Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)

Subject: Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)
From: GUEST,Oubaas
Date: 11 May 12 - 01:02 PM

This Jimmy Rodgers tune, covered by Leon Redbone et al, seems to be a real bear to figure. As one more contribution to the pile of different ways to play it, here's the way I do it.

I developed this from listening to the Leon Redbone recording. I play it with the guitar tuned one whole step down and capo 1st fret, and I Travis pick it. You don't necessarily have to tune one step down, or even capo if you don't want. Suit your voice.

I play C°7 (C diminished 7th) as XX1212. I abbreviate Fm as XX3111. Aside from that, it's commonplace chords, just capo to whatever key you're after.

Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)
Jimmie Rodgers

[C]I've been so [C°7]blue, [C]and lonesome [C°7]too, [C]ever since you went [C7]away.

My [F]poor heart yearns for [Fm]you both night and [C]day [C°7] [Dm] [G7]

Since you're gone the stars don't seem to shine.

[C]You are [C°7]always [C]on my mind.

[D7]I'm so unhappy, for I want just [G7]you. [C°7]But...

CHORUS

[C]There'll come a time, you'll miss me [D7]and you'll be blue.

[G7]There'll come a time, you'll want me, [C]no one [C°7]else will [G7]do.

Sweet mama, your [C]heart will long for [A7]my loving,

[Dm]Then you'll see that you were wrong.

I [F]know you will [Fm]sigh and maybe [C]sometimes [A7]cry,

But [Dm]then I'll [G7]be long [C]gone.

Sweet [A7]mama, [Dm]hurry home or [G7]I'll be [C] gone.

Hurry home, or [G7]I'll be [C] gone. [G7]

VERSE 2

[C]You won my [C°7]heart, [C]right from the [C°7]start, [C]I gave all my love to [C7]you.

[F]I never dreamed that [Fm]you could be [C]untrue. [C°7] [Dm] [G7]

You had ways of loving all your own.

[C]That's what [C°7]made me leave my [C]happy home.

[D7]Now that you're gone I'm left all [G7] alone. [C°7]But...

CHORUS

ENDING*** (Replaces original last line of chorus)

Hurry home, or [G7]I'll be [C] gone. [F] [Fm] [C]

I hope someone finds this useful

Oubaas

Subject: RE: Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)
From: nager
Date: 11 May 12 - 08:24 PM

Very similar to the way I play it .. after some help a couple of years ago from some good people here on Mudcat. Wonderful song!!

Subject: RE: Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)
From: GUEST,Oubaas
Date: 12 May 12 - 12:44 PM

Yeah, this is one of my favorites. I started out listening to Leon Redbone after buying his "On the Tracks" album from a sale bin because I liked the cover. That was back in the days of vinyl.

I became a Leon Redbone fan, even went to see him in Canandaigua, New York, playing on the same bill as Billy Crystal with his stand-up routine. But eventually I began to wonder where he was getting all his songs.

That led me into a whole new world. I discovered Jimmie Rodgers, Emmett Miller, Blind Blake, and others. These days, I play acoustic rock and country for other peoples' enjoyment; I play this old stuff for myself, and the occasional person who appreciates it. This is my "home on the front porch" relaxing music.

Oubaas

Subject: RE: Sweet Mama (Hurry Home or I'll Be Gone)
From: GUEST,Tankwa
Date: 28 Oct 17 - 01:11 PM

It wasn't just country and blues recordings that he'd been listening to. He was channeling the music of an era. Leon Redbone also got a couple of songs from Fats Waller for that first album. Lulu's back and Aint Misbehavin are two of my favorites.