Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy

Subject: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:53 PM

I'm trying to find an old blues/R&B song, which I'm pretty sure was covered by the Grateful Dead, with the lyrics:

Crazy, Ain't It Crazy (repeat)
To Keep On Rubbin' That Same Old Thing

I've tried the DT, YouTube, Google, Bing, Grateful Dead lyrics, etc. ~ unbelievably, no luck. What could I be doing wrong?

I don't think this is something I dreamed up ~ I'm almost positive that such a song exists. Perhaps knowing the name of the original artist would help...

What I'd really like is a video link, second choice a sound file ~ something to email immediately to a certain party. Chords/tabs/lyrics to help me learn to perform it would also be great in the longer run.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: pdq
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:57 PM

I believe Pigpen said he got the song from Lightnin' Hopkins.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:24 PM

Ain't It Crazy (The Rub)

Lyrics By: Lightnin' Hopkins
Music By: Lightnin' Hopkins

Mama got the rub board, sister got the tub
They're going round doing the rub-de-rub
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day, to keep on rubbin' that thing

Two old maids, they was layin' in a bed
One turned over and this is what she said
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day, to keep on rubbin' that thing
Yeah mama killed a chicken, thought it was a duck
Put him on the table with his feet sticking up
[Alternative: ... with his feet turned up]
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day, to keep on rubbin' that thing
There was two old maids, layin' in the sand
Each one wonderin' if the other was a man
[Alternative: Each one wishing that the other was a man]
Ain't it crazy, ain't it crazy
Ain't it crazy one day, to keep on rubbin' at that thing
Notes:

This was played by the Dead a dozen times in 1970 and 1971, and before that in 1964 by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions before the Dead proper were formed.It seems clear that the Dead knew this song as "The Rub". In July 1964, for example, Weir introduces it by saying that Mr Pigpen McKernan is going to sing a Lightnin' Hopkins song - The Rub. But Lightnin' Hopkins recordings have it under the title "Ain't It Crazy", "Mighty Crazy" or "The Crazy Song."

from

http://www.dead.net/song/aint-it-crazy-rub

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:27 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIQiTzlftOw

Lightnin' Hopkins doing the song in 1970.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:33 PM

Please note you may find it on YouTube as "The Rub" by the Dead.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: pdq
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:40 PM

"...the Dead knew this song as "The Rub". In July 1964, for example, Weir introduces it by saying that Mr Pigpen McKernan is going to sing a Lightnin' Hopkins song - The Rub..."

Bob Weir was 16 years old at the time. Jerry did most of the singing, Pigpen next. Bobby was not quite ready for primetime yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy, Ain't It Crazy
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 07:33 AM

The pic alone is worth the price of entry. Here's the Dead doing it.

Subject: Lyr Add: AIN'T IT CRAZY (Lightnin' Hopkins)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Aug 12 - 11:53 PM

AIN'T IT CRAZY – live
As sung by Lightnin' Hopkins on "Hootin' the Blues" (1994)

You know sister got a rub-board; mama got the tub.
They goin' aroun' doin' the rub-de-rub.
Ain't it crazy?
Now, ain't it crazy?
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that—.

Went down in town with my hat in my han',
Look for a woman didn't have no man.
Wadn't I crazy?
Now wadn't I crazy?
You know I's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that—.
Yes, I's crazy.

Two old maids layin' in they bed,
One turned over; this is what she said:
Ain't we crazy?
Ain't we crazy?
You know we crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that—.

It's mighty crazy.
It's mighty crazy.
It's mighty crazy.
It's mighty crazy.
You know it's crazy
To keep on rubbin' at that—.
It's too crazy.