Lyr Req: I'm Going Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: GUEST,gixxxxer
Date: 15 Oct 02 - 06:29 PM

Bruce Molsky did the song "Sugar Babe". That is the version you are looking for!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: Stewie
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 09:29 PM

Rinzler's notes to the Smithsonian CD indicate that Gaither Carlton learned it from a neighbouring fiddler, Tom Hodges, and Doc learned it from his father.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: BACK TO MEXICO (New Lost City Ramblers)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 05:54 AM

There's an entry of this song in The Traditional Ballad Index: Back to Jericho.

Back to Jericho

DESCRIPTION: Reworked floating verses in white-blues form: "I'm going back to Jericho, sugar babe (x3)"; "Never seen the likes since I've been born...." "Old Aunt Jemima going through the sticks...." "What you gonna do when the meat gives out...." Etc.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recording, Dock Walsh)
KEYWORDS: humorous nonballad floatingverses
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation): Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 170-171, "Back to Mexico" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Crawdad" (words, pattern, tune)
Notes: Jericho is a town in South Carolina. The singer is probably referring to that Jericho, not the one in the Bible. - PJS
Walsh's original recording was entitled "Back to Jericho," so I have chosen that title. Cohen/Seeger/Wood's title is changed, for unstated reasons. - PJS
I was tempted to classify this as a version of "Crawdad," since that is the source for so many of the verses. I'm still not sure about the matter. Does anyone know any other versions of this song? - RBW
File: CSW170
.......................................................

BACK TO MEXICO
(New Lost City Ramblers, from Carolina Tar Heels, Vi 23611)

I'm a-going back to Mexico, sugar babe (3)
I'm a-getting married before I go, sugar babe.

Old Aunt Jemima going through the sticks, sugar babe, (3)
Puffing and a-blowing like a Hudson six, sugar babe.

Never seen the likes since I been born, sugar babe, (3)
Picking up sticks and parching corn, sugar babe.

What you going to do when the meat gives out, sugar babe? (3)
Sit in the corner with your mouth poked out, sugar babe.

I'm going back to Jericho, sugar babe (3)
I'm going to marry before I go, sugar babe.

What you going to do when the meat comes in, sugar babe? (3)
Sit on the corner with a greasy chin, sugar babe.

Repeat fifth verse.

(From The New Lost City Ramblers Song Book, Oak, 1964, pp. 186-187)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: masato sakurai
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 05:28 AM

"Dock" Walsh recorded I'm Going Back To Jericho (Columbia 15094 - D) [Realaudio from Honkingduck] in 1926.

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M GOING BACK TO JERICHO (from Watson)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 04:38 AM

Here's what I hear. Couple of places aren't very clear.

Lin

I'M GOING BACK TO JERICHO

I'm goin' back to Jericho, sugar babe,
I'm goin' back to Jericho, sugar babe,
I'm goin' back to Jericho,
and I'm getting married 'fore I go, Sugar babe.

Never seen the like since I been born, sugar babe,
Never seen the like since I been born, sugar babe,
Never seen the like since I been born,
Pickin' up sticks and [???? poppin'] corn, sugar babe.

What you gonna do when the meat comes in, sugar babe?
What you gonna do when the meat comes in, sugar babe?
What you gonna do when the meat comes in,
Sit up in the corner with a greasy chin, sugar babe.

What you gonna do when the weather gets cold, sugar babe?
What you gonna do when the weather gets cold, sugar babe?
What you gonna do when the weather gets cold,
Do like a ground hog, hunt me a hole, sugar babe.

I'm goin' back to Jericho, sugar babe,
I'm goin' back to Jericho, sugar babe,
I'm goin' back to Jericho,
and I'm [????? getting married] 'fore I go, Sugar babe.

(Trad. arr. and adapt. G. Carlton-. Watson/Smithsonian Folkways Pub., BMI)
(Tune appears to be "Froggy Went A'Courting")

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: Goody2Shz
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 11:12 AM

Yep. That's the one. Guess I need to listen real close to the recording, and try to get the words that way.

Thanks for your help...dmp

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 07 Aug 01 - 10:53 AM

Well I guess I'd better not do a search for the words to Seventeen come Sunday then!
Are you looking for the Doc Watson song I'm going to Jericho? If so look in the Mudcat Shop Doc Watson & Clarence Ashley 1960-62:Smithsonian Folkways Sorry no lyrics available.

Subject: Back to Jericho, Sugar Babe
From: Goody2Shz
Date: 06 Aug 01 - 09:31 AM

Man-o-man...I managed to get confused (not unusual) when I first requested lyrics to this. Gave everyone wrong references.

In any event, the one line in the song that I know is "I'm going back to Jericho, sugar babe. (Or maybe baby.)

Did you know that Google garners a gazillion porno sites when you look for "Sugar Babe"..??!! LOL