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27 Oct 99 - 10:06 PM (#128845) Subject: Lyr Add: ONE-EYED SAM^^ From: Stewie ONE-EYED SAM (LeRoy Lasses White) I know'd a gambler down in Birmingham Folks used to call him old One-eyed Sam He was the die-est hustler and he couldn't lose Yell out, 'My baby needs a new pair of shoes'
He throw'd a seven and eleven
He'd fall right down upon his knees
Had a way of shootin' that just beat 'em all
He throw'd a seven and eleven
He'd school them dice in his hands
One night when Sam had made a dozen licks or more
He throw'd a seven and eleven
He'd fall right down upon his knees
Now, Sam, he kept a-shootin' like he heard him not
'Another seven, another eleven'
And he looked up at me and he said with a grin
Author: Unknown. From the singing of Fields Ward. Source: Andy Cohen and Joe LaRose 'Tuxedo Blues' Green Linnet SIF 1033. A 1938 recording of this song is now available on Columbia Legacy 4 CD box set: 'Roots N' Blues – The Retrospective (1925-1950)' Columbia Legacy C4K 47911. Andy Cohen noted that Fields Ward sang with his father, Crockett, and his Uncle Wade over the radio and at schoolhouse shows in the 1930s as the Bog Trotter Band. He went on to say that 'his niece, Betsy Coffee, said that he was very much into blues and that he probably got "One-eyed Sam" from some place that he wasn't supposed to be hanging around at'. Since 'Tuxedo Blues' came out in 1981, Columbia (Sony) has released its 'Retrospective' box set which contains a version of 'One-eyed Sam' recorded in Chicago on 5 June 1938 by Eldon Baker and His Brown County Ramblers. This was unissued. Lawrence Cohen writes in his note to this song: 'Eldon Baker and His Brown County Ramblers made a number of sides for the company, none which were (sic) released. Described in the files as "old time singing and playing", they were actually a western swing oriented aggregation, capable of humorous, appealing performances. Originally from Kentucky, it is known that they broadcast regularly (c 1937-1938) over the mighty 500 000-watt station from Cincinatti, WLW'. It is possible, then, that Field's source for the song was the radio – the lyrics are very close - and that it was from the white rather than the black community. Field's treatment, as evidenced by Cohen and LaRose, was much more mountain than western swing.
From below: The U.S. Catalog of Copyright Entries says copyright was claimed on May 14, 1934 for ONE EYED SAM, with words and music LeRoy Lasses White. |
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12 Dec 12 - 08:41 AM (#3450919) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: One-eyed Sam From: GUEST,L. Greer The Hoosier Hot Shots also recorded a version of One-Eyed Sam but they only sang one verse but it was intriquing enough to lead me to search our Eldon Baker's recording to hear the rest of the story. |
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13 Dec 12 - 12:08 AM (#3451223) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: One-eyed Sam From: Jim Dixon The U.S. Catalog of Copyright Entries says copyright was claimed on May 14, 1934 for ONE EYED SAM, with words and music LeRoy Lasses White. The following information was gathered from various sources: 'Lasses & Honey ['Lasses White & Honey Wilds] recorded ONE EYED SAM in Chicago on April 23, 1935, and it was released as Bluebird 5940, b/w TAXI JIM. Eldon Baker & His Brown County Revelers recorded ONE EYED SAM on June 5, 1938, and it was unissued until it was released on CD The Hoosier Hot Shots recorded ONE EYED SAM on January 23, 1942, and it was released as Okeh 6664, b/w THEY GO GOOGOO, GAGA, GOOFY OVER GOBS. |
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15 Dec 12 - 08:28 PM (#3452504) Subject: Lyr Add: ONE EYED SAM (from Eldon Baker) From: Jim Dixon Here's how I hear this one on Spotify: ONE EYED SAM As sung by Eldon Baker and His Brown County Revellers 1. I once knew gambler down in Birmingham. Folks used to call him One-Eyed Sam. He was a dice shooter and he couldn't lose. He would yell, "My baby needs a new pair o' shoes." CHORUS: Throw a seven and then eleven, Then Sam'd let the money ride. Another seven, another 'leven, He had a roll like an ocean tide. Sam'd fall right down upon his knees, Beg them snake eyes to stay away please, Throw a seven and then eleven, Then he'd rake the money to his side. 2. Sam had a way o' shootin' dice that beat them all, On the bed or couple bounces 'gin' the wall. He had a way o' shootin' and, bless your soul, You oughta seen the man do the even roll. CHORUS [same as above] 3. One night when Sam had made a dozen licks or more, One of the heavy losers got mad and sore. He said, "I know who's cheatin' but his name I won't shout. If he don't stop, I'll shoot his good eye out." CHORUS: He throwed a seven and then eleven, Then Sam'd let the money ride. Another seven, another 'leven, He had a roll like an ocean tide. Now Sam said to the squawker, "If I couldn't lose right, I'd go home and lock myself in tight." He throwed a seven and then eleven, Then he raked the money to his side. 4. Sam, he kept on shootin' like he heard him not. There came a loud report of a pistol shot. I looked at Sam in time to see his eye go out, But as he fell to the floor, I heard his last breath shout: CHORUS: Another seven another 'leven, Just to let the money ride. Another seven, another 'leven, He had a roll like an ocean tide. Now Sammy looked up above him with a grin, Said, "There's a game up yonder that I'm gonna get in." Another seven, another 'leven, Then he raked the money to his side. |