Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina

Subject: Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina
From: GUEST,Ed Silberman
Date: 01 May 14 - 07:13 PM

Does anyone what Taj Mahal's source is for his version of Corrina?

Subject: RE: Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina
From: Janie
Date: 01 May 14 - 10:50 PM

There are much more knowledgeable folks than me in these parts, but I'm guessing Robert Johnson is one source he pulled from.

Subject: RE: Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina
From: Janie
Date: 01 May 14 - 10:59 PM

Robert Johnson "Stones in My Passway"

Lyrics to the above.

I got stones in my passway

    and my road seem dark as night

I got stones in my passway

    and my road seem dark as night

I have pains in my hearts

    they have taken my appetite

I have a bird to whistle

    and I have a bird to sing

Have a bird to whistle

    and I have a bird to sing

I got a woman that I'm lovin'

    boy, she don't mean a thing

My enemies have betrayed me

    have overtaken poor Bob at last

My enemies have betrayed me

    have overtaken poor Bob at last

An ' 'ere's one thing certainly

    they have stones all in my pass

Now you tryin' to take my life

    and all my lovin' too

You laid a passway for me

    now what are you trying to do

I'm cryin' please

    plea-ease let us be friends

And when you hear me howlin' in my passway, rider

    plea-ease open your door and let me in

I got three legs to truck home

    boys, please don't block my road

I got three legs to truck home

    boys, please don't block my road

I've been feelin' ashamed 'bout my rider

    babe, I'm booked and I got to go

Subject: RE: Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 May 15 - 09:27 PM

Here's a YouTube recording of the song. Anybody want to take the time to transcribe it? It sure doesn't sound like the "Corrina" I'm familiar with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seJAOWHUeJE

Subject: RE: Origins: Taj Mahals' Corrina
From: Sean Belt
Date: 07 May 15 - 12:20 PM

According to the Wikipedia page for Mahal's album The Natch'l Blues and this Phish.net page on the song, he wrote Corrina himself. Like a lot of blues songs, it relies on verses lifted from other existing songs. But that's part of the tradition.