Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)

Subject: River Blues performed by R. Crumb
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 16 Jul 97 - 11:21 AM

Morning, All!

Does anyone have lyrics for "River Blues"? I know it was recorded sometime in the 70s by Robert Crumb (yes, the "Keep on Truckin" R. Crumb of Zap Comix fame) and his Cheapsuit Seranaders. The only lines I recall are:

"Wrote my will, made a few notes;

Gonna walk into the river 'til my straw hat floats.

I'm goin' to the river, the shivery river,

So get the river ready for me!"

Crumb was - and is - a true blues fanatic and serious collector of the "real thang". He recorded at least two albums and a series of singles on labels like Blue Goose and Standard Records (proudly boasting "A High Standard of Standardness"). Many of the tunes were moderately warped, but loving, renditions of old tunes wrested from 78s; a few standards, but mostly offbeat and obscure blues gems. (Crumb's main axe is banjo, by the way. Other Cheapsuiters were Robert Armstrong on guitar and slide and Alan Dodge on mandolin, if memory doth not play me false.)

Crumb also put together a set of collector's cards featuring his portraits and bios of such seminal blues artists as Ishman Bracey, Barbecue Bob and Will Shade as well as better known players. They're long out of print, I'm sure, but worth keeping an eye open for.

Any help on "River Blues" would be greatly appreciated!

Subject: RE: River Blues performed by R. Crumb
From: open mike
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 02:51 PM

should this be combined with the other thread?
and can this be added to the data base?
I;m going to the shivery river...
til my hat floats...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: GUEST,melodious
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 11:11 PM

i'm goin to the river, the shivery river
the river that runs down to the sea
i'm gonna drown my troubles, and leave just some bubbles
to indicate what used to be me

the rest you know....

hope anyone still cares

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 04:47 AM

Leave behind my troubles
And leave just some bubbles
To indicate what used to be me

I made my will
I wrote some notes
I'm gonna keep walking 'till my straw hat floats

I'm ready for that river
That shivery river
So get that river ready for me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 01:17 PM

Some other good versions are by Lynn Hardy & Jay Unger and by Washboard Hank.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: GUEST,Guest, JN
Date: 17 Jun 15 - 12:21 PM

I'm waitin' for that river,
That shivery river,
The river that runs down to the sea.

I'm gonna drown my troubles,
An' leave just some bubbles,
To indicate what used to be me.

Now, I made my will,
I wrote some notes,
I'm gonna keep-a walkin' 'til
My straw hat floats.

I'm waitin' for that river,
That shivery river,
The river that runs down to the sea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 Jun 15 - 07:14 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AmXJ1ULoSg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River Blues (from R. Crumb)
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Jun 15 - 06:34 PM

It's No. 1 on R. Crumb's Music Sampler, the CD that came with The R. Crumb Handbook (2005); the notes say R. Crumb and his Keep-on-Truckin' Orchestra, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1972.