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10 Dec 01 - 02:13 PM (#607287) Subject: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: GUEST,cpaken@earthlink.net I'm looking for the lyrics for the Worried Life Blues, or the Worried Mind Blues. I know some of the verses, e.g., "Oh Lord, when you feel that old chilly breeze Come blowing through your BVD's Well someday baby, You ain't gonna worry my mind (life?) anymore. Would appreciate any leads.....many thanks! Ken Pollock |
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10 Dec 01 - 02:48 PM (#607306) Subject: ADD: Worried Life Blues From: Joe Offer Gee, Ken - your request took me to a fascinating resource - (click). It also took me to the Scottish Blues Collective, where members had to work a bit to figure out what "BVD's" means. -Joe Offer- (e-mail sent) WORRIED LIFE BLUES is the best-known title for a theme popularized by Big Maceo (Merriweather), but which predates his version. Perhaps the earliest recorded version is the late Willie Borum's AIN'T GONNA WORRY MY LIFE ANY MORE (Vocalion unreleased, recorded 17 September 1934), which may no longer exist, although tests have been discovered of some session mates recorded by Hattie Hart. The earliest issued recording of the song is Sleepy John Estes' SOMEDAY BABY BLUES (Champion #50068/ DECCA #7279, recorded 9 July 1935). Estes was an acquaintance of Borum's, and the lyrics of his chorus closely follow the title line of Borum's unreleased song. Estes' lyrics run:
But that good kind treatment, bring you back someday, Someday baby, you ain't gon' worry my mind any more. 2. "Hear that wind, that old chilly breeze, Come blowin' through, your BVDs, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my mind any more. 3. "If you don't quit bettin', boys them dice won't pass, It gon' send you home, on your yes yes yes, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 4. "It ain't but the one thing, that give a man the blues, He ain't got no bottoms, in his last pair of shoes, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my mind any more. 5. "I tell all the people, in your neighborhood, You's a no-good woman, you don't mean no good, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry Poor John's mind any more." However the song was popularized by Big Maceo, and he is usually credited as its composer. Maceo (pronounced 'may-see-oh') made his first version of the theme for BLUEBIRD #B 8827 on 24 June 1941, reissued by ARHOOLIE CD #7009. The song was registered for copyright in 1947. His lyrics are:
It hurts me so bad for us to part, But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more. 2. "So many nights, since you been gone, I been worried and grieving my life alone. But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more. 3. "So many days, since you went away, I had to worry, both night and day, But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more. [Spoken by Tampa Red: No boy, I ain't gonna worry my life no more. Yeah, yeah.] 4. "You on my mind, every place I go, How much I love you, nobody knows, But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more. 5. "So that's my story, this is all I've got to say to you Good bye baby, and I don't care what you do, But someday baby, I ain't gonna worry my life any more. Maceo made a sequel to the song postwar as THINGS HAVE CHANGED (BLUEBIRD #34-0735. recorded 26 February 1945), the lyrics of which are:
The way you have treated me, it won't work no more, 'Cause things have changed, I don't have to worry about you any more. 2. "You told me that you loved me, babe I thought it was true, You caused me to misuse my home, all on account of you, But things have changed, I don't have to worry about you any more. 3. "I know you were lying, when you lay down 'cross my bed, Drinking that old I. W. Harper and talking all out your head, But things have changed, I don't have to worry about you any more. [Spoken: No boy, I'm so glad I don't have to worry no more.] 4. "I used to stay so worried, I used to be so blue, But all of my worries, was on account of you, But things have changed, I don't have to worry about you any more. 5. "So bye bye baby, yes I am through with you, But if you don't stop your lyin', it may be the death of you, But I'm so glad, I don't have to worry about you any more. It is uncertain which of the R P M versions is reissued by (Italian) Retro CD #R2CD 40-08, Lightnin''s lyrics for the reissued version (more likely to be reissued from R P M #398) run:
Hurts me so bad, for us to part, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 2. "She's on my mind, every place I go, How much I love her, nobody knows, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 3. "So many nights, since you been gone, I've been worryin' and grievin', my life alone, But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 4. "That's my story, this is all I've got to say to you, Good bye baby, don't care what you do, But someday baby, you gonna worry my life any more. In about 1944, Rabon Tarrant recorded NEW WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Rhythm #207) at San Francisco, California, with Jay McVea's band. In about 1948, Thunder Smith & Rockie (alias Luther Stoneham) recorded NEW WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Down Town #2012). Manny Nichols recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES (F B C unreleased/ IMPERIAL #5173, recorded 1949). Lightnin' Hopkins also recorded NEW WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Sittin' in with #649, recorded 1950). Despite its title, Maceo's WORRIED LIFE BLUES NO. 2 (FORTUNE #805/ LP #3002/ (Dutch) Old Tramp CD #OTCD-04, recorded 1952), is not a version of the theme, but instead could well be titled FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES. Sonny Parker recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Peacock #1595), in about late 1951. Roy Brown recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES for King #4743 on 2 September 1954. Muddy Waters, who had evidently learned the song from Estes rather than from Maceo, recorded the theme as TROUBLE NO MORE (CHESS #1612, recorded October 1955):
But good kind treatment, gon' bring you home someday; But someday baby, you ain't gonna trouble poor me any more. 2. "You just keep on bettin', that the dice won't pass; Well you know darlin', you are livin' too fast; But someday baby, you ain't gonna trouble poor me any more. 3. "I'm gon' tell everybody in your neighborhood; That you's a sweet little girl, but you don't mean me no good; But someday baby, you ain't gonna trouble poor me any more. 4. "Well I know you're leavin', well you call that gone; Well without love, you can't stay long; But someday baby, you ain't gonna trouble poor me any more. 5. "Well, goodbye baby, come on shake my hand; I don't want no woman, you can have a man; But someday baby, you ain't gonna trouble poor me any more." Clifton Chenier recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Zynn #1004, recorded 4 May 1959), presumably inspired by Hopkins. In 1965, Fred McDowell recorded FRED'S WORRIED LIFE BLUES (ARHOOLIE LP/(English) ACE CD #CDCHD 527): Verse 1. "You made me weep, and you made me moan; Well you caused me to leave my, my happy home; But someday, you ain't gon' worry my life any more. 2. "You told everybody, in your neighborhood; Was a dirty mistreater, didn't mean you no good; But someday, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 3. "When I had money, I had plenty o' friends; I ain't got no money baby, honey either no friends; But someday, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 4. "If I had money, like Henry Ford; I'd have me a woman on, on every road; But bye-bye, you ain't gonna worry my life any more." Otis Spann recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Candid LP #8001, cut mid-1960). He remade the song for (Danish) Storyville LP #SLP 157, recorded 16 October 1963, and again for TESTAMENT LP #T-2211 in 1965. Lightnin' Slim employed the melody of SOMEDAY BABY BLUES for his HAVE YOUR WAY (Excello Records #2096, recorded 1956), and WEST TEXAS (Excello Records unreleased/ (English) Ace CD #CDCHD 587). Clifton Chenier recorded A WORRIED LIFE BLUES (sic: Tear Drop #3140/ The Crazy Cajun #805/ LP #1002, recorded 1967). He remade the song as AIN'T GONNA WORRY NO MORE (Prophesy LP #1004) in 1970. Freddie King recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES (Shelter LP #8905) on 24 October 1970. Freddie King remade WORRIED LIFE BLUES live at Texas Opry House on 20 April 1976 (Japanese) P-Vine CD #PCD-909), credited to (M. Merriweather), but employing lyrics from Muddy Waters' version:
Hey, but good kind treatment, bring you back someday; Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 2. "Now you keep on bettin', if the dice won't pass; Can't you see little girl, you' livin' too fast; Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 3. "Hey, goodbye baby, if you call it gone; Can't you see little girl, you can't stay long; Hey but someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 4. "Hey-ey, goodbye baby, if you call it gone; Can't you see little girl, you can't do wrong; Hey but someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more. 5. "Hey! Goodbye baby, if you call it gone; Can't you see little girl, hey you can't stay long; Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry my life any more." J. B. Hutto And The Houserockers recorded WORRIED LIFE BLUES in June 1977, released by (Austrian) WOLF CD #120.289 CD, again strongly influenced by Muddy Waters' version:
But good kind treatment, bring her home someday; But now someday baby, you won't trouble poor me any more. 2. "I'm gon' tell everybody, in the neighborhood; You no-good woman, you don't mean me no good; Well now someday baby, you won't trouble poor me any more. 3. "Well you can keep on bettin', that the dice won't pass; Oh mama, you are livin' too fast; Well now someday baby, you won't trouble poor me any more. [Work out, work out on me.] [Hey!] 4. "Well it's goodbye baby, you call that gone; Without my love, you won't stay long; Someday baby, you won't trouble poor me, girl, any more." John Dee Holeman recorded an incomplete version of Muddy's variant as I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU GO ((French) INEDIT CD #W 260 043, recorded February or March 1992, credited as having been composed by Muddy Waters):
But good kind treatment, bring her home one day; But someday baby, you ain't gon' worry poor me any more. 2. "I said 'Goodbye, darlin'', come on shake my hand; I don't want you little woman, you can have your man; Someday baby, you ain't gonna worry poor me any more. 3. "If you gotta keep on messin', that the nights don't pass; Don't you know little girl, you are livin' too fast; But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry poor me any more. 4. "Mmm-mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm; Mmm-mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm; But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry poor me any more. 5. "I don't care where you go, don't care how long you stay; But good kind treatment, will bring you back home one day; But someday baby, you ain't gon' worry poor me any more. 6. "I said 'Goodbye, darlin'', come on and shake my hand; I don't want you little woman, now you can have your man; But someday baby, you ain't gonna worry poor me any more." Compare B. B. King's AIN'T GOIN' TO WORRY MY LIFE ANYMORE (recorded 1970). |
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10 Dec 01 - 07:00 PM (#607486) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: Snuffy So what are BVDs then, Joe? I know it's underwear, but what does BVD stand for? |
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10 Dec 01 - 08:30 PM (#607555) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: Amos As for BVDs, in 1876 Messrs. Bradley, Voorhes and Day founded BVD, which became a famous and innovative underwear brand in America — with a new look for year 2000. The terms has been famous and used as a synonym for men's briefs since the early 1900s. Tom Lehrer contributed with the famous reference to "lead BVDs" (rhyming with 'the land of the old AEC...') in his parody of the Atomic Age, "The Wild West is Where I Wanna Be". The above reference was filched from some newspaper column on the web, which makes it about as authoritative as most stuff out there! Regards, A. |
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11 Dec 01 - 03:52 AM (#607740) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler BB King also does it as a duet with Eric Clapton on the recent "Ridin' with the King" CD. RtS (Oh Lawdy Lawd, just nine more days and I'll be gone) |
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20 Jul 11 - 01:08 AM (#3191152) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: GUEST,folkieboy You are missing a Memphis Slim version, which was on The Time/ Life Chicago Blues Masters disc set. This disc also contains a wonderful duet between Slim and Otis Spann. Dueling Dudlows,daddy!! !! |
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16 Jul 16 - 06:10 PM (#3800591) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: BrennanCarley Joe, What makes you say that "Muddy Waters, who had evidently learned the song from Estes rather than from Maceo?" Otis Spann played with Maceo before he played with Muddy Waters, so it seems likely that Muddy picked it up from Otis, who picked it up from Maceo (although it also seems likely that Muddy was familiar with the Maceo version which was pretty successful.) Brennan |
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16 Jul 16 - 07:57 PM (#3800617) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Worried Life Blues/Worried Mind Blues From: Joe Offer No idea, Brennan. I don't know the song at all. I just copy-pasted from the Scottish Blues Collective. But if you put the three songs side-by-side, it's clear that the Muddy Waters and Estes versions have a lot in common, and the Maceo song is very different. Here's a bit more from the Scottish Blues Collective about BVDs:
But hey, what's a liberty bodice, and do men wear them? -Joe-
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