Origins: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 09 Oct 12 - 05:22 AM

My entire life has been spent attempting to not let my deal descend. It's sometimes a challenge.

Subject: RE: Origins: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 12 - 11:06 PM

As a noobie musician but somehow running a/n ukulele club and trying to get a dozen or so new tunes every month to club, I can't tell you how appreciative I am of this forum. Thanks and good on all a ya!

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: bluerabbit10
Date: 11 Apr 06 - 03:47 PM

Been looking for these for long time...I really like the B7, E7 rendition.....thanks,
Verne Garrison

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Mark Clark
Date: 05 Aug 03 - 01:06 AM

When you're the dealer in the card game—when you have the deal—you have “the dealer's advantage.” So don't let your deal go down or don't lose the deal as long as you have even one gold dollar to bet.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Marion
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 11:50 PM

What does "don't let your deal go down" mean?

Marion

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Gerard
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 02:36 PM

Thank you for the chords!!

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 01:25 PM

Amos: If you don't have the Greenbrier Boy's "Ragged But Right" you ain't got the best version. It goes I-V-I-IV-I-V more/less.

Mr. Clark's "implied tonic" with the song actually starting in VI helps me and other musical-theory-impaired people a lot. Thanks.

More music and less politics. Yeah!

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Mark Clark
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 12:01 PM

Ella Speed (here too) is usually played to the subject progression. The progressin also shows up in Bully of the Town and Lead Belly's Salty Dog as well as hundreds of ragtime tunes.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:34 AM

My hero. yours, Peter T. (What is this song "when the War Breaks out in Mexico? Never heard that....)

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Amos
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 10:24 AM

When the war breaks out in Mexico, I'm a gonna go to Montreal
Let's Go Fishin'
Ragged but Right....

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Amos
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:59 AM

Take It Slow and Easy (If Ya Wanna Get Along With Me)

SFO Bay Blues (in part)

Euphoria

(I'll add more as they come to me).


A

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Aug 03 - 09:37 AM

(1) Thanks for the Mudcat spirit, gang, alive and well. Hope Gerard didn't flee after the first reply.
(2) By coincidence, I am learning the circle of fifths on the banjo (including this song) and Amos' short list intrigued me. Can anyone supply a list of old time songs or whatever that use this? Not exhaustive, but, well, a few more. My contribution: "I Got Rhythm".

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Amos
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 11:48 PM

Yeah, yer right, Mark -- I got thrown off by the D==>G transition before I realized it was based in the key of F.

Thus it is, actually a circle of fifths sequence, of the sort used in many ragtime and old-time and jug-band numbers in varying degrees -- examples which come to mind are "Five Foot Two", "Keep On Trucking", "Walk Right In and Set Right Down" and dozens of others not at my fingertips right now.

Just as Maximus so unkindly pointed out.


A

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 09:47 PM

I understand that Don Stiernberg was a master student of Kenneth "Jethro" Burns, playing mandolin. He does "chord style" rhythm guitar on Burn's last two recordings: "Bye Bye Blues" (Acoustic Disc) ACD-26 and "Swing Low, Sweet Mandolin" ACD-15. "Genius" certainly applies to Burns.

Bill Clifton does "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" as "You Don't Think About Me When I'm Gone". His version is neo-bluegrass, with more verses than the version posted.

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Mark Clark
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 09:42 PM

As pointed out, it has long been the custom in these threads—when responding to an honest question—to provide as much real help as quickly as we can collectively manage. I'm happy to say nearly everyone contributes in that spirit.

Although in different keys, each progression posted above is the same relative progression. Using the Roman numeral system and naming chords by the position of their root note on the scale we have VI-II-V-I in every case. There is actually an implied I (tonic) chord just prior to the first word in a verse or chorus. Players often begin with a single-note run from the I chord down to the VI chord. In Joe's example that would be F-E-Eb-D on the forth string of a guitar.

And Amos rightly points out that the line is “till your last gold dollar is gone” not old dollar.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Amos
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 08:41 PM

Not to push versions but I always played it in the traditional pattern that runs from C==>A7==>D7==>G7==>C

Been all around this wide wide world
Done most everything
P{layed cards with the King and the QUeen
And the ace, and the deuce ands the trey.

Chorus: Don't let your deal go down, boy,
Don't let your deal go down
Don't let your deal go down the drain
Til my last gold dollar is gone.

Where did you get
Those high buckle shoes
And the dress that you wear so fine?
Got my dress from an engineer
And my shoes from a driver int he mine.

You call me a bum
When I'm home with you
And it's bad man and tramp when I'm gone.
But when I come over the hill
With a hundred-dollar buill,
Then it's honey, where ya been so long!??

(Cho follows each verse).

Regards,


A

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 08:36 PM

NLCR used the Charlie Poole version (see The New Lost City Ramblers Song Book, pp. 198-99; tune, lyrics, chords, with fiddle intro).

"Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (Riley Puckett) can be heard at The Record Lady's All-Time Country Favorites (Real Country Archives Page 3).

This tune was used for "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" by Alfred G. Karnes (Recorded in Bristol, TN July 29, 1927. Victor 20840). Do listen to it, at DoveSong (Click here).

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 07:08 PM

Joe You are far more polite than I would be to Supercilious bastards like Maximus.Having been earning money at this music game for thirty years I still do not know ALL the technical side of chords and such.
The fact that I Can work out chord runs by listening to a tune does NOT make me feel superior to another muso who cant do that .

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: John Hardly
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 07:03 PM

freaky.

I've just been working this'n out myself. Reispired by the Three Pickers on TV the other night, I dug out my Joel Mabus' "Six Of One" which has a WONDERFUL version in trio with Don Stiernberg (mando) and Peter Ruth (harmonica). (too bad more people don't own this CD -- I think it was the finest folk recording released that year -- Mabus is Mabus and Steirnberg and Ruth are geniuses)

Incidentally, I really dislike the lyrics we have on file and I intend to transcribe both the Doc Watson and the Joel Mabus versions and post 'em when I get a minute. They make more sense.

Anyway, It's VERY cool done thus:

Fingerstyle (faux Travis)

B7 I've been all around this E7 whole wide world
A7 Way down in Memphis Tennes- D -see
B7 Any old place I E7 hang my hat
A7 Seems like home to D me.

Chorus
B7 Don't let your deal go E7 down.
A7 Dont let your deal go D down.
B7 Don't let your deal go E7 down sweet mama
For my A7 last old dollar's D gone.

B7 - 7X787X
E7 - 0X6757
A7 - (5)0565(0)
D -X00775

I think you'll find that, moving a finger here and there, the melody will fall nicely under these basic chord shapes.

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 06:45 PM

Gee, Murray - I guess I should be pleased that people catch my typographical errors, because that means they actually read what I've posted. I corrected the errant chord. Thanks for pointing that out.
The best way to post chords is to use the <pre> preformat tag before and cancelling it </pre> after the section with the chords. You need one tag at the beginning of the entire section and one at the end - not one for every line. This sets a monospaced font, so the spacing comes out right. Line breaks are now automatic, so you don't have to worry about them. You'll find a better explantion here (click), part of the Mudcat HTML Guide PermaThread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 06:10 PM

I like the way you align the chords with the lyrics Joe, many of us would like to know how to do that. Harvey Andrews was asking about it a few days ago.

btw, On the first line of the chorus, the chord printed as F should of course be a G.

Murray

Subject: ADD Chords: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 05:59 PM

Gee, Maximus, you sure are nasty today. I suppose it's true that expert guitarists don't need to get chord information on songs. Some of us, though, struggle with that sort of stuff even though we may have studied music all our lives. I'm sorry you can't understand us lesser mortals.
-Joe Offer-

DON'T LET YOUR DEAL GO DOWN

      D                     G
  I've been all around this whole wide world
  C                          F
  Way down in Memphis Tennessee.
  D                G
  Any old place I hang my hat
  C                   F
  Seems like home to me.
  
  Chorus
  D                       G
  Don't let your deal go down.
  C                         F
  Dont let your deal go down.
  D                       G
  Don't let your deal go down sweet mama
           C                F
  For my last old dollar's gone.
  
  When I left my love behind,
  She's standin' in the door,
  She throwed her little arms around my neck and said,
  'Sweet daddy please don't go."
  
  Now it's who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet?
  Who's gonna glove your hand?
  And who's gonna kiss your ruby lips
  Honey, who's gonna be your man?
  
  She says, papa will shoe my pretty little feet,
  Mama will glove my hand,
  You can kiss my rosy lips
  When you get back again.
  
  Where did you get them high-heel shoes
  And that dress you wear so fine?
  Got my shoes from a railroad man
  Dress from a driver in the mine.

Sorce: Folksinger's Wordbook (Fred & Irwin Silber, 1973)

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Here's the entry on this song at the Traditional Ballad Index:

Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

DESCRIPTION: Floating verses: "Been all around this whole round world... Anyplace I hang my hat/Feels like home to me"; "Left my little girl a'crying"; "Where did you get your high-top shoes" Chorus: "Don't let your deal go down/Till your last (g)old dollar is gone"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recording, Charlie Poole)
KEYWORDS: gambling nonballad floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
BrownIII 301, "High-Topped Shoes" (2 texts, both mixed; "A" is mostly "Pretty Little Foot" with verses from "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" while "B" is a hash of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down," ""More Pretty Girls Than One," "In the Pines," and others)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 182-183, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (1 text, 1 tune)
Rorrer, p. 70, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues" (1 text)
Darling-NAS, p. 285, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 144, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (1 text)
DT, DEALDOWN*
RECORDINGS:
Fiddlin' John Carson, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (OKeh 45096, 1927)
Lake Howard, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (Perfect 13151, 1935)
Dick Justice, "Old Black Dog" (Brunswick 395, c. 1929)
Kessinger Brothers, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (Brunswick 411, c. 1930)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (on NLCR01, NLCRCD1) (NLCR12)
W. Lee O'Daniel & the Light Crust Doughboys, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (Vocalion 03471, 1937)
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues" (Columbia 15038-D, 1925; on CPoole01, CPoole05); (Columbia 15184-D, 1927)
Riley Puckett, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (Columbia 15448-D, 1929) (Bluebird B-6067, 1935)
Ernest V. Stoneman, "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down" (OKeh 45054, 1926)
Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, "Don't Let the Deal Go Down" (Vocalion 05282, 1939; Columbia 37739, 1947)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "In the Pines" (words)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Last Gold Dollar
High Top Shoes
Notes: The phrase "let your deal go down" refers to the Georgia Skin Game, a card game popular among gamblers in the first half of the 20th century. - PJS
File: CSW182

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Subject: RE: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: GUEST,Maximus
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 04:45 PM

It's a circle of 5ths.
Now go educate yourself.

Subject: Chords Req.: Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
From: Gerard
Date: 03 Aug 03 - 04:14 PM

Looking for chords to "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down."