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13 Oct 08 - 06:07 AM (#2464225) Subject: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Roberto Please, help me get the text of The Midnight Special as sung by Fiddlin John Carson. Its title is Stockade Blues. Here is what I can get out of the first two stanzas: When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight For the police will get you, he'll carry you down You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade blound Wake up in the morning, ere the bell … ding You can look on the table, see the same old thing … cold coffee, as bitter as gall If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all |
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13 Oct 08 - 06:14 AM (#2464230) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Roberto Same, with a correction and the number of stanzas: 1. When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight For the police will get you, he'll carry you down You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade bound 2. Wake up in the morning, ere the bell go ding You can look on the table, see the same old thing Well a cold, cold coffee, as bitter as gall If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all 3. … 4. … 5. Yonder come my woman. Oh, how do you know By the great big Cadillac and the lonesome whistle she blow With a package on her shoulder and a paper in her hand Oh mister warden, won't you release my man? 6. When you go to Atlanta … |
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15 Oct 08 - 08:46 AM (#2466198) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Jim Dixon I listened to a sound sample at Allmusic.com. I can suggest a couple of corrections: ...hear the bell go ding. Well it's old cold coffee... |
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15 Oct 08 - 10:20 AM (#2466267) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Stewie Hi Roberto, this song was not part of Fiddlin' John's repertoire. Apart from the opening verbal exchange with Marion 'Peanut' Brown, he had no part in the recording. It is a duet between Brown and Rosa Lee Carson [Moonshine Kate]. Below is my transcription. STOCKADE BLUES Spoken: Fiddlin' John: This is Fiddlin' John himself with Moonshine Kate and old Peanut Brown - that old Peanut drunk again as usual. Peanut Brown: I ain't drunk, I'm sleepy. Fiddlin' John: You ain't drunk, you just tired of totin' whisky. The city got me out to keep these streets clean. If they don't, I will: I'll stick you in the garbage can. Peanut Brown: Don't stick me in that garbage can. Fiddlin' John: Well, I'll let you go if you sing this song. Peanut Brown: Okay. When you go to Atlanta, you'd better walk right Don't drink no liquor, nor have no fight For the police will get you, he'll carry you down You'll meet Mister Calloway, then you're Stockade bound Wake up in the morning, hear the bell go ding You can look on the table and see the same old thing Well a cold, cold coffee as bitter as gall If you don't like that, boy, you don't get none at all You're not at home now, boy, you are down in the sticks Little men get shovels, big men get picks Little men get shovels and do your (sic) best If you don't, when night comes, you'll get no rest For the man he will know you, he's as sly as a fox And when you get to the building, he'll throw you in a box Wake up in the morning, feel dizzy as a ?? [sounds like 'hare' or 'hen'] Say anything about it, you get a rap on the head Yonder come my woman - oh, how do you know? By the great big Cadillac and the lonesome whistle she blow With a package on her shoulder and her papers in her hand Oh mister warden, won't you release my man? When you go to Atlanta, you'd better not ball Polices in Atlanta got eyes like a hawk They'll throw you in the jailhouse and the boys will shout They'll send you to the chain gang and forget to turn you out --Stewie. |
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15 Oct 08 - 10:37 AM (#2466280) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Roberto Thank you very very much! Roberto |
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15 Oct 08 - 10:47 PM (#2466878) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Stewie Roberto, pleased to be of help. Correction: 'ball' in first line of final stanza should read 'bawl' - senior moment! --Stewie. |
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16 Oct 08 - 12:11 AM (#2466918) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Richie Hi, I'd be curious to know where they got their version. Pete Cutrell is credited with recording the first version in 1926. This was eight years and several other versions later. I'd presume it was a rewrite. Anyone have details? Richie |
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16 Oct 08 - 08:51 AM (#2467170) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: GLoux Here's a link to an earlier thread about a very similar song: Walk Right In Belmont (Watts & Wilson) |
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16 Oct 08 - 01:28 PM (#2467457) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Q (Frank Staplin) Where does "midnight Special" come in? |
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16 Oct 08 - 09:23 PM (#2467875) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fiddlin John Carson's Midnight Special From: Stewie The relationship between 'Stockade Blues' and 'Midnight Special' is the tune and a few images. It is another jail piece set to a known tune. Meade includes it under 'Midnight Special' in his prison songs category, but gives no clue to its provenance. --Stewie. |