Lyr Req: Bessie Smith (from the Basement Tapes)

Subject: "Bessie Smith" from Basement Tapes
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 22 Jun 98 - 06:08 PM

Anyone happen to have the lyrics for the tune "Bessie Smith", a tune from The Basement Tapes, the Dylan/Band collaboration from years gone by? I've long since lost my copy, but have been wanting to resurrect more of the song in my memory than just the chorus.

I've searched all the Dylan and Band sites I'm familiar with and the only thing I've found so far has been a brief snippet of the chorus on a .wav file from a Band fan's site.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Subject: "Bessie Smith" from Basement Tapes
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 22 Jun 98 - 06:11 PM

Anyone happen to have the lyrics for the tune "Bessie Smith", a tune from The Basement Tapes, the Dylan/Band collaboration from years gone by? I've long since lost my copy, but have been wanting to resurrect more of the song in my memory than just the chorus.

I've searched all the Dylan and Band sites I'm familiar with and the only thing I've found so far has been a brief snippet of the chorus on a .wav file from a Band fan's site.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Subject: tunes info
From:
Date: 22 Jun 98 - 06:40 PM

Good morning, We are Italian musicians keen on Irish music. Recently, we have realized a few recordings of most popular Irish tunes. Now we need to find historical informations about the following tunes: 1. "Women of Ireland" or "Mnà na hEireann"(in gaelic) 2. "Come under my plaidie" (scottish) 3. "Road to Lisdoonvarna" 4. "Huntingtone Castle" Our question is: "Could You help us to find historical informations about those tunes? Do You know something about them? We'd be very glad if You could answer with all needed informations. Thanks in advance, Waiting for Your gentle reply Regards Gianpaolo Viani and Silvano Betelli > [e-mail] <

Subject: RE:
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 22 Jun 98 - 06:42 PM

Here's the URL of what seems the definitive Band-related site, by the way. A real find!

http://theband.hiof.no/

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: BESSIE SMITH (from The Band)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 09:16 AM

Lyrics and chords copied from http://www.iol.ie/~murphypj/THE_BAND/bessie.txt

BESSIE SMITH
Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson (members of The Band)

(Intro.) C F F#dim C Am D7 F C F

 C          C/G#      Am     D7              F   G
  Bessie was more than just a friend of mine.
  C             E                   Am   D7   F
  We shared the good times with the bad.
  C   C/G#   Am       D7            F   G
  Now many a year has passed me by,
  C         E             Am                F   G
  I still recall the best thing I ever had.
  
  CHORUS:
           C                          F
  I'm just goin' down the road t' see Bessie,
  C             G
  Oh, see her soon.
  C                          F      F#dim
  Goin' down the road t' see Bessie Smith,
         C   Am      D7      F              C   F
  When I get there I wonder what she'll do.

Now, all the crazy things I had to try,
Well, I tried them all and then some;
But if you're lucky, one day you find out
Where it is you're really comin' from. CHORUS

Now in my day, I've made some foolish moves,
But back then, I didn't worry 'bout a thing;
And now again I still wonder to myself:
Was it her sweet love, or the way that she could sing? CHORUS

There's so much time has gone right on by.
I didn't think one could be so wrong;
And then one night I was drinkin' and a-thinkin'.
In the bottom of the glass, I could see Bessie's face so strong. CHORUS

When she sees me, will she know what I've been through?
Will old times start to feelin' like new?
When I get there, will our love still feel so true?
Yet all I have, I'll be a-bringin' it to you.
Oh Bessie, sing them old-time blues.