28 Apr 02 - 04:05 PM (#699955) Subject: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: GUEST,nbsanders1@aol.com I can't find them & I REALLY WANT TO. Thanks for any help. |
28 Apr 02 - 04:29 PM (#699963) Subject: Lyr Add: ROBERTA (Leadbelly) From: Sorcha ROBERTA Lyrics: Leadbelly Music: Leadbelly
The Dead played this a couple of times in 1970, but I don't have a tape. The Leadbelly version goes like this:
Oh Roberta, where you been so long
Oh Roberta, sit down on my knee
Way up the river, far as I can see
And it was not nothing, honey but the side of a tree
Well I'm down on the river, sitting on the ground
Roberta, Roberta, where you been so long
There is also a Furry Lewis version with slightly different lyrics:
Tell me Roberta, where you been so long
I see Roberta cross the sea
Tell me Roberta, what you gonna do
Roberta, Roberta, you on my mind
Roberta left yesterday and I'm going today |
28 Apr 02 - 07:50 PM (#700052) Subject: Lyr Add: ROBERTA (Leadbelly) From: masato sakurai Another set of lyrics is given in The 12-String Guitar As Played by Leadbelly (Oak, 1956, 1968, p. 47) by Julius Lester and Pete Seeger. There're two versions; "he seldom played the same song the same way twice." (p. 48)
ROBERTA
Oh, Roberta, tell me how long, how long.
I'm down on the river, setting down on the ground (2x)
Way up the river, just as far as I can see (2x)
She's a brownskin woman, got long black wavy hair (2x)
I'm going to the station, talk to that chief of police (2x)
Oh, Roberta, don't you hear me calling you (2x) ~Masato
|
28 Apr 02 - 10:46 PM (#700138) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Rolfyboy6 Here's s link to a Leadbelly version (he recorded this several times) and to a Furry Lewis version. Uncle Jon's Lyric's |
29 Apr 02 - 11:29 AM (#700427) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Mrrzy Is this related at all to ALBERTA, let your hair hang low? |
29 Apr 02 - 11:50 AM (#700447) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Sorcha Doesn't look like an e mail has been sent, so I'm doing that. |
29 Apr 02 - 01:17 PM (#700525) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: GUEST,nbsanders1 You guys are so good! Thanks. Re. question about is related to "Alberta," yes. I was listening to Prairie Home Companion on Sunday and Odetta sang it, she said, as written by Ledbetter. Her version started out "Roberta, let your hair hang low."
|
29 Apr 02 - 11:39 PM (#700915) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Rolfyboy6 About Alberta and Roberta--they are usually sung at different tempos. Alberta is sung slow and Roberta is sung faster and is more of an admonition. |
30 Apr 02 - 12:18 AM (#700930) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Rolfyboy6 Here's Alberta "I'll give you more gold than your apron can hold....' |
30 Apr 02 - 10:20 AM (#701148) Subject: RE: Lyrics to Ledbetter's 'Roberta,' please From: Mrrzy I heard Odetta too on that PHC - what a woman. I just love her. I'd never heard anyone else (besides Doc Watson) sing the Alberta let your hair hang low song. |