Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy

Subject: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 02:29 AM

I saw a reference online (at Amazon) that Handy's 'Snakey Blues' was re-named 'Memphis Blues' with lyrics added at that time. I've Googled but found no reference to the actual lyrics. Any clues please.

A MIDI of 'Snakey Blues' can be found HERE, but attributed to Will Nash 1915.

But according to this site, Handy published 'Memphis Blues' on 28 September 1912.

Can anyone shed light on this or provide lyrics to Memphis Blues.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 04:18 AM

American Memory has a sheet music edition. Copyrighted 1913 (see the bottom of page 2).

Memphis Blues / W.C. Handy (New York, New York: Theron C. Bennett, 1913)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: Brian Hoskin
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 04:20 AM

In Handy's autobiography, 'Father of the Blues', he writes that Memphis Blues was originally entitled 'Mister Crump'. This was a campaign tune (words added later) for the mayoral election campaign of E.H. Crump (1909). There's no mention of 'Snakey Blues'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 04:38 AM

From W.C. Handy, ed., Blues: An Anthology (1926, 1949; Macmillan, 1972, p. 207):

This ["Memphis Blues"] is the first (1912) published version of this first written blues, interlined with some of the many frivolous or traditional verses that were sung to its tune in the 1909 campaign. The entire first strain of the music was omitted in Bennett's vocal edition of 1913.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 04:59 AM

Fom the Levy Collection:

Title: The Memphis Blues, or, Mister Crump. A Southern Rag.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: by W.C. Handy.
Publication: n.p.: Joe Morris Music Co., 1912.
Form of Composition: sectional
Instrumentation: piano
Performer: Featured at Every performance by Waiman
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: unattrib. photo of Waiman
Advertisement: ads on inside front and on back covers for Joe Morris Music Co. stock
Subject: Portraits
Subject: Violins
Call No.: Box: 171 Item: 096

Subject: Lyr Add: MR. CRUMP DON'T LIKE IT (from F Stokes)
From: RWilhelm
Date: 18 Oct 04 - 02:14 PM

Frank Stokes recorded it in 1927 as "Mr. Crump Don't Like It". I've seen these lyrics attributed to W.C. Handy but I'm not sure they were the original lyrics. I don't think it would make a very good campaign song. Crump was a political boss and a prohibitionist.



MR. CRUMP DON'T LIKE IT


Now Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here.
Now Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here.
Now Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here,
No barrelhouse women goin' drinkin' no beer.
Mr Crump don't like it, he ain't goin' to have it here.

I saw the Baptist sisters, jumped up and began to shout.
I saw the Baptist sisters, jumped up and began to shout.
And now the Baptist sisters jumped up and began to shout,
Brother I'm so glad that whiskey voted out.
Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here.
   
I saw the Methodist sisters, jumped up and they had a fit.
I saw the Methodist sisters, jumped up and they had a fit.
I saw the Methodist sisters, jumped up and they had a fit,
Too doggone sorry, whiskey ain't gone yet.
'Cause Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here.

I saw the Presbyterian sisters, turned around and begin to grin.
I saw the Presbyterian sisters, turned around and begin to grin.
I saw the Presbyterian sisters, turned around, begin to grin,
Lord I believe they'll start out to barrelhousin' again.
So Mr Crump don't like it, ain't goin' to have it here.

I saw the deacon, looked around, sister why in the world don't you hush.
I saw the deacon, looked around, sister why in the world don't you hush.
I said the deacon, looked around, sister why don't you hush.
I'd rather see you drunk than wear these hobble skirts.
Now Mr Crump don't like it

You don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree.
You don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree.
You don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree,
You don't like my fruit, let my orchards be.
For Mr Crump won't allow no

Subject: Lyr Add: MEMPHIS BLUES (Norton/Handy)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 May 10 - 12:52 PM

According to Wikipedia, this is supposed to be an earlier version of MR. CRUMP DON'T LIKE IT, but I don't see any similarity, at least not with the lyrics. (I'll let someone who can read music be the judge of that.) The lyrics don't even mention Mr. Crump.

From the sheet music at Indiana University:


MEMPHIS BLUES
"Successfully featured by Ed. V. Cupero's Band and Orchestra in Geo. Evans' 'Honey Boy' Minstrels"
"A Southern Rag by W. C. Handy"
"George A. Norton's song founded on W. C. Handy's world wide 'blue' note melody"
Words, George A. Norton. Music, W. C. Handy.
New York: Joe Morris Music Co., 1913.

1. Folks, I've just been down,
Down to Memphis town.
That's where the people smile,
Smile on you all the while
Hospitality!
They were good to me.
I couldn't spend a dime,
And had the grandest time.
I went out a-dancin' with a Tennessee dear,
They had a fellow there named Handy with a band you should hear,
And while the whi' folks gently swayed,
All dem darkies played
Real harmony.
I never will forget the tune
That Handy called the Memphis Blues.
Oh, them blues!

CHORUS. They got a fiddler there
That always slickens his hair,
An', folks, he sure do pull some bow!
And when the big bassoon
Seconds to the trombones' croon, croon,
It moans just like a sinner on the Revival Day, on Revival Day.
That melancholy strain,
That ever-haunting refrain,
Is like a darkies' sorrow song.
Here comes the very part
That wraps a spell around my heart, heart.
It sets me wild to hear that lovin' tune again, the Memphis Blues.

2. Oh, that melody
Sure appealed to me,
Just like a mountain stream
Rippling on, it seemed.
Then it slowly died
With a gentle sigh,
Soft as the breeze that whines
High in the summer pines.
Hear me, people! Hear me, people! Hear me, I pray.
I'm going to take a million lessons 'til I learn how to play,
Because I seem to hear it yet,
Simply can't forget
That blue refrain.
There's nothin' like the Handy Band
That play'd the Memphis Blues so grand.
Oh, them blues!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snakey Blues/Memphis Blues - W.C. Handy
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 07 May 16 - 10:27 PM

"Snakey Blues" was written by William Nash, an associate of Handy's, and it wasn't renamed "Memphis Blues."