Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)

Subject: Leadbelly song
From: Whistleworks
Date: 26 May 02 - 09:33 PM

Dear Friends,

I am looking for the words to a song by Leadbelly which I do believe is called "Relax Your Mind" or something to that effect. As always, I know that this will no doubt take literally seconds to unearth and so I thank you one and all. And, have a nice Memorial Day too.

Best regards,

Bob Pegritz

Subject: Lyr Add: RELAX YOUR MIND (Huddie Ledbetter)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 May 02 - 09:59 PM

RELAX YOUR MIND
(Huddie Ledbetter)

Relax your mind, relax your mind,
Oh, make you live a great long time
Same time you got to relax your mind.

When the light turns green,
Oh, push down on your gasoline,
One time you got to relax your mind.

When the light turns red,
Oh, shove your brakes down to the bed,
One time you got to relax your mind.

Relax your mind, relax your mind,
Oh, make you feel so fine some time,
Some time you got to relax your mind.

When you're driving in an automobile,
Oh, keep your eyes out through that windshield,
That's the time you got to relax your mind.

Once was a man crossin' a railroad track,
Oh, boy, and he forgot to relax,
That's one time he shoulda relaxed his mind.

Relax your mind, relax your mind,
Oh, make you feel just as fine as wine,
Sometime you gotta relax your mind.

(Repeat first verse)

SOURCE: Julius Lester and Alan Lomax, The 12-string Guitar As Played by Leadbelly (Oak, 1956, p. 41; with music & chords)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Leadbelly song
From: Whistleworks
Date: 26 May 02 - 11:25 PM

Mas,

Thanks a million. Now I'm gonna go out on the porch and relax my mind. Yassuh.

Bob

Subject: RE: Leadbelly song
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 27 May 02 - 11:29 AM

Huddie's introduction (on "Last Sessions", I believe) is great. He talks about driving Lomax all over the South and how he never even "Hit one chicken"!

Good song.

Rick

Subject: RE: Leadbelly song
From:
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 02:04 PM

As far as I know, the only known recording of the song is on the "Last Sessoins". And by the way, there was one verse that was wrong so, here it is.

Once was a man,
Crossin' the railroad track,
Lord, goin eighty he forgot to relax,
That's a time, he shoulda relaxed his mind

Jus thought I'd help out.
Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Leadbelly song (Relax Your Mind)
From: GUEST,T-Bone
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 04:45 PM

Actually, there's a great version by Jay Unger & Molly Mason on their CD by the same name, with Dave BRomberg and Peter Ecklund on the title cut. Slightly different words, including he line: "When th3e traffic light turns blue, what in the world are you gonna do?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Leadbelly song (Relax Your Mind)
From: GUEST,Al Rudis
Date: 30 Oct 09 - 01:43 PM

Jim and Jean recorded a great version in 1965, very smooth and silky and cocktail. In fact, when Michael Cooney mentioned it was written by Leadbelly, I didn't believe it until I came to this discussion.

Subject: ADD Version: Relax Your Mind (Lead Belly)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Oct 09 - 02:10 AM

So, here's what I hear on the Unger/Mason recording:

RELAX YOUR MIND
(Huddie Ledbetter)
[as recorded by Jay Unger & Molly Mason on their CD by the same name]

Oh, when you're drivin' in your automobile,
Keep your hands on that steerin' wheel;
Sometime, you got to relax your mind, your mind.

Relax your mind, relax your mind,
And you'll feel so fine sometimes,
Sometime, you got to relax your mind, your mind.

Now, when the light turns green,
You put your foot on the gasoline,
Sometime, you got to relax your mind, your mind.

And when the light turns red,
Put your foot on the brake instead;
Sometime, you got to relax your mind, your mind.

Relax your mind, relax your mind,
Makes you feel so fine some time,
Sometime you got to relax your mind.

When the traffic light turns blue,
What in the world are you gonna do?
Sometime, you got to relax your mind, your mind.

[instrumental break]

Sometime you got to relax your mind.
(Repeat first verse)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST,Conchi
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 01:09 PM

Yes, Jay and Molly Ungar's version is the first one I ever heard. I sing it now and also make up my versions as I go along. It's a great jamming song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 04:20 PM

Josh McRae always sang: Relax your mind, relax your mind, and you'll live for a long, long time.
Poor Josh committed suicide.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 04:27 PM

Here you are, Leadbelly, Relax Your Mind

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST,chloeanned
Date: 24 Jun 12 - 12:33 PM

Anybody got the chords for this here ditty? I wanna play it so bad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: PHJim
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 11:52 AM

A pretty simple progression, Chloeanned.

Lead Belly is pretty close to C.

Relax your [C] mind, relax your [C7]mind,
And you'll [F] feel so fine some[C]times,
Sometime, you [G] got to relax your [C] mind.

Sometimes I like to play it:

Relax your [C] mind, relax your [C7] mind,
And you'll [F] feel so fine [F#dim] sometimes,
Some[C]time, you [G] got to relax your [C]mind.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 10:24 AM

I first heard this song as recorded by the great Jim Kweskin Jug Band; it was the title cut of one of their albums:

http://www.amazon.com/Relax-Your-Mind-Jim-Kweskin/dp/B0000C509U

What a wonderful ensemble, but prehaps not as well-remembered as they should be. Those of you younger than 60 or so, as well as those not living in the US during the 60s: if you haven't given a listen to this band, do yourselves a favor...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Relax Your Mind (Leadbelly)
From: PHJim
Date: 26 Jun 12 - 11:55 PM

That was Jim Kweskin's solo album. Although it wasn't supposed to be the jug band, Mel Lyman's mouth harp played a big part in that record.

I think I probably heard it first done by Happy Traum.