Lyr Req: J.C. Holmes Blues (Bessie Smith)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: J.C. Holmes Blues (Bessie Smith)
From: GUEST,Billy
Date: 23 Feb 12 - 01:34 PM

What I've heard is: a heavy-weighted wheeler with a ride to fame.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: J.C. Holmes Blues (Bessie Smith)
From: Roberto
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 08:03 AM

Thanks everybody. Now I think we got it. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: J.C. Holmes Blues (Bessie Smith)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 06:58 PM

I hear it as:

"A heavy-weight wheelman with a mighty fame."

And I agree that it's "mule to ride." If I'm not mistaken, the trumpet player makes a "hee-haw" sound right after those words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Roberto
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 01:38 AM

Thanks, Stewie. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 10:45 PM

The above transcription looks good to me, Roberto, except it should be 'got a mule to ride'. It difficult to decipher whether it's 'sat Miss Alice Fry' or 'said Miss Alice Fry'

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 12:06 PM

I've made some corrections using the text posted by Peace. Still ain't satisfied...

Listen, people, if you want to hear
A story told about a brave engineer
J. C. Holmes was the rider's name
A heavyweight, women, with a mighty fame

J. C. said with a smile so fine
Woman gets tired of one man all the time
Get two or three if you have to hide
If the train go an' leave you got a few to ride

In the second cabin said Miss Alice Fry
Want to ride with Mr. J. C. or die
I ain' good lookin' an' I don't dress fine
But I'm a ramblin' woman with a ramblin' mind

Just then the conductor hollered all aboard
And the porter said we got our load
Look-a-here, son, we ought to been gone
I feel like ridin' if it's all night long

J.C. said just before he died
Two more roads he wanted to ride
Everybody wondered what road it could be
He said the Southern Pacific an' the Santa Fe

J. C. said I don't feel right
I saw my girl with a man last night
Soon as I get enough steam just right
I been mistreated an' don't min' dyin'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 09:08 PM

Taft's Concordance is a great help, but it does have errors, as someone pointed out in another thread. A good place to begin,however.
I wish I had more of these old recordings.
A recording of J C Holmes Blues by Bessie Smith, 1925, is available at Red Hot Jazz, along with other of her great songs.
Bessie Smith

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 08:28 PM

It's a little hard to be back to the index of that anthology and concordance of pre-war blues lyrics - click here. Great fnd, Peace!
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Peace
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 05:52 PM

J. C. Holmes Blues
         New York, 27 May 1925

         (140629‑2) Co‑14095‑D Co CL‑855

Listen people : if you want to hear

A story told : about a brave engineer

J C Holmes : was the rider's name

*A heavy weight woman : with a hearty fate*

J C said : with a smile so fine

Woman gets tired : of one man all the time

Get two or three : if you have to hide

If the train go and leave : you got a mule to ride

In the second cabin : set Miss Alice Bry

Want to ride : with Mr J C or die

I ain't good‑looking : and I don't dress fine

But I'm a rambling woman : with a rambling mind

Just then : the conductor hollered all aboard

And the porter said : we've got a load

Look a‑here son : we ought to been gone

I feel like riding : if it's all night long

J C said : just before he died

Two more roads : he wanted to ride

Everybody wondered : what road it could be

He said the Southern Pacific : and the Santa Fe

J C said : I don't feel right

I saw my gal : with a man last night

Soon as I get : enough steam just right

I been mistreated : and I don't mind dying



That is from a Google of

\C Text transcribed from discography listed in and edited for ...

Subject: Lyr Req: Bessie Smith's J.C. Holmes
From: Roberto
Date: 08 Dec 07 - 11:35 AM

Please, someome to check if this transcription is OK. Most doubts about the fourth stanza... R

Listen, people, if you want to hear
A story told about a brave engineer
J.C. Holmes was the rider's name
A heavyweight, women, with a mighty fame

J. C. said with a smile so fine
Woman gets tired of one man all the time
Get two or three if you have to hide
If the train go an' leave you got a few to ride

In the second cabin said Miss Hattie Brown
Goin' to ride with Mr. J. C. or die
I ain' good lookin' an' I don't dress fine
But I'm a travellin' woman with a travellin' mind

Just as the conductor of an all aboard
In the corner said we got our load
Look-a-here, son, we ought to been gone
I feel like ridin' if it's all night long

J.C. said just before he died
Two more roads he wanted to ride
Everybody wondered what road it could be
He said the Southern Pacific an' the Santa Fe

J. C. said I don't feel right
I saw my girl with a man last night
Soon as I get enough things just right
I been mistreated an' don't min' dyin'