The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #133301   Message #3036416
Posted By: BrooklynJay
19-Nov-10 - 09:45 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Ain't Goin' Down to the Well No Mo'
Subject: RE: Req: Leadbelly: Ain't Goin Down To The Well No Mo'
Here is the entire transcription from Leadbelly's concert of June 15, 1949, recorded live at the University of Texas in Austin. (Leadbelly had just performed the field holler "Ho Day.") I think I've got it around 99.99% accurate.

Leadbelly (Spoken):

Now, this is gonna be a different holler, and this is when a man is drivin' mules, and drivin' oxens, and workin' in the field. My mother used to call this a "cornfield holler," but just still, I'm still hollerin'. I wouldn't let her hear me, 'cause she wanted me to go to church and sing the spirituals, what, I wanted to sing that cornfield holler, little boy, because I liked to!

Now, I'm gonna holler one for you. But, when she was livin' at the time and I was little, I wouldn't let her hear me holler it - but I'm still hollerin' 'em, and this is "Ain't Goin' Down To The Well No More," and that means, "I ain't goin' down to the well no more," that means a whole lotsa things - 'cause a lotsa boys sometime makes a error, and gets in jail. When they be lucky enough to get out - uh-uh! - no, they ain't goin' back there no more! Or sometime, a fella might be gamblin' and he lose all his money...got to go home to his wife - uh-uh! - no, he ain't gonna do that no more! [Audience laughs] That's what I mean...what I mean, "ain't goin' down to the well no more." And the boy started hollerin':

Ohhh...ohhh...Lord, Lord,
Ain't goin' down,
I ain't goin' down,
Oh baby, to the well no more.

Ohhh...I'm the true believer,
Ohhh...I'm the true believer,
Ohhh...I ain't goin' down,
I ain't goin' down,
Oh baby, to the well no more.

Ohhh...if I ever gets able,
If I ever gets able,
Able to pay this debt I owe,

Ohhh...I ain't goin' down,
I ain't goin' down,
Oh baby, to the well no more.

Ohhh...whoa!