Lyr Req: Walk Right in Belmont (Watts & Wilson)

Subject: Lyr Req: Walk Right at Belmont
From: GLoux
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 11:12 AM

Does anyone know the words and origin of a song with the first line:

When you're down at the Belmont, you'd better walk right...

-Greg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Walk Right at Belmont
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 03:36 PM

Hi Greg

Walk Right In Belmont, recorded Chicago, April 1927 by Wilmer Watts and issued on Paramount 9013.

It has been re-issued in recent years and it's on my shelves somewhere probably on one of the Yazoo Label's "Times Ain't What They Used To Be" series. I'll try a search hopefully this evening.

It's slightly reminiscent of "Midnight Special".

Happy Hunting
               Hoot

Subject: Lyr Add: WALK RIGHT IN BELMONT (from Watts, Wilson
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 05:30 PM

Hi again Greg,
Yes, Yazoo 2048 Volume 4 in the series as Watts and Wilson. This is what I hear:

Oh when you go to Belmont well you'd better walk right
And you'd better not gamble and you'd better not fight
Polceman will get you and he'll bring you right down
Y'ain't got no money you're chain gang bound

Six O'clock in the morning hear the ding dong ring
And you go to the table it's the same old thing
Just coffee on the table (just a biscuit) ? is all
If you don't like it boys you won't get none at all

Yonder come my woman oh how do you know
By the little old apron that she always wore
Umbrella on her shoulder and money in her hand
Says stand back captain I've come to get my man

Six O'clock in the evening hear the ding dong ring
And you go to the table it's the same old thing
Cornbread on the table just as hard as a rock
Ain't that enough ladies to break a husband's heart

Yonder comes my woman oh how do you know
By the little old apron that she always wore
Umbrella on her shoulder and money in her hand
Says stand back captain I've come to get my man


It's the "just a biscuit" in the second verse I'm having trouble with.
It is in fact very similar to Leadbelly's 'Midnight Special'. So, which came first ?. Incidentally it seems that the Belmont referred to is in North Carolina.

Hope this helps, is it for the next CD?

Hoot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Walk Right at Belmont
From: GLoux
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 12:16 PM

Hoot,

Thanks. It's a big help. We're working it up for performance, but we have no concrete plans for a CD.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Walk Right at Belmont
From: Roberto
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:42 AM

I think this is the solution for the cofee line:

It's coffee on the table, just as bitter as gall

I got it from The Gastony Song, a version of Midnight Special sung by Dillard Chandler (Folkways). It is quite similar to the Watts & Wilson recording. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Walk Right in Belmont (Watts & Wilson)
From: GUEST,Paul Mitchell
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 08:13 AM

Hello,
Took advantage of the Wilmer Watts re-issues on Marshall Wyatt's excellent Gastonia Gallop to hear this for the first time. Couldn't figure out that line as well, but after reading Roberto's letter, that's it, plain as day.

Many thanks.

Paul