Lyr Req: Prohibition Blues (Clayton McMichen)

Subject: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: GUEST,Colin Meadows
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 06:12 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics for Prohibition Blues by Clayton McMitchan.

Subject: RE: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:22 PM

CLAYTON MCMICHEN

Please note spelling.

Subject: RE: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 12:27 PM

Some lyrics here--and maybe the whole song on mp3. (Can't access it now.)

Subject: RE: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: Banjovey
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:18 PM

Peace
Thanks for the link. It only has 2 verses. The whole song is on a CD by Jorma Kaukonen but I can't decipher all the lyrics and the various web site and google seem not to have a printed text. I'll keep trying

Subject: RE: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:38 PM

Sorry I can't be of more help. I keep coming up with zero. But, I'll keep looking.

Subject: Lyr Add: PROHIBITION BLUES (from Jorma Kaukonen)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 08:10 PM

There is a video of Jorma Kaukonen performing PROHIBITION BLUES at YouTube, from which I transcribed this:

PROHIBITION BLUES
As sung by Jorma Kaukonen

1. Well, walking(?) liquor has done me wrong. I can't sleep night or day.
A terrible feelin' that comes along when the kick it begins to get away.
…poison and a mixture or two. They call it sugar of lead.
If you drink bootleg 'shine, you'll sure have an achin' head.

2. Did you ever wake up on a Sunday morn with snakes all around your bed?
I know you have. I have, too. I know I'd rather be dead.
The preacher comes around and gives advice, and then you have to stall.
But if he gets to the bottle first, you know, he'll never leave you none at all.

3. I tell you, brother, and I won't lie, what's the matter in this land:
They drink it wet and vote it dry and hide it if they can.
They'll pitch a party and they'll all get drunk, and call it society,
But if they catch you with a pint, good mornin' penitentiary.

4. Well, prohibition* has killed more folks than Sherman ever seen.
If they don't get whiskey, they'll take to dope, cocaine, and morphine.
This ol' country it sure ain't dry, and dry will never be seen.
Prohibition* is just a scheme, a fine money-makin' machine.

5. Carbolic acid and creosote ought to kill any man.
Some get paralyzed, some get well, some hit the Golden Land.
The undertaker has got to live. Beat him if you can.
Prohibition*, say it again, is a money-makin' fine machine.

[*pronounced "pro-high-bition"]

I found this interesting quote in Creating Country Music: Fabricating Authenticity by Richard A. Peterson, 1997, page 246:

It would be interesting to know who decided not to release Jimmie Rodgers's one recorded social protest song, "Prohibition Has Done Me Wrong." Of all the songs he ever cut, it is the only one never released, and, in fact, the master was lost. The song says that many people vote dry and drink wet and that preachers too are hypocrites. It cautions that when people can't get alcohol, they turn to "dope, cocaine, and morphine" so that "prohibition has killed more folks than Sherman ever seen." The song concludes that Prohibition is just a scheme, a money-making machine. Ironically, the song is known today only because it was earlier recorded by Clayton McMichen, its author (as Bob Nichols) (Wolfe 1993). In that rendition McMichen sings and yodels in a way very reminiscent of Jimmie Rodgers.

Subject: RE: lyrics req.for Prohibition Blues by Clay
From: Stewie
Date: 25 Jan 08 - 10:52 PM

Hi Jim, McMichen's previously unissued recording may be found on 'White Country Blues: 1926-1938 A Lighter Shade of Blue' in the Columbia Blues n' Roots series [a double CD set: Columbia/Legacy C2K 47466].

The word in the first line should be 'wildcat' - 'Wildcat liquor'. One of McMichen's groups was called the Georgia Wildcats.

The missing word in line 3 is 'Potash'.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prohibition Blues (Clayton McMichen)
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 20 Nov 08 - 04:44 PM

Hey Jim & Stewie,

Just to clarify, Jorma's version does indeed refer to "wildcat liquor," but the original McMichen version actually has him singing "blockade liquor," a now-antiquated term for the 'bootleg shine'.

-Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prohibition Blues (Clayton McMichen)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 04:47 PM

I thought it said White Cane liqour

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prohibition Blues (Clayton McMichen)
From: GUEST,Martin
Date: 23 Mar 17 - 08:40 AM

These are the words I sing, which I got from Clayton McMichen's recording. Some of it could be misheard of course and it';s years since I last listened to it and may have "modified it" in performance.

Blockade liquor has done me wrong. I can't sleep night or day.
A terrible feelin' that comes along when the kick it begins to get away.
Potash poison and a mixture two. They call it sugar of lead.
If you drink the bootleg 'shine, you sure will get an achin' head.

2. Did you ever wake up on a Sunday morn with snakes all around your bed?
I know you have. I have, too. I know I'd rather be dead.
The preacher comes around and gives advice, and then you have to stall.
But if he gets to the bottle first, he'll never leave you none at all.

3. I tell you, brother, and I won't lie, what's the matter in this land:
They drink it wet and vote it dry and hide it if they can.
They'll pitch a party and they'll all get drunk, and call it society,
But if they catch you with a pint, good mornin' penitentiary.

4. Well, prohibition has killed more folks than Sherman ever seen.
If they don't get whiskey, they'll take dope, cocaine, and morphine.
This ol' country it sure ain't dry, and dry will never be seen.
Prohibition is just a scheme, a money-makin' scythe machine.

5. Carbolic acid and creosote ought to kill any man.
Some get paralyzed, some get well, some hit the Golden Land.
The undertaker has got to live. help him if you can.
Prohibition, say it again, is a money-makin' scythe machine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prohibition Blues (Clayton McMichen)
From: GUEST,DNL
Date: 23 Feb 19 - 06:47 AM

Does anyone have chords or a tab to share, please?