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Origins: Candy Man Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)

DigiTrad:
CANDY MAN
CANDY MAN 2


Related threads:
ADD: Candy Man (Various Versions) (13)
CANDYMEN - Meaning in UK song (34)
(origins) Origins: Candymen (Hurt, Davis, Davis Jr.) (2)
Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt) (13) (closed)
Tune Add: The Candy Man (from 'Willy Wonka') (1)


david@media.mit.edu 25 Jun 97 - 06:23 PM
Susan of DT 26 Jun 97 - 06:07 AM
Mountain Dog 26 Jun 97 - 11:41 AM
Amos 06 Mar 00 - 01:35 PM
Steve Latimer 06 Mar 00 - 01:48 PM
GUEST,Jim Dixon 06 Mar 00 - 02:51 PM
Jon Freeman 06 Mar 00 - 05:42 PM
MK 01 Oct 00 - 12:26 AM
GUEST,Sheila 08 Oct 01 - 07:32 PM
catspaw49 08 Oct 01 - 07:52 PM
GUEST,.gargoyle 09 Oct 01 - 05:04 AM
pavane 09 Oct 01 - 04:23 PM
catspaw49 09 Oct 01 - 05:55 PM
pavane 10 Oct 01 - 08:59 AM
wysiwyg 10 Oct 01 - 09:29 AM
marty D 11 Oct 01 - 03:15 AM
Steve Latimer 11 Oct 01 - 08:11 AM
GUEST 23 Nov 03 - 01:59 AM
The Fooles Troupe 23 Nov 03 - 07:04 PM
Chris in Wheaton 24 Nov 03 - 12:00 PM
Songster Bob 24 Nov 03 - 12:09 PM
PoppaGator 24 Nov 03 - 12:22 PM
Chris in Wheaton 24 Nov 03 - 03:16 PM
GUEST,Candy Lee 02 Dec 03 - 02:12 AM
GUEST,.gargoyle 05 Sep 04 - 12:59 PM
khandu 05 Sep 04 - 08:39 PM
GUEST,Hootenanny 06 Sep 04 - 04:33 AM
Peace 06 Sep 04 - 08:05 PM
khandu 06 Sep 04 - 08:27 PM
PoppaGator 06 Sep 04 - 08:52 PM
khandu 06 Sep 04 - 09:18 PM
catspaw49 06 Sep 04 - 09:27 PM
khandu 06 Sep 04 - 09:30 PM
khandu 06 Sep 04 - 09:38 PM
GUEST,brucie 06 Sep 04 - 10:04 PM
PoppaGator 06 Sep 04 - 10:29 PM
GUEST,GROK 06 Sep 04 - 10:39 PM
PoppaGator 07 Sep 04 - 10:02 AM
Chris in Wheaton 07 Sep 04 - 10:50 AM
PoppaGator 07 Sep 04 - 12:25 PM
khandu 24 Sep 04 - 10:48 PM
GUEST,taichiswm 20 Mar 05 - 02:48 AM
GUEST 30 Sep 05 - 11:20 AM
GUEST,Cattail (No cookie) 30 Sep 05 - 01:45 PM
GUEST,Mark 21 Jun 06 - 09:02 PM
pavane 22 Jun 06 - 10:29 AM
khandu 22 Jun 06 - 11:46 PM
GUEST 08 Aug 06 - 03:32 PM
GUEST,guest ritchie to lazy to log in 08 Aug 06 - 05:47 PM
mississippi john 09 Aug 06 - 02:34 PM
mississippi john 09 Aug 06 - 03:03 PM
PoppaGator 09 Aug 06 - 09:13 PM
bobad 09 Aug 06 - 09:23 PM
Jason Xion Wang 08 Jan 14 - 04:59 PM
Jason Xion Wang 19 May 14 - 10:37 AM
Jeri 19 May 14 - 11:08 AM
Jason Xion Wang 19 May 14 - 12:52 PM
GUEST 19 May 14 - 07:48 PM
GUEST,michaelr 19 May 14 - 08:25 PM
Joe_F 19 May 14 - 09:05 PM
Joe Offer 18 Jun 16 - 09:39 PM
Joe Offer 18 Jun 16 - 10:44 PM
GUEST,Joseph Scott 18 Jun 16 - 10:51 PM
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Subject: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: david@media.mit.edu
Date: 25 Jun 97 - 06:23 PM

I am looking for the complete lyrics to this song. Does anyone know where I can find them?


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Susan of DT
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 06:07 AM

Search for [candy man] to see two versions.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 26 Jun 97 - 11:41 AM

Dear David,

Also check out "The Best of Mississippi John Hurt", a two-record set on Vanguard. There's a live version of Candy Man that gives a wonderful flavor of his style and his sense of humor. (Be aware that this version of the song is partially expurgated by Mississippi John himself. Playing before an audience far from the juke joints of his salad days, he seems somewhat embarrassed by several of his saltier double entendres and is heard saying "I can't say that!" or humming in place of lyrics at several points.) Point is, that between the lyrics in DT and the live recording, you'll have a well-rounded idea of a fingerpicked classic. Enjoy!


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: candy man
From: Amos
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 01:35 PM

I believe a candy man is a "main man", a drug supplier. I believe a salty dog is a male bed-mate. That's my interpretation.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: candy man
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 01:48 PM

In Mississippi John Hurts' Candy Man he's supplying all right, but it's not drugs. One of the most blatant innuendo songs I've heard.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: candy man
From: GUEST,Jim Dixon
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 02:51 PM

I may as well tell you my best guesses: I once consulted a slang dictionary and the closest finds were candy = penis (or sex in general); salt = money. From this I extrapolate: candy man = male sexual partner and salty dog = breadwinner. So the song is about the exchange of sexual favors for money, which is certainly plausible, and about setting up a permanent relationship, as opposed to a one-night stand.

Problem #1: Since gay themes are unknown (to me anyway) in folk music, this implies the speaker is a woman, but I have never known the song to be sung by a woman, and it contains no other clues that the story is told from a woman's point of view, which seems strange.

Problem #2: There is another song, "Salty Dog Blues," that goes, "If I can't be your salty dog, then I won't be your man at all. Honey, let me be your salty dog." Why would a man plead with a woman for her to accept his money, when she seems willing to accept him without it?

It turns out both songs are in DigiTrad, and "Candy Man" contains some unhelpful comments (IMHO) about the meaning of the terms.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: candy man
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:42 PM

There was some discussion in at.banjo on the meaning of "salty dog" towards the end of last year. If my memory serves me correctly, having gone through suggestions such as a dog in heat, it was decided that it was a man having a "relationship" with a woman while her partner was working. It seemed to fit the context of whatever song was mentioned (?Salty Dog Blues - I don't know it - just saw the lines that were quoted) but I can't make sense of it in the context of this song.

Jon


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: MK
Date: 01 Oct 00 - 12:26 AM

I found a page containing some tabs from MJH and if you scroll down the page you will find his lyrics as well. CandyMan is there. Hope this is of use.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Sheila
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:32 PM

I too am looking for the lyrics to Candy Man. It is the song that Sammy Davis Jr. made famous. Did you get the lyrics?


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:52 PM

'Scuse me while I get this phlegm out of my throat.......aacckk..........gorp............whahahahaha...........snortsniff..........No, it's NOT the same song, but if you want the Sammy thing, CLICK HERE

Spaw


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 05:04 AM

You can find multiple versions, from multiple albumns, (for either artist) in MP3 format using both Morpheus and KazaA.com. Most downloads take less than three minutes, an of course, like the old Napster they are free.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: pavane
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 04:23 PM

I had it in a book once, by ?Happy Traum? but the book appears to have gone missing. Sorry.

I vaguely (imperfectly)recall 'He had stick of candy 9 inches long' 'Chews it as fast as a hog chews corn'

but that is all


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 05:55 PM

pavane.........We also had a previous thread on this which I should have linked....CLICK HERE We hashed out the mistakes in the Hurt site I think, but we have never seemed to have harvested this version for the DT.

Spaw


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: pavane
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 08:59 AM

Thanks - looks like my recollection wasn't too far out, but you have the whole thing anyway.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Oct 01 - 09:29 AM

Spaw, maybe the harvestors never found it in the older thread, because the word ADD was never used in the subject line. (See the above breadcrumb left on the trail.)

~S~


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: marty D
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 03:15 AM

Has anyone heard Gary Davis' version of this. The guitar part is diabolical but it's a lot of fun to sing.

marty


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 11 Oct 01 - 08:11 AM

Marty D,

Reverend Gary's is a different song than MJH's. They're both wonderful songs.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 01:59 AM


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Nov 03 - 07:04 PM

The ABC (Aust) National Late Night Music Program had this song on as I was falling asleep a while ago - I do not have complete eidetic memory - but it's good I'm not too easily shocked... it would not have been able to have been sung in mixed company when I was a kid...

Robin


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 12:00 PM

Stefan Grossman has 2 new Mel Bay books out on MJH with cd - I hope the family gets some of the royalties. Candy Man is on one.
To digress, I've always like Paxton's song about MJH ("Do you love John Hurt?"), but thought it needed more verses.   Has anyone else written additional verses?
Chris in Wheaton


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Subject: Lyr Add: DID YOU HEAR JOHN HURT? (Paxton)
From: Songster Bob
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 12:09 PM

DID YOU HEAR JOHN HURT?


It was a frosty night,
It was beginning to snow;
Down the city streets
The wind began to blow.
We all emptied the Cellar,
We all emptied the bar,
To hear a little brown feller
Play a shiny guitar.


Chorus

Did you hear John Hurt
Play his Creole Belle?
Spanish Fandango
That he loved so well?
Did you love John Hurt,
Did you shake his hand?
Did you hear him
Play his Candy Man?

On a straight-back chair
With his felt hat on,
He tickled our fancy
With his Avalon.


[And here my memory fails. I thought I had it all, but it's not coming. There should be a site for Tom Paxton lyrics, I would hope.]

Copyright ©1985 Tom Paxton


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 12:22 PM

John Hurt's "Candyman" is a completely different sonf from anyone else's tune of the same name -- just as his "Stagger Lee" (Stock-O-Lee"?) is differnt from all other tunes of *that* name.


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Subject: RE: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 24 Nov 03 - 03:16 PM

verse #2 - right?
On a straight-back chair, With his felt hat on,
He tickled our fancy. With his Avalon
And everybody passing down McDougal Street
Cocked their heads and listened to the tapping feet

my verse (PD):
He played the Lovin' Spoonful, smile on his face
Richland Women, tore up the place
Casey Jones, honest and brave
And when he was through, just thanks and a wave

I shook his hand, Chris in Wheaton


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Candy Lee
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 02:12 AM

What is that song chris in wheaton and songster bob.. write about
Candice


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Subject: Lyr Add: CANDY MAN BLUES (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 12:59 PM

CANDY MAN BLUES


(Words and music by Mississippi John Hurt) - Copyright 1963 by Wynwood Music Co. - Published in Something To Sing About, collected and arranged by Milton Okum, Macmillan Company, London, 1968 p 28-30.

Well, (D) all you ladies (D) gather around.
The good sweet candy man's in town.
It's the (A) candy man, (D) candy man. (D7)

He's got a stick of candy nine inch long.
He sells it fast as a hog can chew corn.
It's the candy man, candy man.

You all heard what Sister Jones has said:
Always takes a candy stick to bed.
It's the candy man, candy man.

Don't stand close to the candy man.
He'll leave a candy stick in your hand.
It's the candy man, candy man.

He sold some candy to Sister Bad.
The very next day, she took all he had.
It's the candy man, candy man.

If you try his candy, good friend of mine,
You sure will want it for a long, long time.
It's the candy man, candy man.

His stick candy don't melt away.
Just gets better, so the ladies say.
It's the candy man, candy man.

Note from the biography p 28: "John Hurt came from the Mississippi Delta, yet his music was unlike the hard biting blues of other Delta musicians. Rather it was a sort of folk chamber music, in which one man and his guitar could orchestrate a whole range of emotions. He compelled our attention by his understatement, by his playful with, his craftsmanship and his gentle voice.... The tragedy was that thirty-five years intervened between his first recordings and the fame that marked the last years of his life."

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Click to play



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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues - by Mississippi John Hu
From: khandu
Date: 05 Sep 04 - 08:39 PM

Thanks,Garg!

In another of MJH's version of the same song, he added the following verses:

"Yes you and the Candy Man are gettin' mighty thick
You must be stuck on the Candy Man's stick
Um-hmm oh yeah oh yeah Yes yes"

For many more MJH song lyrics, visit Tink's Lyrics.

ken


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 04:33 AM

I don't believe that John came from the Mississippi Delta, he was fom Avalon/Teoc, Carroll County if my memory is correct (not at home at present)- that's me not my memory.

Certainly his style is not in what we generally recognise as being from the delta.

Incidentally who wrote that crap about "folk chamber music"?. John was a songster who used a lovely fingerstyle accompaniment, what was "chamber music" about that.If you must put a label on everything then I guess "parlour guitar" would come nearest.

Good song though, one of my favourite Hurt pieces.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Peace
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 08:05 PM

Born July 3, 1893, in Teoc, Mississippi, Hurt and his family moved in 1895 to Avalon, a town on the edge of Mississippi's hill country. He dropped out of school at the age of nine to begin working as a farmer. In 1902, Hurt picked up the guitar, a $1.50 "Black Annie" his mother bought him. Self-taught, Hurt developed a distinctive three-finger style that bears no resemblance to other area musicians.


Mississippi John Hurt: born in Teoc, Miss. in March of 1894 - Died Nov. 3, 1966.

Mississippi John Hurt was born March 8, 1892 in Carroll County, Mississippi. There is dispute over exactly where he was born, but the most likely spot is Avalon, near Greenwood.

All three are from Googling MJH's name. The person who might know for sure is Patrick Sky. He and Mr Hurt knew each other well, and Patrick really liked the man for his humour as well as his music.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 08:27 PM

Avalon is in the delta, as is Teoc...barely! The hills descend their 200 or so feet rather quickly & Teoc was right at the bottom. Avalon is roughly one half mile from the hills.
Hurt is said to have been born in Teoc which means he was born inthe general area of Teoc. Teoc itself consisted of a store or two plus some cotton buildings. The whole "town" was less than 300 feet across.
At the time of & years before his "rediscovery" Hurt's address was Avalon. But the shack he called home was not in Avalon. It was in the hills a couple of miles from the town, in the "Valley" community which was a store, a white's school & a barber shop. (A picture of Hurt's shack & Valley store can be found in the Mudcat Cafe's "John Hurt Room".)

Was he a "Delta Bluesman"? I would not call him that. Whether he spent more time in Avalon (the Delta) or Valley (the hills)is of little relevance. His music says it all. And it definitely does not say "I'm a Delta Bluesman".

ken


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 08:52 PM

The additional lyrics posed by khandu in the second message are sung to different music than the verses in gargoyle's original post. They're lyrics for a "bridge" section that is an integral part of the song; I can't imagine any MJH recording in which he would have omitted that "You and the Candyman be gettin' mighty thick" part.

For those who don't already know, this song is a fingerpicking tour de force; whether or not one was able to play it once served as a test of guitar manhood, or perhaps it would be better described as a rite of passage. There are three completely different sections: the verse, the "you and the candyman" section noted above, and an instrumental passage that involved a brief trip up the neck to the 12th fret.

I worked at it for years, and eventually got a pretty good handle on the first two sections, vocal as well as guitar. The last part I learned was the up-the-neck intrumental part, and it is that part that I can't remember today as I try to relearn some of my rusty old isntrumental skills. I probably fail to remember it because I played it for a much shorter time than the first two parts and got way fewer repetitions under my belt.

I'm not absolutely sure, but I think the tablature I learned from came out of the pages of "Sing Out!", not from a book. Sure wish I could take a peek at it today -- at least, at those 7 or 8 measures that have disappeared from my memory bank.

By the way, it's in the key of A, and the midi you hear at "Click here to listen" doesn't sound much like any John Hurt's Candyman I ever heard. I suppose it's a reasonable attempt at rendering the sung melody line, but without including the guitar accompaniment, it fails to convey the sound or rhythm of the song as a whole.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:18 PM

Amen, Poppa! I appreciate the "served as a test of guitar manhood" phrase! It is a delight to listen to & a joy to play!

There are versions MJH did that omitted the "You & the Candyman..." lines apparently because he was embarrassed to sing them before some audiences. On the "Best of MJH" on Vanguard, as he begins the song, he laughs & says "I can't sing it". If memory serves properly, he sang the first part of the "bridge" but left out the "You must be stuck..." on that recording.

In other versions he left out the lines altogether but played the guitar part to them.

I will try to find a tab to Candyman to refresh your memory &, if successful, PM it to you!

Thanks for the input!

ken


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: catspaw49
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:27 PM

HEy Ken......A good bit of the Vanguard stuff was produced by a favorite folkie of mine, Patrick Sky. He really loved MJH and I think the care in getting those recordings done for "posterity" really shows the love he had for him. Pat plays on them some as well. His own recordings and songs are some of my favorites and you cannot miss the strong Hurt influence.

Bluesman though he was, every folk picker owes a huge debt to MJH.

Spaw


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:30 PM

Here it is!! Looks correct but I did not test it!

"Candy Man Blues" Tab


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 09:38 PM

Hey Pat! Good to get your input!
Patrick Sky did indeed play on a few of MJH recordings & was responsible for the quality recordings we have. (But you just said that!)
His guitar input on MJH's "Waiting For You" is very nice. I hiave never heard any of Sky's own music, but on the strength of your (Pat) word (which I have heard you speak of him before!) I will get one of his CDs.

ken


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,brucie
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:04 PM

Ken,

Pat's CDs are still available. However, if you are wanting to hear the scope and depth of his writing and playing, you might avoid "Songs that made America famous" as a first choice. Almost any other is better. STMAF is the ultimate protest recording--but Pat's serious writing is on other albums. Pat is one of my favourite all-time people, and a great songwriter. He is also one of the funniest folks that ever lived.

BM


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:29 PM

Man, what service! "Ask and you shall receive," indeed.

I coulda and probably shoulda looked up those tabs myself via Google or something, but I wasn't yet real serious about knuckling down to (re)learn this quite yet. When I saw this thread, though, I couldn't help reading it and then adding my two cents' worth.

Now, I suppose, I'll have to buckle down and learn to play this once again, sooner rather than later.

That instrumental "third part" is not by any means the most difficult part of Candyman to play, but it is the easiest to omit while one is learning the verses and bridge. The tab looks about right to me at first glance; I'll check into it more closely soon.

What *is* the most difficult part of Candyman? The opening measure is very tricky rhythmically, and the E-chord-plus-high-A ("spider chord") that follows later in the verse is probably the most physically difficult left-hand reach in the piece. I "know" (remember) how to play it, but right now I can't actually *do* it -- not quickly enough, anyway.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,GROK
Date: 06 Sep 04 - 10:39 PM

PoppaGator,

I have never played blues, but 'folk' has some of them/that, too. Thanks for your words above, because as I am getting used to my ol' Martin again, I was worrying that the dexterity had gone for good. I shall be following your progress closely and hoping mine will keep up with you.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 10:02 AM

Hey, Grok, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only old codger 'round here making a pathetic attempt to relive my musical youth!

;^)

I had gradually stopped playing over the years while raising a family, etc., etc., and eventually developed such nasty arthritis in my knuckles that I *couldn't* play at all when I picked up the guitar and gave it a try. Since then, I have discovered the miracle of liquid glucosamine, regained quite a bit of manual dexterity, and resumed picking, almost like back in the good old days.

I meant to include another comment as part of my response last night: I do remember hearing that live recording of MJH doing this song and voicing his reluctance to embarrass his audience and/or himself with its salacious lyrics. (I had forgotten which section he omitted, of course.) I always thought that this particular lyric -- while an absolute hoot -- seemed very much out of character for an artist who projected such a wise, gentle, almost saintly persona. It's pretty ironic that this extremely bawdy number should have become the definitive John Hurt guitar piece (if not his definitive *song*). Kinda like the *Reverend* Gary Davis being best known for that song about "Cocaine."


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 10:50 AM

Has anyone ever seen tabledit versions of MJH's songs? I sure wish someone, like Homespun, would publish finger-picking lessons in tabledit. I learned from written tab, but the pc version helps me speed up the process.
I met John at a club in DC in '64 - Libba Cotton was there too to watch - I sing Paxton's song and say - yeah I shook his hand - hard like leather - and got an autograph on the lp.
Have been finger-picking learner ever since.
Enjoyed hearing great pickers Labor Day weekend - Paul Geremia, Mark Dvorak, and Don Stiernberg - at the Fox Valley Folk fest - great event.
Chris in Wheaton


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 12:25 PM

Chris --

More info on "tabledit," please? Do you have a URL or some such reference for it? Sounds very interesting, and I know nothing about it yet. Sounds like a tool for writing tab in a form that will post coherently in HTML; if that is indeed what it is, I'm very interested.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: khandu
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 10:48 PM

Ah!
D.C. Blues (The Library of Congress Recordings) by MJH has another couple of lines to match the ""Yes you and the Candy Man are gettin' mighty thick
You must be stuck on the Candy Man's stick"!

On this version, MJH sings "I carried my baby to the candy stand...She got stuck on the Candy Man"

This version, done in 1963, is played in the style of the 1928 version!

Ken


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues-by Mississippi John Hurt
From: GUEST,taichiswm
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 02:48 AM

Some tabledit files of MJH songs are available.
Email me & I'll send them.
taichiswm@yahoo.co.uk


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: chicken(Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 11:20 AM


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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Candy Man Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,Cattail (No cookie)
Date: 30 Sep 05 - 01:45 PM

Hi all!

Try this excellent site for more tabledit files.

http://www.angelfire.com/music2/blackmack/

(Sorry, never could do blue clicky's)

Best wishes

Cattail !


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,Mark
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 09:02 PM

Its: he'll "leave" a big candy stick in your hand.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: pavane
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 10:29 AM

I used to have a book with that song and tab, (by ?Happy Traum?) but haven't been able to find it for a long time. I never did get it to flow right, though.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hu
From: khandu
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 11:46 PM

'Ease"..."Ease"..."He'll ease a stick of candy in your hand"

k


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 03:32 PM

It's Tom Paxton's "Did you Hear John Hurt"?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,guest ritchie to lazy to log in
Date: 08 Aug 06 - 05:47 PM

gosh , this must be the longest gap between posts,

Date: 02 Dec 03 - 02:12 AM & Date: 08 Aug 06 - 03:32 PM

how on earth did you pick up on this one?


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: mississippi john
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 02:34 PM

CAN ANYONE TELL ME

who was the first to record candyman?

john hurt or rev gary davies - OR DID SOME ONE ELSE RECORD IT


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: mississippi john
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:03 PM

refresh


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 09:13 PM

John Smith Hurt and Rev Gary Davis were EACH the first to record his respective song entitled "Candyman," because ~ as noted above, more than once ~ the two songs are completely different.

Of course, if people actually read through the thread before asking questions, this thread wouldn't have been resurrected after nearly three years of dormancy. Who wrote Tom Paxton's song about MIssissippi John? Why, Tom PAxton, of course!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: bobad
Date: 09 Aug 06 - 09:23 PM

Ah Poppa, so much to read, so little time.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 04:59 PM

If you listen to his 1928 records, you'll hear that it's "LEAVE" without a doubt... In the 1963 records he was just too old to pronounce it clear. Also, "ease a stick of candy" just doesn't make sense!


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 19 May 14 - 10:37 AM

When played as a bridge in Tom Paxton's "Did You Hear John Hurt", try G - G - D7/A - G.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Jeri
Date: 19 May 14 - 11:08 AM

With regard to the January discussion of "leave" vs "ease", it's got to be "ease", although he sings it quickly. Think about it. If he's "leaving" it in someone's hand, given the metaphorical implication, dude has a serious problem. It makes sense, if you figure out his "stick of candy" is his penis.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 19 May 14 - 12:52 PM

Well, I just listened to the 1928 original recording again. It's "ease", I was mistaken. And it does make metaphorical sense!


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 14 - 07:48 PM

It's not REALLY about his.....penis...is it?


CHeers

Bugsy


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 19 May 14 - 08:25 PM

No worries, Bugsy, it isn't. Just take the words literally, you'll be OK. That whole jellyroll business is really just about pastry, too.


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Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Candy Man (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 May 14 - 09:05 PM

Candy man.
Salty dog.


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Subject: ADD: Candy Man Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jun 16 - 09:39 PM

Here's a Columbia Original Masters recording by Mississippi John Hurt:
Here are lyrics for the song, posted in another thread by Spaw and corrected here by Joe:

CANDY MAN BLUES

All you ladies all gather 'round
That good sweet candy man's in town
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

He likes a stick of candy just nine inch long
He sells as fast a hog can chew his corn
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

All heard what Sister Johnson said
She always takes a candy stick to bed
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

Don't stand close to the candy man
He'll ease a big candy stick in your hand
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

He sold some candy to Sister Bad
The very next day she took all he had
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

If you try his candy, good friend of mine,
You sure will want it for a long long time
It's the candy man
It's the candy man

His stick candy don't melt away
It just gets better, so the ladies say
It's the candy man
It's the candy man


Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

Candy Man

DESCRIPTION: Blues, often bawdy, about the exploits of the Candy Man. The candy man's candy almost certainly gets its possessors in trouble, but many still seek it.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (recording, Mississippi John Hurt)
KEYWORDS: nonballad bawdy floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Darling-NAS, p. 298, "Candy Man Blues" (1 text)
DT, SALTYDOG

RECORDINGS:
Mississippi John Hurt "Candy Man Blues" (OKeh 8654, 1929 (rec. 1928); on MJHurt01, MJHurt02) (on MJHurt03); "Candy Man" (on MJHurt04)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Salty Dog" (assorted references)
NOTES: Neither text nor melody of this is fixed; it may not be one song (but with blues, who can really tell?). - RBW
Last updated in version 4.0
File: DarNS298

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography

The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.


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Subject: Version: Candy Man Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jun 16 - 10:44 PM

But Mississippi John Hurt's recordings of this song weren't all the same. This is from Mississippi John Hurt - Complete Studio Recordings 3-CD Set. This was a Vanguard recording made in 1966, a few months before he died.

CANDY MAN BLUES

All you ladies gather 'round
The good sweet candy man's in town
Candy man
Candy man

He's got a stick of candy that's nine inch long
He sells it fast a hog can chew his corn
Candy man
Candy man

All heard what Sister Johnson said
She always takes a candy stick to bed
Candy man
Candy man

Oh, his stick candy don't melt away
It just gets better, so the ladies say
Candy man
Candy man

Yes, don't stand close to the candy man
He'll ease a stick of candy in your hand
Candy man
Candy man

Yes, you and the Candy Man, you gettin' mighty sweet
Uh, huh.

Uh, huh.
Oh, yeah,
Oh, yeah,
Yeah, yeah.

I said, you and the Candy Man, you gettin' mighty sweet
Uh, huh
Uh, huh

You must be stuck on the Candy Man's stick,
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah.


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Subject: RE: Origins: Candy Man Blues (Mississippi John Hurt)
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 18 Jun 16 - 10:51 PM

On the stuff about "Delta bluesman" above: a Delta bluesman is a man who lived in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta and made blues music. So Richard Harney, for instance, was a Delta bluesman (born the same year as Son House). This is what Richard Harney sounded like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChPXXnN0Da0


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