Lyr Add: Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb

Subject: Lyr Req: 'out and down' by Mance Lipscombe
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 03:55 AM

Hello! Can anybody help me with the lyrics of the song "Out and Down" by Mance Lipscomb? It's from the album 'You'll never find another man like Mance' (probably an Arhoolie record). I had it on an old tape, but lost it. Thank you!

Subject: Lyr Add: Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 04:58 AM

This is Mance Lipscomb's version of East St Louis Blues
^^
Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb

On my way to East Saint Louis
Didn have but one thin dime,
Didn have but one thin dime,
Didn have but one thin dime.

Before I would spend it, fur my own use,
Save it fur the lady friend a mine,
Save it fur the lady friend a mine,
Save it fur the lady friend a mine.

All I want, in this wide world,
Is a brand new duckin suit.
Is a brand new duckin suit.
My baby says she'd take me back.

Standin on the Karo [Cairo, Illinois] street one day
When a freight train, came passin by,
Freight train come apassin by,
Freight train come apassin by.

Waved my hand at the girl I love,
Hung down my head an I cried,
Hung down my head an I cried,
Hung down my head an I cried.

Cried, "All I got is done gone"
All I got is done gone,
All I got is done gone.
Sumpm keep atellin me, I wont be round here long.

Aint nothin I brought in this wide world,
Aint nothin I'm goin carry away,
Aint nothin I'm goin carry away,
Nothin I'm gonna carry way.

Follad my woman to the buryin ground,
Down to the buryin ground,
Down to the buryin ground,
Watcht the pallbarriers slow let her down.

Now I'm lookin down in my baby's face,
I'm lookin at my baby's face,
Now I'm lookin down in my baby's face.
"I love you baby, I caint take yo place."

Mmmm, have mercy,
Lawd, have mercy on me,
Aw Lawd, have mercy on me,
Oh, oh, have mercy, on me.


I've reproduced these lyrics from Alyn (1994)I Say Me for a Parable: the Oral Autobiography of Mance Lipscomb, Texas Bluesman New York: Da Capo Press pp.190 - 191.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb
From: GUEST,Olivier (aka GUEST)
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 03:07 AM

Thank you, Brian! I really love this song and couldn't find the lyrics anywhere. I Remember that the girl Mance was singing about in the version I lost, had to do "99 years on the county farm". Do you know if there is another version of this song? Maybe it is just improvisation by Mance.

thanks again!

Olivier van Till
Groningen, The Netherlands

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 18 Sep 08 - 05:50 AM

Olivier,

It's quite possible that Mance did several versions of the song. The one I've posted was a transcription made by Glen Alyn when Mance played the song to him as part of interviews for the book. Mance also, for instance, sang One Thin Dime, which is another closely related song. The first two verses are pretty well the same as Out and Down. You can find a transcription her.

all the best

Brian

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Out and Down - Mance Lipscomb
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 24 Apr 15 - 03:59 PM

Here's a nice version of "Out And Down" by Mance that isn't the same recording transcribed in that book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMBenjblXpk