Lyr Req: Cecil Barfield (from Rarely Herd)

Subject: Lyr Req: Song about, not by, Cecil Barfield
From: Bee
Date: 12 Aug 07 - 09:52 PM

A musician friend is looking for lyrics of a song called Cecil Barfield (not a song by Cecil Barfield). Anyone know of this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about, not by, Cecil Barfield
From: greg stephens
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 06:33 AM

Well, there's a Bahamian folksong called "Cecil Gone in the Time of Storm", but to the best of my recollection it doesn't mention his surname.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about, not by, Cecil Barfield
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 07:13 AM

I couldn't find the lyrics on a quick look, but the album Coming of Age by Rarely Herd, has a track of that name. You can hear a clip at Amazon - Coming Of Age to check if it's the right song.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about, not by, Cecil Barfield
From: Bee
Date: 13 Aug 07 - 11:26 AM

Thanks, Mick. I've never heard the song, and my friend has no internet, but at least that confirms the song exists. My own Googling only brought up info about the actual Cecil Barfield.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about, not by, Cecil Barfield
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 12:24 AM

I transcribed this much from a couple of sound samples:

He plays the nameless tunes to near perfection,
But he ain't made the Music City News....

Hey, let them fingers ramble on that flat-top guitar.
Play that one you wrote; I'd like you to.
I'd sit right here on this front porch forever
While Cecil Barfield plays his Georgia Blues.

Subject: Lyr Add: BARFIELD, CECIL (from Rarely Herd)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 09:12 PM

My transcription from Spotify:

BARFIELD, CECIL*
As sung by The Rarely Herd on "Coming of Age" (2011)

Somewhere [be]side a southwest Georgia back-road
In the yard a painted Chevy shows its wounds.
On the front porch sits an old man with a guitar.
The beat is right on time and he's in tune.

This ain't the way old Cecil makes his livin'.
Maybe he ain't had the chance to choose.
There ain't no one around here picks a guitar
Like Cecil when he plays his Georgia blues.

CHORUS: Hey let them fingers ramble on that flattop guitar,
And play that one you wrote; I'd like you to.
I'd sit right here on this front porch forever
While Cecil Barfield plays his Georgia blues.

He plays a nameless tune to near perfection,
But he ain't made the Music City News.
He's never made a record, but he ought to,
'Cause Cecil sure can play them Georgia blues.

His old hound wags his tail but not in meter.
A car goes by and the red dust ends a few(?)
There's Clarice(?) hangin' clothes out in the backyard
While Cecil Barfield plays his Georgia blues. CHORUS

And I'd sit right here on this front porch forever
While Cecil Barfield plays his Georgia blues.


[* That's the way it's listed at Spotify and at Amazon.com. I can't figure out why the song isn't mentioned at The Rarely Herd's official web site. The album is shown there, with an earlier date, and 2 fewer songs.

[According to Allmusic.com, Cecil Barfield did make a record; called "South Georgia Blues" (2009). One of his songs, called GEORGIA BOTTLENECK BLUES, is included in the 4-CD set "Art of Field Recording, Vol. 1" (2007). You can hear one of his songs, SUN GOIN' DOWN, at YouTube.]