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06 Jan 11 - 02:14 PM (#3068660) Subject: Lyr Req: I was born in the country From: lefthanded guitar Having one of those 'moments' where I forgot the title and words to a song I not only knew, but used to perform! Can you help? I believe the first line of this country blues song is :
You thought I'd be easy to rule another line goes:
If you don't like it, it's your own d**n fault |
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06 Jan 11 - 03:02 PM (#3068690) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was born in the country From: Fred McCormick LHG. The song you're after is James Alley Blues recorded by Richard "Rabbit" Brown in New Orleans in 1927. It doesn't seem to have been re-released all that often but it was a mainstay of the Smithsonian Folkways Anthology of American Folkmusic. Also, it's on Times Ain't Like They Used to Be-Vol 2. Yazoo 2029. let me know if you have trouble tracing the words and I'll look them out for you. |
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06 Jan 11 - 04:08 PM (#3068735) Subject: Lyr Add: JAMES ALLEY BLUES (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST,Songbob Check it out on YouTube, too. There are several really good versions there, of which my favorite is by one of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom Flemons. It's interesting -- way back 'in the day,' I first learned the song, but I heard that most folkies at the time liked a version in Open G; however, I've never heard it, and don't seem to find it among the YouTubed versions. Anyone know about that? Anyway, here are the lyrics: JAMES ALLEY BLUES Songwriter? Times right now ain't nothin' like they used to be Well times right now ain't nothin' like they used to be You know I'll tell you all the truth, won't you take my word from me Well I seen better days, but I ain't puttin' up with these Well I've seen better days, but I ain't puttin' up with these I had a lot better time with those women down in New Orleans Well I was born in the country so she thinks I'm easy to lose Well I was born in the country so she thinks I'm easy to lose She wants to hitch me to a wagon and drive me like a mule I bought her groceries, and I pay the rent I bought her groceries, and I pay the rent She wanted me to wash her clothes but I got good common sense Well if you don't want me then why don't you just tell me so? Well if you don't want me then why don't you just tell me so? It ain't like I'm a man that ain't got nowhere else to go I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt I give you sugar for sugar, but all you want is salt for salt Well if you can't get along with me, then it's your own fault Well, you want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean Yea, you want me to love you, but then you just treat me mean You're my daily thought and you're my nightly dream Well, sometimes I think that you're just too sweet to die Ah, sometimes I think that you're just too sweet to die And other times I think that you ought to be buried alive Bob Clayton |
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07 Jan 11 - 01:00 PM (#3069357) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was born in the country From: lefthanded guitar Thanks Fred and Songbob. You know when I got offline, and picked up my guitar, the songjust came back to me: but I am glad to have the title & these references b/c the version I remember was slightly different (same melody but diff. pacing and some different verses) I will be glad to have these to add to my verson. I first heard this terrific song by a local performer (who, my faltering memory reminds, MAY have gotten the song from an old Carolyn Hester album) , and then I heard a similar version by David Johannson (of the NY Dolls, but in his Harry Smith persona) and I probably 'folk processed' it a bit too.Here's the words I remember: "I was born in the country, you thought I'd be easy to rule 2x But times are changing: this country boy ain't everybody's fool. I give sugar for sugar, I give salt for salt 2x If you don't like it, it's your own d**n fault You can walk by my window, you best not walk to my door 2x Cause if you come in my doorwway, you'll be facing my ol' 44. Then repeat first verse. " Think I'll take a few stanzas from the above version to 'fill in' mine and perform it next time I'm onstage. THANKS. |
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07 Jan 11 - 03:53 PM (#3069454) Subject: RE: ADD: I was born in the country/James Alley Blues From: Roger in Baltimore Roger Mc Guinn does a version of this song. His guitar part is way different from Richard "Rabbit" Brown's. Brown's is a damn nice guitar part. Roger in Baltimore |
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14 Mar 18 - 01:35 AM (#3910967) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST,catyronwode Correction on the lyrics: Well, I seen better days, but -> I'm <- puttin' up with these Well, I've seen better days, but -> I'm <- puttin' up with these The substitution of "ain't" for "i'm" is all over the internet and yet is it false. |
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16 Mar 18 - 06:42 AM (#3911369) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: Chris C This is a great old blues song, and the Richard "Rabbit" Brown record is fantastic. He's an interesting figure; if I recall correctly, not much is known about him, and he only made a few recordings. His sound and his diction are very distinct. Perhaps the recording, and his accent, are factors, but he shifts between being clearly understandable and difficult to make out.(His voice sometimes reminds me of Cat Stevens, of all people.) In listening back to the original record, the lyrics posted above are basically correct, but are not an exact transcription of Brown's recording. I think the biggest difference is that he seems to be saying: "I been givin' you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt. I('ll) give you sugar for sugar, let you get salt for salt." Also, I always thought it was: "Cause I was born in the country she thinks I'm easy to rule.", but listening back, maybe it's "lose". I like "rule", though. Another: I think it starts with: "Times (they?) ain't now nothing like they used to be", which seems a more poetic rearranging of the words. Agreed with catyronwode above re no "ain't" in that stanza. It's: "I done seen better days, but I'm puttin' up with these". There are other small variations. Thanks, all! |
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17 Mar 18 - 10:55 AM (#3911510) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST You may be thinking of Judy Roderick's version ... Born in the Country I think it was her who rewrote the lyrics as quoted. (playing in open G.) |
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19 Mar 18 - 11:21 PM (#3911961) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: rich-joy I'm rather fond of Alice Stuart's version (thanks Stewie!) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5epRvDuNFQc Cheers! Rich-Joy Down Under |
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20 Mar 18 - 04:31 AM (#3911976) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST,Joseph Scott Musicians Clarence Vincent, Eddie Dawson, and Lemon Nash knew Rabbit Brown and were interviewed, so we know a bit about him, such as that he played at fish fries a lot and he loved to talk. |
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15 Aug 19 - 11:19 AM (#4004641) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST,Sooth North Carolina string virtuoso Mike Cross recorded a version called "Born In the Country" on his 1980 album of the same name. It's on YouTube. |
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15 Aug 19 - 04:26 PM (#4004666) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) From: GUEST,Starship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHkG0GxA0E I think that's him on the original 78. |