To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=85918
10 messages

Lyr Req: Nashville Blues (Delmore Brothers)

31 Oct 05 - 05:56 PM (#1594448)
Subject: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Cluin

I was just sitting here listening to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's classic "Circle Be Unbroken" (the first collection) and hearing Earl Scruggs, Vassar Clements, Norman Blake, Junior Huskey and the Nits playing on "Nashville Blues"...

I was wondering has anybody heard any lyrics for this great tune? Album credits say it was composed by Earl.


31 Oct 05 - 06:58 PM (#1594508)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: pdq

It's on Doc Watson's eponymous first solo record: CD Vanguard   VMD-79152        

The song was written by the great Delmore Brothers.


31 Oct 05 - 07:50 PM (#1594550)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Cool Beans

Here's what I remember:
I've got the blues
Those Nashvile blues.
I've got the blues
Those Nashvile blues.
Aint got no hat
Aint got no shoes.
---
The people here
They treat me fine
The people here
They treat me fine.
They give me beer
And they give me wine.
==
I'm going back to Arkansas
I'm going back to Arkansas.
Gonna stay right there.
With my maw and paw.
--
I've got the blues, those Nashville blues
etc.


31 Oct 05 - 08:30 PM (#1594581)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Cluin

Thanks, but that ain't the tune, folks.
Same title, I know, but the one I'm talking about is a banjo tune defintely written by Earl Scruggs.
He plays it with his banjo tuned to open Dm, I think.

Chord progression is something like:
 |dm   |F    |dm   |dm   |
|dm   |F    |A    |A    |
|dm   |F    |dm   |dm   |
|dm   |dm   |dm   |D    |
|dm   |dm   |dm   |dm   |:


01 Nov 05 - 10:18 AM (#1594956)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Peace

"Nashville Blues," recorded in 1971 with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band


01 Nov 05 - 10:21 AM (#1594959)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Peace

It's an instrumental.


I'll go look for an mp3


01 Nov 05 - 10:23 AM (#1594963)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Peace

Machine I'm on will not allow access to mp3 stuff. Maybe someone else could google

nashville blues, earl scruggs, mp3


01 Nov 05 - 02:07 PM (#1595125)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Peace

Try here. I can't, Cluin.

Scroll down a bit; on left side of screen.


01 Nov 05 - 02:21 PM (#1595143)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Nashville Blues?
From: Cluin

Interesting version, Peace. That guy can certainly honk on a similar version of the tune, but he's shifted it out of the minor key to a major, dropped the gearshift from D minor to D major for the 16th bar, as well as dropping the last 4 bar resolving refrain from Earl's version on the Dirt Band recording.

There probably aren't any lyrics to it. I don't think Earl Scruggs was much of a lyricist.


11 Oct 19 - 11:36 PM (#4013167)
Subject: Lyr ADD: THE NASHVILLE BLUES (Delmore Brothers)
From: Jim Dixon

THE NASHVILLE BLUES
As recorded by The Delmore Brothers, 1936. (Bluebird B-6312, Montgomery Ward M-4753)

1. I’ve got the blues, those Nashville blues. (2x)
Ain’t got no hat; ain’t got no shoes.

2. The people here, they treat me fine. (2x)
They give me beer; they give me wine.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

3. I’ve got the blues; I’ve got ‘em bad. (2x)
Somebody stole that gal I had.

4. She’s gone; she’s gone away from me. (2x)
One thing she left: she left me free.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

5. I wish I was a turtledove. (2x)
I’d fly away to the girl I love.

6. It’s hard to tell what a girl will do. (2x)
They’ll win your love and leave you blue.

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

7. I’m goin’ home to Arkansas. (2x)
Gonna stay right there with Ma and Pa.

8. If you find me sad, please go away. (2x)
Come back again some other day.

----
Note: They actually sing in call-and-response fashion, like this:

“I’ve got the blues (I’ve got the blues), those Nashville blues.
I’ve got the blues, those Nashville blues.
Ain’t got no hat (ain’t got no hat); ain’t got no shoes.”

...but I have omitted all the repeated phrases from the above transcription.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwteL71hg1M