The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24002   Message #270690
Posted By: Stewie
02-Aug-00 - 08:55 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Rag Mama (Fuller; Kweskin; Rush)
Subject: Lyr Add: RAG MAMA (Blind Boy Fuller)
Here is the Kweskin version of 'Rag Mama':

RAG MAMA

I am going downtown with my hat in my hand
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Might as well be lookin' for a needle in the sand
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Now, dee dee dum a deedly dum, rag mama
Come on, baby, let's do that rag

Now, you get one woman, you better get two
One for your buddy and one for you
You better get a wife and a sweetheart too
Wife don't love you but your sweetheart do
Now, dee dee dum a deedly dum, rag mama
Come on, baby, let's do that rag

I never thought my gal would treat me so
Lover man in my back door
Now, come on mama, what you know
You gonna reap just what you sow
Now, dee dee dum a deedly dum, rag mama
Come on, baby, let's do that rag

Hey, saw my gal with a man, she was holdin' his hand
I had a pistol in my pocket, blackjack in my back
Run outside with a half a brick
Sayin', I'm gonna get that so-and-so
Dee dee dum a deedly dum, rag mama
Come on, baby, let's do that rag
All right, we gonna rag on out now
Whup, bup …

Source: Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band' 'Acoustic Swing & Jug' Vanguard CD 79521-2

Here is a slighly different version from Tom Rush:

RAG MAMA

I am going downtown with my hat in my hand
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Is like lookin' for a needle that's lost in the sand
Rag mama, do that rag

If you got one woman, you better get two
There's one for your buddy and one for you
Well you better get a wife and a sweetheart too
If the wife don't love you, then the sweetheart do
Rag mama, do that rag

If you got one woman, you better get five
'Cos one might quit you and the others might die
It's a mighty hard job keepin' women in line
If one'll treat you good, then five'll treat you fine
Rag mama, do that rag

I caught my gal and my buddy together in his shack
There's a pistol in my pocket, blackjack in the back
And I'm goin' out and get myself half a brick
I believe I'll hurt that so-and-so
Rag mama, do that rag

I am going downtown with my hat in my hand
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Is like lookin' for a needle that's lost in the sand
Yes, rag mama, do that rag

Source: Tom Rush 'Blues, Songs and Ballads' Big Beat CDWIK 948

For the sake of comparison, here is Blind Boy Fuller's original version as best as I can transcribe it. Any corrections welcomed.

RAG MAMA RAG
(Blind Boy Fuller)

Said I'm goin' uptown, hat in my hand
Lookin' for the woman ain't got no man
This the way be lookin' for a needle in the sand
Lookin' for a woman ain't got no man
Oh rag, rag, rag
Said do that rag
Oh rag, oh rag
Rag, said do that rag

Said I wouldn't have thought my gal would treat me so
Love another man, stay at my back door
Mind mama what you sow
You gotta reap just what you sow
Oh rag, rag now
Rag baby, rag mama
Said do that rag
Oh rag, do it a long time
Rag, said do that rag

Now, if you get you one woman better get you two
One for your buddy, other one for you
Got me a wife and a sweetheart too
Wife don't love me but my sweetheart do
Oh rag, rag baby, rag
Rag mama, said do that rag
Oh rag, rag
Rag baby, said do that rag

[Long instrumental and scat singing plus more oh rag, rag baby etc]

Said my gal hollered 'murder', I ain't raised my hand
Pistol in my pocket, blackjack in my hand
Took my girl under the willow tree
Heard the girl holler 'don't murder me'
Oh wretch,
Oh rag, rag now baby
Rag, said do that rag
Oh rag, oh rag baby
Rag again, said do that rag
Rag now, girl

Source: Blind Boy Fuller 'East Coast Piedmont Style' Roots 'N Blues Series Columbia/Legacy CK 46777

Cheers, Stewie.