Lyr Add: Poor Boy Long Ways From Home (Gus Cannon)

Subject: Lyr Add: POOR BOY LONG WAYS FROM HOME (Gus Cannon)
From: PHJim
Date: 17 Nov 12 - 09:30 PM

I had trouble finding the lyrics to Gus's version so I decided to transcribe them. I'm not sure how to submit lyrics to the DigiTrad, so here they are:

Poor Boy - Gus Cannon

Been a poor boy, a long ways from home
Long ways from home
Been a poor boy and a long ways from home

I got 'rested, no money to buy my fine
Money to buy my fine
I got 'rested, no money to buy my fine

Says I guess I'll have to catch the Frisco out in this land
Catch the Frisco out
Thought I guess I have to catch that Frisco out

Well, if that don't do, I'm gwine ... woods a while
Try the woods a while
If ...

I cried, "Hello Central give me...
Your long distance phone."
I cried, "Hello Central give me your long distance phone."

She asked what number did I want?

I cried, "Please Ma'am give me thirteen forty-nine."
"Thirteen forty-nine"
I cried, "Please Ma'am give me thirteen forty-nine."

Tried to phone it to my...
Tried to phone it to my...
Tried to phone it to my...

Tell her send me little...
Tell her send me little money
Tell her send me little money
For to buy my fine

She cried the bucket's got a...
She cried the bucket's got...
She cried the bucket's got a...
Won't hold no beer.

*****************************************************
2nd verse - 'rested = arrested
Gus seems to leave out a number of lines and just plays the syllables on the guitar or banjo. Here are a couple of guesses:

Tried to phone it to my (baby/woman...)

She said the bucket's got a (hole in it)

Subject: RE: Poor Boy, Long Way From Home-Gus Cannon
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 06:06 AM

It's a banjo.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Poor Boy, Long Way From Home-Gus Cannon
From: GUEST,999
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 06:51 AM

See if the following is any help, PHJim.

Subject: RE: Poor Boy, Long Way From Home-Gus Cannon
From: GUEST,999--sorry 'bout that
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 06:52 AM

http://www.blueslyrics.com.ar/Gus-Cannon/PoorBoy.html

Subject: LYRIC ADD in first post to this thread
From: GUEST,999
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 07:14 AM

"Gus Cannon (b. Red Banks, Mississippi, September 12, 1883 - d. Memphis, October 15, 1979) was an African American blues musician who helped to popularize jug bands (such as his own Cannon's Jug Stompers) in the 1920s and 1930s."

He also used the name Banjo Joe.

Subject: RE: Poor Boy, Long Way From Home-Gus Cannon
From: PHJim
Date: 18 Nov 12 - 05:20 PM

Hoot,
That's what everyone says, but I can't get my banjo to sound like that. I've tried playing it lap style with a Stevens' steel, but it still sounds like a banjo. Doesn't Gus's sound like a guitar?
I read somewhere that he put coins under the feet of the bridge to give it more sustain.

Guest 999,
That link seems to give a few lines, but I tried to transcribe it exactly as he sings it.

I love this tune. We play it in the Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band. The run after the first line sounds so cool with fiddle, guitar and slide National playing in unison. We don't try to imitate Gus exactly, but like to try for his spirit.