Lyr Req: Backwater Blues (Leadbelly)

Subject: Lyr Req: Backwater Blues by Huddie Lead belly
From: declercq
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 04:19 AM

Hello
I'am looking for the words to a song by Leadbelly called "BACKWATER BLUES" from his live album UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 1949 (spoken and sung part)
As always, I know that this will take literally seconds to unearth it from your attics.
I thank you one and all.
Have a nice day too.

Monique

Subject: Lyr Add: BACK WATER BLUES (Bessie Smith)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 06:19 AM

Also recorded by Bessie Smith, this is her version from my files, haven't transcribed the Leadbelly version separately.

BACK WATER BLUES (Bessie Smith) When it rained five days and the skies turned dark as night (x2) There was trouble taking place in the lowlands at night I woke up this morning, wouldn't even get out of my door (x2) Enough trouble to make poor girl wonder where she gonna go They rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the farm (x2) I packed up all my clothing, throwed it in and they rowed me along It thundered and lightened and the wind began to blow (x2) There was a thousand women, didn't have no place to go I went out to the lonesome, high old lonesome hill (x2) I looked down on the old house where I used to live Backwater blues have caused me to pack up my things and go (x2) 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more Mmmm I can't live there no more (x2) And there ain't no place for a poor old girl to go

When the Louisiana levees broke in the ?1930s and the poor camped on the levees, armed sheriff's deputies stopped them leaving to seek work further North so they'd be forced to continue to work for the cotton owners when the floods receded. Of course, the Bush govt. response to the recent N.Orleans flooding was much more sympathetic (?)
RtS

Subject: Lyr Add: BACK WATER BLUES (Bessie Smith)
From: 12003biloute
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 02:28 PM

Here is the one recorded in New York City November 5, 1948

BACK WATER BLUES recorded New York City November 5, 1948

Bessie SMITH

Guitar intro

When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
And the trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night

I woke up this mornin', couldn't even get out of my door
I woke up this mornin', couldn't even get out of my door
Enough trouble to make a poor girl I wonder where she wants to go

They rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond
They rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond
I packed all my clothes, throwed them in and they rowed me along

It thundered and lighted and the wind begins to blow
It thundered and lighted and the wind begins to blow
There's thousands of women ain't got no place to go

I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
I looked down on the old house were I used to live

Backwater1 blues has caused me to pack my things and go
Backwater blues has caused me to pack my things and go
'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more

Mmm, I can't move no more
Mmm, I can't move no more
And there ain't a place for a poor old girl to go

Yeah!
Guitar beak to end


And now the other recorded live at the UNIVERSITY of TEXAS June 1949
But the spoken part is missing
Hope it helps

BACK WATER BLUES (Recorded live University of Texas Austin June, 15, 1949)

(Bessie SMITH)

Spoken: ????

Guitar intro

It rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night
And the trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night

I woke up this mornin', couldn't even get out of my do'
I woke up this mornin', couldn't even get out of my do'
Enough trouble to make a poor girl I wonder where she wants to go
Yeah!

Guitar break

I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
I went and stood upon some high old lonesome hill
I looked down on the old house were I used to live

Backwater blues done call me to pack my things and go
Backwater blues done call me to pack my things and go
Then my house went down and I can't live there no mo'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Backwater Blues by Huddie Lead belly
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 02:56 PM

I feel honour obliged though to point out that it was written by Bessie Smith, not by Leadbelly. I once got into a long tizwaz with a trombonist who announced to an audience that Leadbelly wrote it and made the original recording, and that it was subsequently covered by Bessie.

When I pointed out that Leadbelly didn't record his version until some seven years after Bessie died, he said "Oh I just make them up as I go along".

He then added that I was the first person who'd ever taken him to task over anything he ever told an audience. Oh well.