Lyr ADD: Sickbed Blues (Skip James)

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Sickbed Blues (Skip James)
From: cnd
Date: 21 Apr 25 - 10:03 AM

Luigi, that's a good start, and appreciate your providing it. YouTube transcriptions have come a long, long way from what they once were....

Note that "two weeks to go" in Davis's introduction doesn't make much sense -- the song had previously been released on the 1963 album, The Greatest Of The Delta Blues Singers (Storyville 670 185) -- unless he's just hamming it up for the audience. Note that the 1963 recording is a third version, different from Jim's transcription above -- listen.

Here's how I hear the 1964 Newport recording Luigi asked about.

(spoken) This is a piece that I composed when I was in Tunica, Mississippi, in the hospital, on my sick bed, two weeks ago".

Laying sick, on my bed
I'm laying down sick, on in my bed
I used to have few friends but they wished that I were dead

I got a letter this morning -- how you reckon it read?
I got a letter this morning -- how you reckon it read?
Boys, I've been meditating on what my baby said

Ahh, Lord, oh Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord
I've been badly mistreated and abused like a dog

The doctor came, looking very sad
The doctor came, looking very sad
He diagnosed my case and he said it was very bad

He walked away, talking very low
He walked away, talking very low
He said, "It may get better but I ain't never get well, no more"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sickbed Blues (Skip James)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Apr 25 - 09:26 PM

From email:

Dear Joe,
I beg your pardon if I'm unable to create a new thread on my own on Mudcat Cafe' Org. but I'd be interested in knowing the very lyrics of "Sick Bed Blues" by Skip James in the Live version of Newport 1964.
I tried to transcribe the lyrics from the subtitles but considering my limitations in listening comprehension on your language I am not sure if they are correct.
The YouTube link of the video:
https://youtu.be/WEEyb9HsMfg?si=mtdOROZoCacob5EH

This is my transcription :

Spoken:

"This is a piece that I composed when I was in Tunica in Mississippi in a hospital, on my sick bed, two weeks ago".

1 . Layin' sick,on in my bed
I'm layin' down sick,on in my bed
I used to have few friends but they wished that I were dead.

2 – I got a letter this morning,how you reckonin’it read?
I got a letter this morning,how you reckonin’it read?
Oh Lord , I’ve been meditating on what my baby said.

3 - I hollered, 'Oh Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord
I’ve been badly mistreated and misused like a dog

4 -The doctor came, lookin' very sad
The doctor came, lookin' very sad
He diagnosed my case and said it was awful bad

5 - He walked away, talkin' very low
He walked away,talkin' very low
He said,:'May get better but he never get well, no mo' “.
****

Looki'n forward to hear from you I remain Yours Sincerely.
Luigi
20900 Monza MB
Italy

Subject: Lyr Add: SICKBED BLUES (Skip James)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 04:48 PM

Here's my transcription. You can hear this complete song at the Document Records web site.


SICKBED BLUES
As sung by Skip James on "Skip James Live Volume 1 - Bloomington 1968 Part 1" (Document Records, DOCD-5633)

Layin' sick, runnin' on my bed.
I'm layin' sick, runnin' on my bed.
I used to have some friends but I wish that I were dead.

I got a letter; how you reckon it read?
I got a letter; how you reckon it read?
I just ... that I said.

The doctor came lookin' very sad.
The doctor came; he's lookin' very sad.
He diagnosed my case an' said it was awful bad.

He walked away, mumblin' very low.
He walked away, an' mumblin' very low.
He say, "He may get better, but he'll never get well no mo'."

I hollered, "Oh, Lord, Lordy, Lord!"
I hollered, "Oh, Lord, Lord, Lord!
I been so bad ... just like a dog."

I got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride.
I got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride.
I got a long trip and I'm just too weak to ride.
There's a thousand people standin' at my bedside.

I been on the ocean an' I been 'way 'cross the sea.
I been on the ocean, I been across the sea.
I can't find nobody that can feel my sympathy.

Ah, you take stone and bruise my bones.
You take stone and you can bruise my bones.
You take stone and you can bruise my bones,
But you really gonna miss me when I'm dead and gone.

Subject: LYR.REQ.(Rechal):
From: Shula
Date: 30 Sep 97 - 12:40 AM

Dear Rechal,

Sounds like an interesting piece. Please share. Thanks.

Shula