Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)

To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café ^TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=7661
16 messages

Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)

21 Nov 98 - 08:07 PM (#46404)
Subject: Crazy blues
From: alison

Hi,

I have this friend........... who doesn't reckon you can supply the lyrics to this one. Please help me prove him wrong!

According to the sheet music I've got it was done / written by Perry Bradford, but this friend claims to have heard a recording with an extra couple of verses, which he can't completely make out.

If it helps... it starts...

I can't sleep at night, I can't eat a bite
'cause the man I love, he don't treat me right,

anyone able to help? Thanks

slainte

alison

22 Nov 98 - 04:27 AM (#46434)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: Garry

Thank You Alison

22 Nov 98 - 04:33 AM (#46435)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: Garry

Crazy Blues was recorded on 10 August 1920 by Mamie Smith, I am the friend Alison talks about in her original request. Crazy Blues was written by Perry Bradford supposedly as Nervous Blues in 1915 and was preceeded by Mamma and Pappa Blues apparently a well known tune that Crazy Blues may have been based upon, I have the music but I need the lyrics, the lyrics are really hard to get off the CD. The first bit is okay but the second section is so hard to understand even after cleaning up using a audio manipulation project.

22 Nov 98 - 05:23 AM (#46439)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: alison

Hi Garry,

Welcome to Mudcat. I searched..... thought I'd seen this a few months back but couldn't find it. Hopefully someone else will.

Slainte

alison

22 Nov 98 - 03:20 PM (#46474)
Subject: Lyr Add: CRAZY BLUES (from Leon Redbone)
From: Ralph Butts

This is Leon Redbone's version, from his Double Time album....Tiger

Crazy Blues
As performed by Leon Redbone

(WHISTLING)
I can't sleep at night, I can't eat a bite,
'Cause the gal I love, she don't treat me right.
Oh, baby, you make me feel so blue,
I don't know what to do.
Sometimes I sit and sigh and then begin to cry,
'Cause the gal that I love has said her last good-bye.

There's a change in the ocean, change in the deep blue sea.
I'll tell you now, there ain't no change in me,
'Cause I'm in love with that gal -- will always be.

I can read her letters, but I sure can't read her mind.
Yes, she said she was in love with me, but she was lyin' all the time
Well, now I know my poor love was blind.

CHORUS

Went down to the railroad, put my head on the track.
Yeah, I thought about my gal, and I snatched it quickly back.
Well, she's gone, she's gone, she give me the sack.
(SCAT)

CHORUS

Well, the doctor's gonna do all he can,
That's what he's gonna need for the undertaker man,
'Cause my love has been refused,
Now I got the crazy blues.
(SCAT)

22 Nov 98 - 04:31 PM (#46482)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: Ralph Butts

Make those chorus lines:

Get myself a gun and shoot myself, 'Cause my love has been refused,

...Tiger

23 Nov 98 - 03:28 AM (#46551)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: Garry

Hi thanks for some of the words, but they are not the same as the original 1920 recording, mention is made of a Chinaman in a new chorus. If there is anyone out there who has the original lines please help

03 Nov 00 - 08:51 AM (#333455)
Subject: RE: Crazy blues
From: harpgirl

The very first vocal "Blues" recording was said to be this song, as recorded by Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds. Throughout the early 20s most of the famous black artists were women. Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Rosa Henderson, Ida Cox, Eva Taylor, Victoria Spivery, Clara Smith and Sarah Martin wee some of the best known. Lillian Glinn, who grew up in Dallas, was one of my favorites. She sang "cravin a Man Blues" among others!

20 Mar 05 - 03:02 AM (#1438745)
Subject: Lyr Add: CRAZY BLUES (from Mamie Smith)
From: Jim Dixon

I transcribed these lyrics from the sound file at The Red Hot Jazz Archive (but it helped to listen to other versions, too – see the list below).

CRAZY BLUES
Perry Bradford

I can't sleep at night.
I can't eat a bite
'Cause the man I love, he don't treat me right.
He makes feel so blue,
I don't know what to do.
Sometimes I sit and sigh
And then begin to cry
'Cause my best friend said his last goodbye.

There's a change in the ocean, change in the deep blue sea, my baby.
I tell you folks there ain't no change in me.
My love for that man will always be.

CHORUS: Now I got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away.
I ain't got no time to lose.
I must find him today.
Now the doctor's gonna do all that he can,
But what he's gonna need is the undertaker man.
I ain't heard nothin' but bad news,
Now I got the crazy blues.

Now, I can read his letters, I sure can't read his mind.
I thought he's lovin' me. He's leavin' all the time.
Now I see my poor love was blind.

I went to the railroad, set my head on the track,
Thought about my daddy, I grabbed it gently (?) back,
Now that he's gone and gave me the sack.

CHORUS: Now I've got the crazy blues
Since my baby went away.
I ain't had no time to lose.
I must find him today.
I'm gonna do like a Chinaman, go and get some hop,
Get myself a gun, and shoot myself a cop.
I ain't had nothin' but bad news.
Now I got the crazy blues.

[As originally recorded by Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds, 1920. The "Red Hot Jazz" website also has vocal recordings by Sissle and Blake, 1921; Mary Stafford and Her Jazz Band, 1921; and Louise Vant accompanied by Perry Bradford's Mean Four, 1926.]

19 Oct 05 - 09:22 PM (#1586665)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: Margret RoadKnight

Hoping someone can help with CHORDS for Perry Bradford's "Crazy Blues".
(Any key is fine)

29 Oct 05 - 10:32 PM (#1593509)
Subject: RE: Chords Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: Margret RoadKnight

refresh

30 Oct 05 - 01:10 AM (#1593588)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: CRAZY BLUES (Perry Bradford)
From: masato sakurai

From Early Blues Songbook (Wise Publications):

CRAZY BLUES
Perry Bradford

[F]I can't sleep at night,
I can't eat a bite
'Cause the [C7]man I love, he don't treat me [F-F7]right,
[Bb]He makes feel so blue,
[Bbm]I don't know what to do,
[F]Sometimes I sit and sigh,
And then begin to cry,
'Cause [C7]my best friend said his last good-[F]bye.

[C7]There's a [F]change in the o-[C7]cean, [F]change in the deep blue [F7]sea, my baby.
[Bb7]I tell you folks, there ain't no change [C7]in [F]me.
[F#dim]My love [Bm7]for that [C7]man will always be[F-Bb-Bbm-F].

CHORUS: [F]Now I got the crazy [F7]blues,
Since[Bb7] my baby went a-[F]way,
I ain't got no time to [F7]lose,
I [G7]must find him today[C7]
Now the [F]doctor's gonna do all [Fm]that he can
But [Bb]what he's gonna need is an [F]undertaker man,
I ain't had nothin' [Dm7]but bad news[G7],
Now I got the [C7]cra-[C9+5]zy [F]blues[F7-Bb-Bbm-F-C7-F].

[Db7-C7]Now, I can [F]read his letters, I sure can't read his mind[F7].
[Bb7]I thought he's lovin' me, He's leavin' [C7]all the [F]time.
[C7]Now I see my poor love was [F]blind[Gm7-C7].

01 Nov 05 - 01:56 AM (#1594758)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: Margret RoadKnight

Masato, you're a gem!!
Many thanks!
Margret

01 Nov 05 - 04:38 AM (#1594796)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: masato sakurai

You're welcome.
~Masato

08 Feb 06 - 08:56 PM (#1664790)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: GUEST,Drew

I always thought Leon Redbone was singing:

   I'm gonna do like a madman, get some hogs,
   get myself a gun and shoot myself a couple,
   'cause my love has been with you.
   Now I've got the crazy blues.

Got a problem with the missus? Take it out on the pigs! (;0

Anyway... I'm so glad I found this resource!

Thanks all...

-- Drew

26 Jan 21 - 05:11 PM (#4090065)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crazy Blues (Perry Bradford)
From: meself

I recall L. Redbone's version as:

Gonna do like a madman, get some hops,
Steal myself a pistol, should myself a cop.