Hi,

Here is my take on the lyrics (only slight differences from those already in this thread), included in my review of this marvellous record on rateyourmusic, which I have replicated below.

I think the male voice sings "I know" (rather than "no") at the end of the thrice repeated line, and the female voice is singing "know" (rather than "no") , echoing the last line of the male singer's line, as she does with the lines ending "shine".

My review:-

Both these sides were cut in early November 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama, by the Rev. I.B. Ware, the Reverend accompanying himself on guitar with his wife joining him on vocals, and son apparently playing tambourine, but if present the tambourine is buried deep in the mix.

With a name which is pronounced "I Beware" it is extremely likely thst the artist name is a pseudonym, but if so the true identity of the artist (and the wonderful female singer, who may or may not have been his wife) is lost in the mists of time, most unfortunately.

"I Wouldn't Mind Dying (But I Gotta Go By Myself)" is an African-American gospel song which is known under a variety of titles, most often "Bye and Bye We're Going to See the King".

This recording is a very fine, deeply spiritual vocal duet, straight from the church:-

Lord, I wouldn't mind dyin' but I gotta go by myself [three times]
I wouldn't mind dyin' if that was all

Well after death there will be judgment come [three times]
I wouldn't mind dyin' if that was all

Bye and bye, we'll all see the King [three times]
I wouldn't mind dyin' if that was all

"You Better Quit Drinking Shine" is even better, with hypnotic, insistent guitar and vocals in a similar vein, the extended female vocal on the words "know" and "shine" at the end of each line being particularly effective, as they preach against the Satan inspired evil of moonshine:-

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

Words don't say them words he fears
You'd better quit drinkin' shine
I tell lies to my master's rear
You'd better quit drinkin' shine

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

Ol' Satan is a liar and a conjurer too
You'd better quit drinkin' shine
If you don't mind he'll conjure you
You'd better quit drinking shine

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

Oh, Satan wears that hypocrite shoe
You'd better quit drinking shine
If you don't mind he'll trample on you
You'd better quit drinking shine

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

Ol' Satan lie like a snake in the grass
You'd better quit drinking shine
He's always in some Christian tent
You'd better quit drinking shine

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

Oh, one of these mornings bright and fair
You'd better quit drinking shine
Gonna hitch on my wings, gonna try the air
You'd better quit drinking shine

Lord don't like it, I know (know, Lord) [three times]
You'd better quit drinking shine

These are two exceptional gospel blues sides.