Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama (Leadbelly)

Subject: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama
From: GUEST,Beeds
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 01:15 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics to the Leadbelly song, I'm sorry Mama?
I have the song on Rounder CD 1044 Lead Belly Midnight Special, which is a Library of Congress Recording, recorded by Alan Lomax.

The words I have so far are these:

Every time I go to town, somebody's kickin' my heart around,
I'm sorry, sorry mama to my heart.

It makes no difference if I'm a hound, you gotta quit kickin' my heart around, I'm sorry etc.

This is a difficult verse. I first heard it as:

Sit at a meal and take bite 'til there's nothin' left but potatoes on a (............?)Could be 'Chine o' land'.
with the help of a friend I now hear:
See a steady meal and pay your rent 'til there's nothing but potatoes on a (...........?) Again it could still be 'Chine o' land or lamb.

Every time I go to school the teacher keeps whippin' me with that rule, I'm sorry ect.

And it makes no difference if I'm a fool, she's gotta quit whippin' me with that rule, I' sorry etc.

I'm sorry, x3
Sorry mama to my heart.

Guitar

Again a hard verse. I had it as

Oh Jambolayo glad you're gone, you good for nothin' you tried me hard, I'm sorry etc.

My friend has:

gambler lay your (ante?) down
you good for nothing you ---- hound.

The last verse I had as:

I'll tell you the truth and an actual fact, an I don't choose nothin' but the (used to sing 'kind I like') now it sound's like: I don't chew nothin' but the bite I like. I'm sorry etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Cheers Beeds

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M SORRY MAMA (Lead Belly)
From: 12-stringer
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 03:13 PM

These recordings were first reissued in the late 60s on Elektra 301/302, a boxed set, produced by Lawrence Cohn. I can't play the vinyl currently but from the notes booklet, here is Cohn's transcript of the song. (The assistance of Mrs Martha Ledbetter, Huddie's surviving widow, in deciphering songs for the booklet is duly appreciated, and I've always found Cohn's version of the lyrics to be quite dependable.)


I'm Sorry Mama

Every time I go downtown
Somebody's kicking my hide around
I'm sorry
Sorry mama to my heart.

Makes no difference if I am a hound
You gotta quit kicking my hide around

Sift that meal and save your bran
Can't raise nothing but potatoes on a sandy land

Every time I go to school
The teacher she's a-whippin' me with that rule

And it makes no difference if I am a fool
She gotta quit a-whippin' me with that rule

I'm sorry, I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Sorry mama to my heart

Oh, Jimbo lay your banjo down
You good-for-nothin' you travellin' hound

I'll tell you the truth and the natchul facts
I don't chew nothin' but the Battle Ax

I'm sorry, sorry
I'm sorry,
sorry mama to my heart.

"Battle Ax" was a brand of chewing tobacco popular around the turn of the last century.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama
From: GUEST,Beeds
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 04:51 PM

Thanks 12-stringer you've made my day.

It's 9.50pm here so I'm off to the pub to celebrate.

I'll have one for you Cheers Beeds

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama (Lead Belly)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 12:06 AM

I haven't heard this song, but it sounds as if it's related to HOUND DOG SONG in the DT (which is also known as YA GOTTA QUIT KICKING MY DOG AROUN', and similar titles).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama (Lead Belly)
From: 12-stringer
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 03:22 AM

Not really related, though one verse is probably a reworking of "Hound." No resemblance melodically -- the closest "Dog" to this one is "Salty." It's another of those VI7-II7-V7-I tunes.

Listening to an mp3 of this I had forgotten I had, I'm pretty sure that Cohn misheard one phrase -- "travellin' hound" should be "triflin' hound."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 10 - 05:21 PM

does anyone know the chords to play this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Sorry Mama (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST,Kase
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 04:55 PM

while aside from the crazy stuff god love em

its basically

D
Every time I go downtown
E
Somebody's kicking my hide around
A                           D
I'm sorry Sorry mama to my heart