Lyr Req: Red River Blues (John Jackson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues [ johnny gringo ]
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 12:39 AM

how about johnny gringo's red river blues.. any help there?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: Mark Clark
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 03:18 PM

I think it was Mance Lipscombe who used to do a version of this tune. The verse I remember went…

Which a way, do Red River run?
Which a way, do Red River run?
Run out my back door and gone.

I've never learned any more of it but used to use it to give beginning students a simple exercise to show how finger picking works. Lipscombe played the whole thing out of an E chord. There was an ocatve bass and a sparse melody that could be done on the beat using a pinch or played off the beat.

I haven't heard the Lipscombe track for a large bunch of years so I may just misremember how it went.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: ddw
Date: 20 Jan 04 - 02:46 PM

Hey Jeepman,

If you're still around and interested in this song, I thought you might also want to check out Josh White's version. Basically the same tune, but very different lyrics.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll post them here.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: ddw
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 01:29 AM

Sorry, Jim -- I meant to put a note on the bottom of that but got too quick in the SUBMIT button.

I cant make out the second line of the second spoken verse, so I put in what it sounds like to me. If you can determine exactly what hes saying, Id appreciate a note on it.

You have obviously ordered his CD Dont Let Your Deal Go Down. He has quite a few others. If youre interested I can send you a list of what I know about. I have (I think) three of his CDs. Maybe four.

I enjoyed working with him briefly, but didnt actually learn much from him except a few good songs. He had such a unique playing style that it would have taken quite a while to learn much of it. He was a gravedigger most of his working life and had huge hands -- thumbs like ping-pong paddles with nails that could have ripped a hole in a battleship -- and he flatpicked with his thumb. The only person I know who has actually picked up his style and plays it is a guy from Colorado or Utah or somewhere out that way named Mark Galbo. I loved to listen to John, but just didnt care to learn his style much.

Cheers,

david

Subject: Lyr Add: GRAVEYARD BLUES (from John Jackson)
From: ddw
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 01:14 AM

Graveyard Blues
By John Jackson

CHORUS: Im gonna start a graveyard of my own
                If that man dont leave my gal alone
                My razors got a rusty blade
                Lay that man right in the shade
                Im gonna start a graveyard of my own

SPOKEN:
I went down to my gals house, Sue
And I knocked on the door
And there was Sam Henry down there
And he asked me what Im doing down here
And I said im here to see my gal Sue
And he said, Your gal --
Why you see whos playing the cards here

CHORUS:

So I went back downtown
Feeling about twice
And I met that ugly scroundal
Down there messing with my wife
So I hit him a crack with my razor
His shoes made a noise
They said You can have the coat
But I got to go

CHORUS:

So I goes back downtown
And I met that dude Henry
Coming up Fifth Avenue
So I crossed over at Henry Street
And thats where we cornered
So I hit him a crack with my razor
And he went straight up four stories high
And began to fly.
Well his feet flew out from under him
And then I seen his britches started to wiggling
And the next thing Sam Henry was gone.

CHORUS:

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: Jeep man
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 10:57 PM

DDW, sorry I am so late answering. I printed out your message and promptly lost it.

You have nailed it. Good job and Thanks. You must have learned a lot around Jackson.

Do you also have his lyris to "Graveyard Blues"?

Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: ddw
Date: 02 Aug 03 - 12:09 PM

refrresh

Subject: Lyr Add: RED RIVER BLUES (from John Jackson)
From: ddw
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 11:42 AM

RED RIVER BLUES
John Jackson version (now sure who wrote it)

Which way, which way
Does that Blood Red River run
My back window
Lord, to that rising sun

Lord I love her, Lord I love her
Treat me so unkind
Keep me worried
Bothered all the time

Red River, Red River
Please tell me what to do
Mmmm
What best I can be

Lord I love her, Lord i love her
Tell the wide world I do
The way you mistreat me
Coming home to you

Im gonna siing these blues
And I aint gonna sing no more
The woman I love, Lord
Drove me from her door

REPEAT VERSE ONE;


Jeep man,
I was lucky enough to get to study with John Jackson a little the summer before he died. Great fellow -- loved his music.

I have just got a new computer up and running, and for some reason I cannot type apostrophes and some punctuation, so the contractions here do not have such niceties.

Also, in verse 3 -- It doesnt make any sense, but that is as close as I can come to what he sang. John had a tendency to garble words pretty often...

cheers,
david

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: Jeep man
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 10:16 PM

No it's not the same song.The one Jackson sings is really a very pretty song with super guitar work.
I should have my copy in a few days and will try to transcribe it for any who might want it. Thanks pal, Jim

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: Jeep man
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:45 PM

Thanks, Sorcha. I'm not sure. I will check it against the snippet that I have and report. Jim

Subject: Lyr Add: RED RIVER (Kent "Omar" Dykes)
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 10:55 AM

Jim, is this the right one? (I don't believe it, Harry's Blues was actually available!)

RED RIVER
by Kent "Omar" Dykes
recording of 1996
from World Wide Open (Watermelon 1053), copyright notice

South of Oklahoma
North of that Texas line
There's a long and winding road
Where I used to spend my time
Cannonball off the old bridge
Watermelon in the shade
Fishin´ line round your big toe
Arrowheads in the clay

Yeah yeah red Red River
Mighty river river roll
Yeah yeah Red River
Muddy water take me home
Red Red River
I used to wonder
Where did that river run
My heart just had to follow
The beat of that distant drum

Every road I travel takes me back
To the day you set me free
No matter where I go
You'll always be part of me
Yeah yeah red Red River
Mighty river river roll
Yeah yeah Red River
Muddy water take me home
Red Red River

Subject: Lyr Req: Red River Blues by John Jackson
From: Jeep man
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 11:14 PM

Can anyone help me the the lyrics to John Jackson's "Red River Blues"?
I have his CD ordered from Arhoolie, but I would like to do this Friday night. I won't have the CD by then. Jim