Lyr Add: songs by Tommy Johnson

08 Oct 99 - 10:56 AM (#122075)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: Jon W.

The third verse of Maggie Campbell is:

A-a-a, see see rider see what you done done see what you done done
M-m-m, see see rider see what you done done,
You done made me love you, now you' tryin to put me down

Maggie Campbell is a great song and features Charlie McCoy on the second guitar. Charlie was a mandolin player and frequently used mandolin tremolo picking on guitar.

I posted some lyrics to "Canned Heat Blues" a few days ago but I believe the ones you posted are perhaps more accurate than mine. You've done a fine job.

Jon W.

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08 Oct 99 - 10:57 AM (#122076)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: Jon W.

PS. I don't have recordings of any of the songs you are missing.

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12 Oct 99 - 05:47 AM (#122916)
Subject: Lyr Add: ALCOHOL AND JAKE BLUES and BLACK MARE BLU
From: Stewie

Greetings Ruslan, it took me a while to get this together. Here goes:

There are some slight textual differences in Jeff Todd Titon's transcriptions of the 2 'Lonesome Home Blues' unissued Victors 45463-1 and 45463-2 (he calls them 'Lonesome Blues') to what you have given. Cf Jeff Todd Titon 'Early Downhome Blues' University of North Carolina Press 2nd Ed 1994 pp 81-83. (For example, he has: 'Won't you iron my jumper starch my overalls', and that sounds right to my hearing). He also has a transcription of 'Lonesome Home Blues' Paramount 13000 (L 230-2) at page 92. There is a slightly different transcription of the same at page 251 of David Evans 'Big Road Blues' Da Capo Press 1982 [even the experts can't agree on what they are hearing]. Titon also has a transcription of 'Maggie Campbell Blues' at page 95. Evans also has transcriptions of 'Cool Drink of Water Blues' (p 134), 'Big Fat Mama Blues' (p237) and 'Big Road Blues' (p 269). I understand (I don't have it) there are some transcriptions in another David Evans book 'Tommy Johnson' Studio Vista London.

The following are my attempted transcriptions of 2 of the Paramounts for which you are missing lyrics. These unissued takes are very rare and, like many old Paramounts, sound like they were recorded under water and pressed on to corrugated cardboard. These will definitely be subject to correction, but I gave them my best shot. We are probably entering new territory here – I am unaware of any transcriptions of these.

Tommy Johnson: 'Alcohol and Jake Blues' Pm 12950 c. December 1929

Square brackets = spoken by a second voice.

Alcohol, alcohol I am sure, lord, killin' me
[Is that so, boy?]
Alcohol, mama, sure lord killin' me
[Well, let it 'lone then]
If alcohol don't kill me, lord, I'll never die.

I woke up early this morning, I had alcohol round my bed
[What happened then?]
Early this morning, alcohol was round my bed
If I don't get drunk, I'll be losin' my (broken ?) mind.

Mm mm, mm mm, mm mm, mm mm
[The morning a long time (?)]
Mm mm I ain't gonna be here long
[Morning a long time, boy]
'Cos I'm hatin' time, mama, got you on my mind.

I drank so much jake, but I can't get me that lemonade
[And that sure mess you up]
Drank so much jake, dear god, give me the lemonade
[Sure mess you up, boy, that (?) is a fact]

If I don't quit drinking, alcohol gonna kill me dead.
[You're no lyin' man]
Mm mm, mm mm, mm mm
[You ain't got (?) ]
Sure gonna kill me dead if it don't kill me, lordy, I'll put me down
[You ain't gotta put 'em on me 'cos you got 'em]

I woke up early this morning, I had alcohol on my mind
Woke up this morning, alcohol was on my mind
I got the alcohol blues, man, I can't rest me here.

Source: Transcription from Various Artists 'Jake Leg Blues' Jass J-CD-642

Tommy Johnson: 'Black Mare Blues' Pm 13000 c. December 1929

Hitch up my buggy, saddle my black mare, saddle my black mare
Hitch up my buggy, saddle my black mare
Went to find my woman, but she wasn't there.

I've been drinkin' all night, baby, drank the whole night long, drank the whole night long
I've been drinkin' all night, baby, yes the night before
I've been drinkin', I ain't go sober yet.

I'm goin' back home, fall down on my knees, fall down on my knees
I'm goin' back home, girl, fall down on my knees
(?) ain't nothing, mama, (happy ?) as you please.

Mm mm I ain't gonna stay no more, ain't gonna stay no more
Mm mm ain't gonna stay no more
Saw you last night, mama, and the night before.

Ah, you gonna have 'em, troubles of your own
Ah, you gonna have 'em troubles of your own.

Source: Transcription from Various Artists 'Delta Blues Vol 1 1929-1930) Document Limited Edition DLP 532.

I hope the above assists you, and can I thoroughly recommend the Jake Leg Blues CD (if you can still get it). It is musically satisfying (and has both white and black performers) but also makes for an important historical document of an American tragedy – the jake paralysis story. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance, regards Stewie.

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15 Oct 99 - 06:39 AM (#124157)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: Ruslan

Thanks!

I couldn't understand what's the matter with my end-of-line symbols? When I had inserted texts everything was ok.

Stewie, thanks for your biblography. It's difficult to buy or find these books in Russia.

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15 Oct 99 - 07:15 AM (#124161)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: Wolfgang

I wanted to help and it seems I need the help myself. Next try.

Ruslan,
type <br> for the end of a line. We will not see that, but the next word starts in a new line.

Wolfgang

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21 Oct 99 - 04:25 AM (#126269)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From:

Test (thank you, Wolfgang)

Still missing:

c. Dec 1929
* L-228-1 I wonder to myself
* L-229-2 Slidin' delta
* L-231-1 Morning prayer
* L-231-2 Boogaloosa woman
* L-249-1 Ridin' horse

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11 Nov 99 - 05:21 AM (#134529)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: Ruslan

Folks! Please check up my text.

L-229-2 Slidin' delta

Well, I slide, coming here an' go
Well I do that sliding
Jumping here and go.

Baby, I'm in a delta ???????????????? ride
?????????? ride
If I don't quit jiving, baby, Lord, I, sure, Lord, loose my mind.

Crying Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord.

Lord, I wonder ????????????
But I can't do nothing but I hang my hands and cry
Baby, I'm leave ain't coming here no more.

Well, I'm leave here coming here no more.
Lord I'm goin' away to wonder on my mind.

Crying Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord.

Lord, I wonder, wonder to myself.
Crying', you know, i wonder, that I wonder to myself.

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14 Aug 01 - 08:33 PM (#528209)
Subject: Lyr Add: SLIDIN' DELTA
From: Stewie

I have recently obtained a copy of David Evans' long-out-of-print seminal work on Tommy Johnson. This enables me to fill in a couple more gaps in this complete Tommy Johnson lyrics thread. First, here is 'Slidin' Delta':

SLIDIN' DELTA

Delta Slide done been here and gone
Well, the Delta Slide, babe, it's done been here and gone

When you hear the Delta, baby, it's don't you want to ride?
Baby, Sliding Delta, don't you want to ride?
If you don't get to ride it, baby, gonna sure, Lord, lose my mind

Crying, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Lord, I wonder, what is I'm gon' do
Lord, I can't do nothing but hang my head and cry

Baby, when I leave, I ain't coming here no more
When I leave here, coming here no more
Lord, I'm going away to worry you off my mind

Crying, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Lord, I wonder, wonder to myself
Crying, you know that I wonder, that I wonder to myself

Source: transcription in David Evans 'Tommy Johnson' Studio Vista 1971, p63. Original recording, Tommy Johnson 'Slidin' Delta', issued on Paramount 12975, master L-229-2.

Note: the Sliding Delta was a train that ran across the Delta and inspired several blues singers such as Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt and J.D. Short.

--Stewie.

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14 Aug 01 - 08:38 PM (#528211)
Subject: Lyr Add: I WONDER TO MYSELF (Tommy Johnson)
From: Stewie

I WONDER TO MYSELF

Crying, Lord, and I wonder, I wonder, baby, to myself
I wonder will I ever be back home

Oh, my poor old mother, she's standing there already
Just a' looking for her son to make it home

Lord, I needs enough to buy me a railroad
Got to stagger to the rear of some passenger train

Source: transcription in David Evans 'Tommy Johnson' Studio Vista 1971, p63. Original recording, Tommy Johnson 'I Wonder To Myself', issued on Paramount 12975, master L-228-1.

Note by Evans: 'This song is in all respects totally unlike the others he recorded. Although the text is rather short, it is both thematic and developed. Its seriousness, even its sentimentality, is rather oddly offset by the melody and accompaniment … The vocal occupies only a short space in the middle of the piece'.

--Stewie.

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14 Aug 01 - 08:55 PM (#528219)
Subject: ADD: 'Black Mare Blues (2)'
From: Stewie

First, a correction. As Ruslan indicated, Johnson made 2 recordings of 'Black Mare Blues' - master nos L-245-1 and L-245-2. My transcription of 'Black Mare Blues', given in above posting of 12 Oct 1999, was of master L-245-1 which was in fact an unissued Paramount pressing. I indicated incorrectly in the October '99 posting that it was issued on Paramount 13000. The recording that was in fact issued on Paramount 13000 was master L-245-2. The words differ significantly from those on the unissued pressing. Evans' transcription of L-245-2 follows:

BLACK MARE BLUES

Hitch up my buggy, saddle up my black mare, saddle up my black mare
Hitch up my buggy, saddle up my black mare
Find my woman, 'cause she's out in the world somewhere

Mmmmm, if I call you and you will fail to come, you will fail to come
Aaaah, if I call you and you will fail to come
If I call you, mama, gonna sure, Lord, call your name

I been drinking all night, did the night before, did the night before
I been drinking all night, gal, did the night before
Been drunk, baby, and I ain't got sober yet

Mmmmm, I ain't gon' tell you no more, I ain't gonna tell you no more
Mmmmm, I ain't gon' tell you no more
Told you last night, mama, what I did the night before

Says you gon' have a rounder of your own, rounder of your own
Yes, you gon' have a rounder for your own
You gon' have a, mama, rounder for your own

Source: transcription in David Evans 'Tommy Johnson' Studio Vista 1971, p65. Original recording, Tommy Johnson 'Black Mare Blues', issued on Paramount 13000, master L-245-2.

--Stewie.

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15 Aug 01 - 12:24 AM (#528350)
Subject: RE: Complete Tommy Johnson's lyr
From: RWilhelm

This is from R. R. MacLeod's book, _Document Blues –1_, published by Pat Publications. It includes transcriptions of all Document CD's from DOCD 5001 to DOCD 5032.

MacLeod says "Morning Prayer Blues" and "Boogaloosa Woman" are different takes of the same song as "Black Mare Blues." He calls them untitled and gives their Document title in parentheses but says Document's titles are obviously reversed.

L-231-1 Untitled Song (Morning Prayer Blues)

Cryin' lordy, lord, lordy, lordy, lord
Lordy, lord, lordy, lordy, lord
Says I would go with you, but your doggone man's too bad

Cryin' when I was with you baby, you had button-up shoes to wear
When I was with you baby, you had button-up shoes to wear
Now then I done quit you, you have your bare feet on the ground.

Mmm, looky here, mama, see what you done done.
Looky here, mama, see what you done done.
You done make me love you, now you're tryin' to put me down.

Say's I would go to Bogalosa, but it's too low down.
Would go to Bogalosa, but it's too low down.
Tell you them Bogalosa women, never teach this easy roll

L-231-2 Untitled Song (Boogaloosas Woman)

Cryin' lordy, lord, lordy, lordy, lord
Lordy, lord, lordy, lordy, lord
Says I would go with you, but your doggone man's too bad

Cryin' when I was with you baby, you had button-up shoes to wear
When I was with you baby, you had button-up shoes to wear
Now then I done quite you, you have your bare feet in the ground.

Says I would go with you, but your home ain't none of mine.
Says I would go with you, home ain't none of mine.
Says I would go with you, but your home ain't none of mine.

I woke up this mornin', said my mornin' prayer.
Woke up this mornin', said my mornin' prayer.
Lord, and I ain't got no woman to, well, speak in my behalf.

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15 Aug 01 - 12:39 AM (#528357)
Subject: Lyr Add: RIDIN' HORSE (Tommy Johnson)
From: RWilhelm

From the same source:

L-249-1 "Ridin' Horse"

Cryin', who's that yonder comin' down the road, comin' down the road?
Now, who's that yonder comin' down the road?
Well it looks like Maggie Campbell, gut she walks too slow.

Cryin', want me back, lord, comin' back so, comin' back so slow.
Mmm, want me back, lord, I'm comin' back so slow.
They won't forget it, they will charge me, sins done eight long years ago

Cryin' see see rider, see what you done done, see what you done done. Mmmm
See see rider, see what you done done.
You done made me love you, now you're tryin' to put me down

Now, and I ain't gonna be your ridin' horse no more, ridin' horse no more
I ain't gonna be your ridin' horse no more
Long before I be, I will take morphine and die.

What good is a bulldog, he won't bark or bite, he won't bark or bite?
What good is a bulldog, he won't bark or bite?
Say what good is a woman, she won't ask what mens do like

Now, who's that yonder, baby, dressed in red, baby all dressed in red?
Now, who's that yonder, baby, dressed in red?
Says it looks like Maggie Campbell, mama, walkin' on down the road.

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23 Nov 19 - 10:17 PM (#4020972)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: songs by Tommy Johnson
From: GUEST,harpgirl

Hey kids, what a great thread. love,harpy..

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27 Feb 20 - 11:47 PM (#4036508)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: songs by Tommy Johnson
From: GUEST,harpgirl

Hey 'catters....

Joe Offer can you help me find the threads on Tommy Johnson and Dave Evans. The search is different, it seems.

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