The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4268   Message #23094
Posted By: Jon W.
05-Mar-98 - 05:39 PM
Thread Name: ADD: Revenue Man (Charley Patton)
Subject: Lyr Add: REVENUE MAN revisions (Charley Patton)
Checking against the lyrics included in the album, there are the following differences.

1st verse, third line (including spoken part):
(boy if he hollers, you don't stop boy)
If he hollers'n you don't stop you will likely be knocked out.

2nd verse, first & second lines:
I don't love Saltwater, she always wants a drink...

3rd Verse first & second lines:
Ah, safe sweet home through that shining star...

I think the album version is correct for the first verse change. The second verse sounds like he sings "I don't love salt water" but it doesn't quite make sense to me. The third verse is even harder to decipher. There is a nearly-identical verse in "Bird Nest Blues" but it's just as hard to understand. I don't think either my version or the album's version is correct. Anyone else care to take a stab at it?