Lyr Req: Ragged and Dirty (William Brown)

Subject: Ragged and Dirty, by Willie Brown
From:
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 03:49 AM

Anyone out there who have the lyrics of Ragged and Dirty?

Would be pleased for an answered.

Jan Erik

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ragged and Dirty, by Willie Brown
From: Giac
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 04:53 AM

Here is an interesting site with the words to the William Brown version (per Alan Lomax), and Bob Dylan's version.

Ragged and Dirty (also called Broke and Hungry)

Giac

Subject: Lyr Add: RAGGED AND DIRTY (from William Brown)
From: Giac
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 05:03 AM

Here you go:

RAGGED AND DIRTY
As sung by William Brown

Now I'm broke and I'm hungry, ragged and dirty, too.
What I want to know, baby, kin I stay all night with you.
Well, I peeped in my window, but I couldn't see through the blinds,
Heard the bedstrings poppin' and heard my baby cryin'.

If I can't come in, baby, I won't be back no mo.
When I leave this time, you can hang your crepe on your door.

I saw your hair ain't curly and your doggone eyes ain't blue,
And if you don't want me, what in the world I want with you.

(also e-mailed)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ragged and Dirty, by Willie Brown
From: Giac
Date: 06 Sep 00 - 05:12 AM

Well, I tried to send it by e-mail, but apparently something is missing, or wrong in the e-mail address.

Hopefully, you'll check back, Jan Erik Larsen.

Subject: Lyr Add: RAGGED AND DIRTY (William Brown)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jan 14 - 02:45 PM

Lyr. Add: RAGGED AND DIRTY
William Brown, 1942

Nothin' but a cryin' shame, you know that?

Lawd, I'm broke and I'm hungry, ragged and dirty too,
Broke and hungry, ragged and I'm dirty too.
If I clean up, sweet mama, can I stay all night with you?

Lord, I went to my window, baby, I couldn't see through my blind,
Went to my window, couldn't see through my blind.
Heard my bedsprings uncovered, I throwed down, heard my baby cryin'.

Now if I can't come in, baby, just let me set down in your door.
I can't come in, baby, let me set down in your door.
Lord, I will leave so soon that your man won't never know.

Lord, how can I live here, baby, Lord! and feel at ease?
How can I live here, baby, Lord! and feel at ease?
'Cause that woman that I got me, she do just what she please.

I can't help myself, you know that?

Lord, you shouldn't mistreat me, baby, because I'm young and wild,
Shouldn't mistreat me, 'cause I'm young and wild.
You must always remember, baby, you was once a child.

Lord, I'm leavin' in the mornin', baby, if I have to ride this line.
Leave in the mornin', have to ride this line.
Mmm, mistreat me, baby, and I swear I don't mind dying.


More complete than words previously posted.
Sung by William Brown, 1942, Mississippi.

Pp. 747-748, no musical score.

Duncan Emrich, 1974, "American Folk Poetry, An Anthology." Little, Brown.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ragged and Dirty (William Brown)
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 12 Jan 14 - 05:22 AM

Listeners should also compare the transcript in the booklet accompanying the Rounder CD "Mississippi - The Blues Lineage (Rounder CD 1852), which gives a few slight differences to "Q"'s transcript given above. The CD also includes William Brown's "Mississippi Blues" and these two recordings are surely two of the greatesty blues tracks ever recorded. But, what happened to William Brown? So far as I know, these were his only solo recordings. According to Alan Lomax, Brown was only 27 years old in 1942. So, again, what happened to him?