.
They got me accused of forgery
And I can't even write my name.

Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me.
Boys, I just can't stand
No more of this third degree.

(sing-speak)
Now listen here, boys,
I wanna tell you sumpin.

(singing)
They got me accused of taxes,
And I don't have a lousy dime.
They got me accused of children,
And ain't nar one of them mine.

Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me.
Boys, I just can't stand
No more of this third degree.

(sing-speak)
Boy, now looka here, I wanna tell you one mo thing.

(singing)
They got me 'cused of perjury,
I can't even raise my hand.
They got me 'cused of murder,
An I have never harmed a man.

Bad luck,
Bad luck is killing me.
Boys, I just can't stand,
No more of this third degree.
I'm gone,
So, baby—so long.


source: The Land Where the Blues Began, Alan Lomax, 1993; pp. 254-55
(no tune)
I imagine this is on a Lomax CD, but I have no idea where to find it. The version by Alger "Texas" Alexander is on a Yazoo CD, Before the Blues, Vol. 3: The Early American Black Music Scene