Lyr Req: How Long How Long Blues (Carr/Blackwell)

Subject: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Nov 00 - 03:13 PM

Anyone have the correct lyrics to the Carr/Blackwell recorded version of this song? NOT THE GRATEFUL DEAD VERSION. The version in the DT is not the one on the record. I am looking particularly for the first couple of verses which are obscure on the record.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 01:10 PM

Anyone?

It could be very long?

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 02:21 PM

Thanks for that useful comment. yours, Peter T.

Subject: Lyr Add: HOW LONG HOW LONG BLUES (Carr/Blackwell)
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:02 PM

Here you go, Peter:


HOW LONG, HOW LONG BLUES

How long? Babe, how long
Has that evenin' train been gone?
How long? How, how long? Baby, how long?

Here and I stood at the station, watched my baby leavin' town,
Blue and disgusted; nowhere could peace be found,
For how long? How, how long? Baby, how long?

Now I can hear the whistle blowin', but I cannot see no train,
And it's deep down in my heart, baby, there lies an achin' pain,
For how long? How, how long? Baby, how long?

Sometimes I feel so disgusted, and I feel so blue,
That I hardly know what in this world, baby, just to do,
For how long? How, how long? Baby, how long?

And if I could holler like I was a mountain jack,
I'd go up on the mountain; I'd call my baby back,
For how long? How, how long? Baby, how long?

And it's someday you're gonna be sorry that you done me wrong.
Well, it'll be too late, baby; I will be gone,
For so long, so long, so long.

My mind get to ramblin'; I feel so bad,
Thinkin' about the bad luck that I have had,
'Cause how long? How, how long? Baby, how long?


Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell 'How Long - How Long Blues' Vocalion 1191. Recorded Indianapolis, Indiana, circa June 1928.

Transcription from Jeff Todd Titon 'Early Downhome Blues' University of North Carolina Press Second Edition 1994 pp 85-87.
PS.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:09 PM

Peter, I put in the spaces in the Titon transcription that made it easier to follow - eg 'How long [space] how how long [space] baby how long - but, unfortunately, they did not hold. However, it should be easy enough for you to work out where the pauses are.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: The Shambles
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:28 PM

Sorry about the comment Peter, It was useful however if only for stopping your request from falling of the bottom and you do have your words now.

It does get a little boring just putting 'refresh'.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:32 PM

I bow thrice in gratitude in your direction, O Great Keeper of the Keys to Blues Wisdom!!!

There are two corrections, however:

One line is: "I'd go up on the mountain I'd call my baby back"

and, interesting enough, the one crucial chorus change is missed:

"Well it be too late baby I will be gone
For so long so long baby so long."

Much thanks.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Peter T.
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:36 PM

No problem, Shambles. I was just feeling snarky. (how long, how long will my strike go on.....) yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Nov 00 - 05:48 PM

Peter, sorry about those - sloppiness on my part, not Titon's fault. I missed the 'on' when typing and, to save time, I copied and pasted the refrain line and did not notice the change in the penultimate stanza.

Subject: RE: 'How Long, How Long Blues' Lyrics?
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Nov 00 - 12:25 PM

Well, my source says that they recorded it 6 times, so who knows what variants there are! yours, Peter T.

Subject: Will Fly How Long Blues
From: GUEST,olddude
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 12:56 PM

OH YEA
Will