Lyr Req: Police (Dirk Powell)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Police (Dirk Powell)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 14 Jul 13 - 10:48 AM

but instead of
"'Fore you die son..." I hear "Roll your dice and..."
and "...run like the devil..." rather than "...work..."

From Cecil Sharp's Appalachian collection - specifically the redoubtable Kentucky moonshiner Eliza Pace - we have:

"Shoot your dice and have your fun, sugar babe
Run like the Devil when the police come, sugar babe"

Song seems to attract various floating verses. Maybe a minstrel piece?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Police (Dirk Powell)
From: GUEST,former old-timey player
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 05:12 PM

Sorry, Dirk, not Dick ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Police (Dirk Powell)
From: GUEST,former old-timey player
Date: 13 Jul 13 - 05:04 PM

I have no knowledge of Dick Powell nor of his version of this song, but I can tell you that in the versions I've heard, which I believe to be a bit more faithful to the source material, the line is "showed him the little end of my '44", which also seems a bit more clever and less blunt/brutal than "shot him in the head ...".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old time song - Police(man) - Dirk Powel
From: GUEST,cookieless Nickp
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 10:57 AM

That's the one Ray

but instead of

"'Fore you die son..." I hear "Roll your dice and..."

and same verse

"...run like the devil..." rather than "...work..."

The bit that really throws me is where you have

"Gruntin'(or possibly huntin')like a hog"

I'll have to wait until I get home to listen .

Any advance from other 'Catters?

Nick

Subject: Lyr Add: POLICE (from Dirk Powell)
From: BanjoRay
Date: 23 Aug 04 - 07:54 AM

Hi Nick - I know you're in work and I don't suppose you've got the CD with you - The CD's called 'Time Again'
Here's a stab at the lyrics:


Police (From Dirk Powell)

Police come I didnt wanna go this mornin'(x2)
Police come I didnt wanna go
Shot him in the head with my 44 this mornin'


'Fore you die son have your fun this mornin' (x2)
'Fore you die son have your fun
And work like the devil when the police come this mornin'(x2)

There's old John lyin' on a log this mornin'(x2)
There's old John lyin' on a log
Finger on the trigger and his eye on the hog this mornin'

Down went the trigger and bang went the gun this mornin'(x2)
Down went the trigger and bang went the gun
We hitched him to a wagon and we hauled him home this mornin'

Know a little secret I aint gonna tell this mornin'(x2)
Know a little secret I aint gonna tell
I want go to heaven but lord I'm ........this mornin'
(presumably 'goin' to hell' left out for bible belt reasons)

There's old John a-sittin' on a plow this mornin'(x2)
There's old John a-sittin' on a plow
Tryin to get a woman but he dont know how this mornin'

Tryin to get a woman but he dont know how this mornin'(x2)
Tryin to get a woman but he dont know how
Gruntin'(or possibly huntin')like a hog lookin' for a sow this mornin'

Police come I didn't wanna go this mornin'(x2)
Police come I didn't wanna go
Shot him in the head with my 44 this mornin'

Cheers
Ray

Subject: Lyr Req: Oldtime song - Police(man) - Dirk Powel
From: nickp
Date: 22 Aug 04 - 06:33 PM

Excellent version on Dirk's new cd 'Long Time' - I can make out most of the lyrics but not all and there's bound to be some in other versions.

Any thoughts Catters?

Thanks, Nick