Lyr Req: Roberta (Leadbelly)

Subject: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From:
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 04:05 PM

I can't find them & I REALLY WANT TO. Thanks for any help.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROBERTA (Leadbelly)
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 04:29 PM

ROBERTA
Lyrics: Leadbelly
Music: Leadbelly

The Dead played this a couple of times in 1970, but I don't have a tape. The Leadbelly version goes like this:

Oh Roberta, where you been so long
Oh Roberta, where you been so long
I ain't had no loving since you've been gone

Oh Roberta, sit down on my knee
Oh Roberta, sit down on my knee
I got a lot to tell you that's been worrying me

Way up the river, far as I can see
Way up the river, far as I can see
I thought I spied my old time used to be

And it was not nothing, honey but the side of a tree

Well I'm down on the river, sitting on the ground
Well I'm down on the river, sitting on the ground
Gonna stay right here Lord, until Roberta come down

Roberta, Roberta, where you been so long
Roberta, Roberta, where you been so long
Cross country, with my [?long cold lawn]

There is also a Furry Lewis version with slightly different lyrics:

Tell me Roberta, where you been so long
Tell me Roberta, where you been so long
I ain't had no loving since you've been gone

I see Roberta cross the sea
I see Roberta cross the sea
She didn't write me no letter, she didn't care for me

Tell me Roberta, what you gonna do
Tell me Roberta, what you gonna do
Just a little bit of loving let your heart be true

Roberta, Roberta, you on my mind
Roberta, Roberta, you on my mind
If you cry by the nickel you die by the dime

Roberta left yesterday and I'm going today
Roberta left yesterday and I'm going today
I'm getting tired of your low-down ways

Subject: Lyr Add: ROBERTA (Leadbelly)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 07:50 PM

Another set of lyrics is given in The 12-String Guitar As Played by Leadbelly (Oak, 1956, 1968, p. 47) by Julius Lester and Pete Seeger. There're two versions; "he seldom played the same song the same way twice." (p. 48)

ROBERTA

Oh, Roberta, tell me how long, how long.
Oh, Roberta, tell me how long, how long.
You ought not keep me down here baby, singing this same ol' song.

I'm down on the river, setting down on the ground (2x)
I'm gonna stay right here, until that steamboat come down.

Way up the river, just as far as I can see (2x)
I thought I'd find my old time used to be.

She's a brownskin woman, got long black wavy hair (2x)
That woman look so good, baby, she can lead me 'most anywhere.

I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police (2x)
Tell him that Roberta quit me; I can't see no peace.

Oh, Roberta, don't you hear me calling you (2x)
I just got one more thing, I want to do.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 10:46 PM

Here's s link to a Leadbelly version (he recorded this several times) and to a Furry Lewis version. Uncle Jon's Lyric's

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 11:29 AM

Is this related at all to ALBERTA, let your hair hang low?

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 11:50 AM

Doesn't look like an e mail has been sent, so I'm doing that.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: GUEST,nbsanders1
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 01:17 PM

You guys are so good! Thanks. Re. question about is related to "Alberta," yes.

I was listening to Prairie Home Companion on Sunday and Odetta sang it, she said, as written by Ledbetter. Her version started out "Roberta, let your hair hang low."

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 29 Apr 02 - 11:39 PM

About Alberta and Roberta--they are usually sung at different tempos. Alberta is sung slow and Roberta is sung faster and is more of an admonition.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Rolfyboy6
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 12:18 AM

Here's Alberta

"I'll give you more gold than your apron can hold....'

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Apr 02 - 10:20 AM

I heard Odetta too on that PHC - what a woman. I just love her. I'd never heard anyone else (besides Doc Watson) sing the Alberta let your hair hang low song.