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Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel

20 Aug 99 - 04:07 PM (#106964)
Subject: Long Handled Shovel
From: JedMarum

I had an old Jerry Silverman "Art of the Folk Blues" book many years ago when I was a kid, and it contained a song I've never heard played or seen listed anywhere called Long Handled Shovel (I believe). It was a simple 1,4,5 blues progression and had a first verse something like:

"It takes a ling handled shovel to dig a nine foot (repeat) It takes a long legged woman to satisfy my soul"

Has anyone any info on the song's history? Any lyrics?

23 Aug 99 - 10:05 AM (#107672)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: Snobby

You seem to have the same roots like mine! I learned to sing the blues with this song. I found it in a German Blues book by J.E.Behrend (I think...).

I hope to find this book in the next time - otherwise remember my e-mail and contact me later.

Snobby

23 Aug 99 - 10:51 AM (#107682)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: JedMarum

Snobby - thanks for your response. I had begun to give up hope of anyone responding to this one! I will hang on to your Email.

30 Aug 99 - 05:37 AM (#109681)
Subject: Lyr Add: LONG-HANDLED SHOVEL
From: Snobby

LONG-HANDLED SHOVEL

It takes a long-handled shovel to dig a nine-foot hole.
It takes a long-handled shovel to dig a nine-foot hole.
It takes a long-legged woman to satisfy my soul.

It takes a two-bladed ax, Lord, to cut this timber down.
It takes a two-bladed ax, Lord, to cut this timber down.
It takes a two-timin' woman to make me leave this town.

It takes a fast-movin' rattler to take me from this place.
It takes a fast-movin' rattler to take me from this place.
It takes a fast-talkin' mama to laugh right in my face.

It takes a six-string guitar to help me sing this song.
It takes a six-string guitar to help me sing this song.
It takes a six-shot pistol - and I'll be long time gone.

From.: Blues und Work Songs, p. 37
by: Janheinz Jahn
Fischer Bücherei - Bücher des Wissens
July 1964

p. 16: Blues logic is realized by a so called "call" (describing the global situation or an object), repeated in a different key, answered by the subject "I".
The verse confronts something normal with something special (It takes a two-bladed ax...: I am so strong - I contain so much happiness ("Magara"), that it's hard to make me greedy.
p. 18: the song Long-handled Shovel is shown in the topic where the power of living is demonstrated...
p. 28 describes the blues melodic with a hint to Long-handled Shovel as a blues where a so called high tone is reached in the first phrase by continuous increasement, until it turns with an emphasized falling ductus...

I own the Silverman Blues book. I hope the next days I can send you additional verses!

Snobby

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 4-Feb-03.

30 Aug 99 - 09:25 AM (#109697)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: JedMarum

Snobby -

Thaks for these lyrics. I think I remember this song because I always liked the melody, and of course the chord progression and rythym offer creative opportunities, but then I suppose most 12 bar blues do.

31 Dec 02 - 01:21 PM (#856071)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: GUEST,gerrydurham@aol.com

the song I refer to The long handle shovel is a british song of the railway,{it takes a long handled shovel to reach the firebox with the coal}can anyone help please.

31 Dec 02 - 02:00 PM (#856098)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: GUEST,Q

Long-handled shovels are specified for many tasks- to keep proper posture when mixing mortar or screening sand, moving rails, digging, etc.
Pacific Gas & Electric recorded the traditional American "Long Handled Shovel" in 1968 (lp). "The "Three Chord Guitar Big Book," sold by encoremusic.com, includes this song.

Ewan McColl did the railway song, I think. Haven't heard it, but it is mentioned here: Radio Ballads
You might get an idea of where to find it from that website.

29 Apr 03 - 05:41 PM (#943096)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: JedMarum

heard a fellow in a blues club last night singing a verse I haven't heard before:

I got a fine girl in Dallas and one in San Antone
I got a fine girl in Dallas and one in San Antone
Got me a long-handled shovel, the girls just won't leave alone!

29 Apr 03 - 07:13 PM (#943148)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: JedMarum

Oh yeah, I just remembered the other verse this guy sang:

Well I'm a sweet talkin' devil, been known to spin a tale
Yeah I'm a silver tongued devil, been known to split a tail
If my timber don't get you, you know my sweet tongue will

10 Apr 13 - 11:27 AM (#3501437)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: GUEST

I've been playing this since the '60's when I found it in I believe the Cisco Houston Songbook...the 4 verses listed were the same ones I learned...my 2nd blues tune that I learned when I only knew the key of E and it's 3 chords, heh heh heh...a looooong time ago now

13 Apr 13 - 04:36 AM (#3502647)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: GUEST

I got a 2 timin woman.. well shes the worst around.. X 2
I'm gone pack up my suitcase.. and get on out of this town..

This verse seems to be half of one above..
Also the version I know from way back was a 6 foot hole not a 9 foot hole..
I have no idea where I first picked it up...

13 Apr 13 - 03:27 PM (#3502849)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Long Handled Shovel
From: GUEST,leeneia

Yes, six-foot hole sounds more like it. Graves are traditionally six feet deep, as in the expression "six feet under."

I don't believe I've ever heard of a nine-foot hole before.