Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it

Subject: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: JenEllen
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 06:17 PM

Got a terrific Valentine's present of an old recording of this song. Hank Williams in singing it, and it says it was written by Clarence Carter. The part that snags me is in the chorus.

My bucket's got a hole in it
And I can't .....(???)

I swear ta gawd it sounds like "I can't buy no beer".

Anyone??

Ta, Elle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 09:05 PM

I ain't got no beer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 10:44 PM

CLICK HERE for full lyrics of the Hank version written by Clarence Carter.

OR....try THIS SITE!! I love running across these sites. Check out the translated version of "Jambalaya" that's below......just enough errors to really make it humorous.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: JenEllen
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 10:55 PM

Clarence WILLIAMS..I swear, sometimes you gotta hit me with a brick...

Thanks for the sites Spaw. Although I dunno about the Crowfish pie, you'd think it'd be stringy and too many bones.

~JE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 11:14 PM

Many singers have trouble with certain sounds, and I think Hank must have had trouble with the sound "-eer" or "-ear". In "Bucket" he sings "I can't buy no bee-yar", and in "Crazy Heart", he sings "You thought she kee-ared for you, and so you acted smart...". Another explanation for his weird pronunciation of "beer" might be that by the late 'forties, country music was between it's rough-and-ready past ("I Wish I'd Got Me a Half a Pint, and Stayed in the Wagon Yard"), and its honky-tonk future, and in an effort to keep it respectable, the producer didn't want the listener to quite understand the word "beer". (A little far-fetched, that.) Or maybe Hank just liked the way it sounded.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: Gary T
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 11:34 PM

It would have been easier to be sure of the words heard if we still lived in the days when one took his bucket down to the corner brewery to fill it up and bring it home. In this day and age, the line seems nonsensical. In an earlier day, it made perfect sense.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: JenEllen
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 12:14 AM

That reference made perfect sense. Most of the wineries around here will let you BYOB.

Here's what I found:

"The only session recording here dates from August 30, 1949. Hank was trying to convince Fred Rose that her should record "My Bucket..". The references to beer went against Rose's grain, as did the fact that he didn't own the publishing. Hank, though, forced the issue and ran it down for the band with just his guitar. Originally a turn-of-the-century pimp's lament, "My Bucket.." had been copyrighted by Clarence Williams in 1933, although at this point it's unclear if Hank was covering T.Texas Tyler's version or vice versa. The verse about the Ford was Excised, presumably so that the song would get played on shows sponsored by G.M, Chrysler, or Studebaker."

~JE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 12:27 AM

One of the many things I love about you JE is that you always pick up on subtle jokes regardless of what you say of the brick!!!! You da' best!!

Spaw

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MY BUCKET'S GOT A HOLE IN IT
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 01:06 AM

Musician INFO- * CLICK TO: PREVIOUS THREAD *


MY BUCKET'S GOT A HOLE IN IT
Recorded by Hank Williams, Sr.
Words and music by Clarence Williams

CAPO: 2nd FRET/KEY: E/PLAY: D

FIRST CHORUS
INTRO: [D] ...[A7] ...[D] ... [D7]
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [G] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [D] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [A7] Hole In It
I can't buy no [D] beer.

Well I'm standin' on a [G] corner -
With a bucket in my [D] hand
I'm waitin' for a [A7] woman -
That ain't got no [D] man.

2ND CHORUS
'Cause My Bucket's Got A [G] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [D] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [A7] Hole In It
I can't buy no [D] beer.

Well, I went upon the [G] mountain -
I looked down in the [D] sea
I seen the crabs and the [A7] fishes -
Doin' the be-bop-[D] bee.

2ND CHORUS

Well, there ain't no [G] use -
Of me workin' so [D] hard
When I got a [A7] woman -
In the boss man's [D] yard.

2ND CHORUS

Extra verse.

Well, me and my baby -
We just bought a Ford
And now we sit together -
On the running board.

1ST CHORUS

SOURCE:
HANK WILLIAMS-24 GREATEST HITS VOL. 2
MGM MG-2-5401

^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:32 AM

I'll be danged -- my guess about the producer not wanting the word "beer" to be understood might be right. Actually, given Hank's history with alcohol and the Grand Ol' Opry, it's not too surprising.

The tune, like myriad tunes before and after, was obviously "appropriated" from an African-American one. The third verse would have originally referred to the "white folks yard". Oh, another interesting thing about Hank's version -- he takes a guitar solo. It's his only solo among all of the Hank I have listened to (which doesn't include much of his "Luke the Drifter" sacred work).

James.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:33 AM

I'll be danged -- my guess about the producer not wanting the word "beer" to be understood might be right. Actually, given Hank's history with alcohol and the Grand Ol' Opry, it's not too surprising.

The tune, like myriad tunes before and after, was obviously "appropriated" from an African-American one. The third verse would have originally referred to the "white folks yard". Oh, another interesting thing about Hank's version -- he takes a guitar solo. It's his only solo among all of the Hank I have listened to (which doesn't include much of his "Luke the Drifter" sacred work).

James.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:37 AM

[That's what happens when one gets bounced off line in the middle of trying to send something...who knew?]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:40 AM

Oh, Gene: E is the key alright, but it's pretty clear from Hank's little solo that he played it open, not capoed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:43 AM

I'm more familiar with the Louis Armstrong version, from memory, it sounds similar.
I don't think it is on those marvellous Clarence Williams Blue 5 recordings with Louis and Bechet (but I've been wrong before...).
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 09:46 AM

Not related to the various There's a hole in the bucket, dear wifey, dear wifey ones, is this?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: jofield
Date: 20 Feb 01 - 07:09 PM

Not by a looo-oong shot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Bucket's Got a Hole in it
From: GUEST,blue_jeans
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 12:21 PM

[D7]
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [G7] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [D7] Hole In It
Yea! My Bucket's Got A [A7] Hole In It
I can't buy no [D] beer.(D7)Well, I'm standing on the (G7)corner......

(I remember the G7 chord, and going to D7 seven, rather than the D).
Does anybody else play it this way?