Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues (from Leadbelly)

Subject: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 01:23 PM

Anyone able to understand the opening monologue on Lead Belly's recording of this? I can barely decipher any of it, although the actualy song lyrics are much clearer. If someone could transcribe the monologue, I would be most grateful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 10:29 PM

What label? What year?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 06:10 AM

1944 is about the only detail I can find, sorry. It seems impossible to find any more details about it, but if someone has the track and can help then I'd be really grateful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 07:01 AM

Are you talking about the bit that starts something like "Now I feel sorry for the people ........."? If it is then I'll spend a bit more time listening and trying to work it out!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 07:19 AM

"Now I feel a little sorry for the people when you walk into a place and this is one world. We're in the same boat river. Why don't we be kind to each other? What difference do it make? But in some places you go you can't find ......" I've probably got some bits wrong! I'm working on what follows immediately after find. It becomes clearer further on with the Las Vegas , going into a bar with a white man bit and not serving coloureds. I'm on the case!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 07:59 AM

I think river is brother.
"Now I feel a little sorry for the people when you walk into a place and this is one world. We're in the same boat brother. Why don't we be kind to each other? What difference do it make? But there some places you go you can't find. When I was comin' on the train I stopped in Las Vegas. Went around and I walked in, the white fellow was with me, and went to sit down, I thought everything was all right. Man taps me on the shoulder and says "I'm sorry, we don't serve coloured man". Say "You don't". He say "No". The white fellow got right up to him and .......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 08:07 AM

It may be "Say, say "You don't".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 08:25 AM

3 hours later!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 08:34 AM

So far:
"Now I feel a little sorry for the people when you walk into a place and this is one world. We're in the same boat brother. Why don't we be kind to each other? What difference do it make? But there some places you go you can't find. When I was comin' on the train I stopped in Las Vegas. Went around and I walked in, the white fellow was with me, and went to sit down, I thought everything was all right. Man taps me on the shoulder and says "I'm sorry, we don't serve coloured man". Say, "Say you don't". He say "No". The white fellow got right up to him and .......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 12:37 PM

Heh. Nice work so far because it's really hard. Thank you, although now I feel a bit guilty about making you plough through it. Do carry on, though :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 01:04 PM

I think it is better if it is punctuated as below.
"Now I feel a little sorry for the people when you walk into a place. And this is one world; we're in the same boat brother."
The trouble is I don't have the LP. I got this from a short sample played on the internet and it stops where I finished. I'll see if I can find a site that plays the full thing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:29 PM

Well, I wouldn't want to encourage illegality etc. but I downloaded my version from Morpheus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST,Sean Sallier
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:00 PM

Bra John done told me too, this old Jim Crow ism's done bad luck to me and you. I have been traveling from toe to tow, everywhere I have been I find some old Jim Crow. One thing people, I want everybody to know; you gonna find some Jim Crow every place you go. Down in Louisiana and Tennessee; Georgia's a mighty fine place to go and get together and break up this old Jim Crow. I told everybody over the radio, "Make up your mind and get together, break up this old Jim Crow." I'm gonna tell you people something that you don't know, there's a lot of Jim Crow in a moving picture show. I'm gonna sing this verse and I ain't gonna sing no more. Please get together and break up this old Jim Crow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 08 - 08:30 AM

in my version he says to , shortly before the song starts

"feel sorry for the people who didn't (woke up???) yet as long as you fight there's war if you quit fighting there's peace you can't get no peace in fighting

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: fat B****rd
Date: 04 May 08 - 02:36 PM

I always thought it went "Bunk Johnson told me so", sorry not to be more helpful, but it has made me go back to my Leadbelly collection.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jim Crow Blues - LEAD BELLY version
From: GUEST,bastien
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:27 AM

could somebody help me to find the lyrics of jim crow blues?

Subject: Lyr Add: JIM CROW BLUES (Lead Belly)
From: GUEST,Beeds
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 10:24 AM

I have a book called The Leadbelly Legend. The version given goes like this:

JIM CROW
Bunk Johnson told me, too,
These old Jim Crow-isms dead bad luck for me an' you.

I been trav-lin', i been trav-lin' from sho' to sho';
Ev-'ry where I have been I find some old Jim Crow.

One thing, people, I want ev'rybody to know,
You gonna find some Jim Crow ev'ry place you go.

Down in Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia's a mighty good place to go,
An' get together, break up this old Jim Crow.

I told everybody over the radio,
Make up their mind an' get together, break up this old Jim Crow.

I want to tell you people somethin' that you don't know,
It's a lotta Jim Crow in a movin' picture show.

I'm gonna sing this verse, I ain't gonna sing no more,
Please get together, break up this old Jim Crow.