¤ R.L. Burnside [1926-2005]
←R.L.’s Story
I had two uncles, two brothers, and my father did get killed in Chicago, that’s why I don’t like living there, it’s too rough a place.
People, going up down the street shooting, killing peoples, which it done it everywhere but they been doing it there a long time you know, and that’s a sad thing.
Well uhh, my brother, he was a doctor, I think he been, I’m not for sure but I think he been selling, some dope to him and he, I reckon quit, and they killed him.
And my uncle, one of them they killed him, another guy killed him about his wife. He, with his wife, and about two years after, he killed him. He, he, stayed with his, lived with his wife.
And my other uncle, I don’t know the what reason he got killed, but I know he, got killed and my dad they killed him and robbed him, he, he got his, check you know his, and uhh, somebody, ganged up on him and stabbed him oh lord dang, twenty-five thirty times. And nobody never went to to jail for it cuz they never found out who it was.
Ahh, then I was, that was in uhh, uhh, Fifties, yeah cuz I lived there in the Forties, and my uhh, soon as I left there, ‘bout uhh, eleven months after I left there, my father got killed, then about a week later, my both of my brothers got killed the same day. And then uhh, one of my uncles got killed about three months later, and it was about, six or eight months ‘fore my other uncle got killed; but they all got killed in a year’s time…
…yeah, I’m glad I, I made it out man.
Yeah both of my brothers got killed the same day.
But uhh, my uncle my daddy got killed, when he drawed some money back you know his, time, and somebody, he went out and get him a drink I imagine, the whiskey store not too far from his house. About, a block and a half and somebody killed him umm, between there and there before he got there, he was just at the, other side of the next house from where he lived but uhh and he killed him there, and took his money.
And one of my uncles they, the guy, killed him about his wife he caught him there with his wife, and he killed him.
And I don’t know what happened to my other uncle but he got killed you know I don’t know just what happened.
Naw, no, no done nobody ever went to jail, cuz they aint, don’t know who did nothing.
Well uhh, yeah, I share-cropped, down at Senatobia, and then uhh, I moved down to, Tunica, I stayed down there a, couple years at uhh, Hollywood, and uhh, I came from there back to Coldwater, oounce and stayed there, two years and went back to Memphis, we stayed, two or three years and we came back, stayed here a year and went back to Memphis and stayed a couple years, then we come back and we aint been back since.
◊ ‘Poor Boy (A Long Way From Home)’ ↓
I’m a poor boy, I’m a long way from homeI’m a poor boy, I’m a long way from home
What the others do, the world can’t do me no harm
I’m a poor boy, a long way from home Babe I can’t stay here long, babe I can’t stay here long
What the others do, the world can’t do me no harm
I’m a poor boy, I’m a long way from home Well my, baby’s dead and gone
Well my, baby’s dead and gone
Well, well, well, well I’m a long way from home
I’m a poor boy, I’m a long way from home And the world, can’t do me no harm
And the world, can’t do me no harm
Oh , no no no no, I’m a long way from home World can’t do me no harm – World can’t do me no harm
World can’t do me no harm
∇ ‘Poor Black Mattie’ ⇓
Poor Black Mattie ain’t got a change in clothes girl got drunk close that doorPoor Black Mattie ain’t got change o’ clothes girl got drunk throwed her clothes outdoors
Goin’ to Memphis see the World’s Fair reason I’m goin’ baby there
Goin’ to Memphis see the World’s Fair reason I’m goin’ know my baby there Need no heater fireplace by my bed women I got cherry red
Need no heater fireplace by my bed – all I got keep me cherry red
←Catfish Blues
Well, I wish I was a cat, baby – Swimmin’ in the deep blue seaAnd I’d have all these good-lookin’ women… Well I went to my baby’s house and I sat on the stairs And she said, «Come in outcha man My husband is not there, he just now left» Well if I can’t, can’t come in – Let me sit down in front of your door
I’ll leave so early in the morning, baby, real man gone – shall not know – I’ll leave now Well, I’m broke baby and I’m hungry – Yes and ragged and dirty too
Yea but if I clean up now , baby, can I spend the night, Spend the night . . . Spend the night Well I love you look good – And I love your husband too And I’m just fooling your husband, baby, tryin’ to get lost Tryin’ to get lost . . .
∇ ‘Bad Luck City’ ⇓
The name of the song, Bad Luck City A lot of people don’t know what’s that ‘cause they’ve never been there But I’ve been there and I know Lots of times you love some women and they don’t love you But I have one and I love the one I have That’s why I tell you, every morning when I wake up I say, I’m tellin’ these words: Don’ leave me baby… Love you too baby . . . The women you love, a lot of times you love them women they love you too You say the same things back to you You say . . . But it’s trouble, problems, when you love them women and they don’t love you A lot of times I want to leave a lot of times I’ve been to great problems Would it be so nice to you?•→ ‘It’s Bad You Know’⇐
∇ Boogie instrumental ⇓ (1978)
♦ Shake ‘em On Down ↓
Well you come to my house, gonna get it on
Where ’round, know that I’m somewhere
Shake em on down, babe, oh god
What’s hollering, whats goin’ on, shake ‘em on down
Me and my baby we was in the field
Heard that train as it left mo-bile.
I’m style-o
Yeah, I’m so tired of hollering I told shake ‘em on down
Me and my baby we’re gonna get somebody
Got back down, shove ‘em down twice, yeah
What’s going on?
Yeah, best I’m hollerin’ – Best I’m hollerin’,
Shake ‘em on down – Shaking ‘em on down – All night crazy
Shaking ‘em on down, gonna tell ya
Somebodies lazy, what’s going on?
. . . Goodbye girl better get gone Skit Gone Had a great time Got beat pretty good Had a good thing going Got more than you gave Goddamn but now I’ll give it to you Girl, you got a game . . .
•→ Snake Drive ↓ [live]←
Love be the devil but it won’t get me – Let my baby ride – Gonna let my baby ride . . .
Love be the devil but it won’t get me . . .
Hey! Well – [Snake drive] Yeah – Alright – [Snake drive] Well, well, well . . . Yeah – [Snake drive]
Don’t you let my baby ride . . . Don’t you let my baby ride . . .÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷
¤ TAJ MAHAL: AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A BLUESMAN [2001]
The legendary blues musician discusses his thirty-year career in music, playing blues as well as folk, reggae, gospel, rock, zydeco, Caribbean, African, and Hawaiian music, and shares experiences from his personal life.
Mahal’s parents exposed him and his siblings to music. He grew up listening to swing and bebop, a staple of his parents’ generation. His mom had dreams of becoming a singer, he writes, in an Ella Fitzgerald way. Mahal’s father, also a musician, had to leave his love of music for a job as day laborer to support his family. Well-renowned musicians like Billy Eckstine, Trummie Young and the bandleader Jack Teagarden would often spend the night at Mahal’s family home in Springfield. In those days there were not a lot of decent places that catered to a black clientele. This early exposure with musical greats laid the foundation for the music for Taj Mahal.
A tragedy occurred when Taj Mahal was 13 years old–his dad died when a tractor fell on top of him, crushing his skull. Mahal watched him die in the backyard of the farm he was raised on. It changed his life; from that moment on he became a man. According to Foer, Mahal doesn’t like to speak about it, “My father’s death made me realize that I had to be doing the work that I needed to be doing. I got busy. I started working as soon as I could.” He uses this same focus in his music.
Self-taught Leonard “Lynwood” Perry introduced Mahal to the blues. Perry inherited his love for southern blues listening and imitating his brother and father. He met Taj Mahal, back then known as Henry, when he and his family were forced to seek economic security in Springfield, where he lived next door to Taj Mahal. One day Mahal asked Perry to come into his house because he wanted to show him something he’d learned on the guitar. The first song he taught Mahal was “O, Baby.” He guided Mahal’s fingers along the strings of the guitar and showed him chord progressions. A bluesman was born. Mahal has not put down his guitar since. Perry said, “The Northern honky-tonk blues is a blues you can dance by, the Southern down-home blues, that tells of the troubles you had, of the troubles the player heard, of the troubles about people they love and hate.”
♦ → ‘Blues with a Feeling’ ↓
Blues with a feeling – that’s what I have todayI’ve got to find my baby if it takes me all night and day Ain’t it hard to love somebody [. . . ?]. they don’t love you
make you sad and lonely – broken-hearted … Baby you call it romance – I call it falling down . . . When made you [. . . ?] deep down in the ground Tell me why you love me [ it hurt me deep down … deep down in my throat Everybody … (French…) Back in the USA we say, ‘that’s how it go’ Blues with a feeling – that’s what I have today . . .
I’ve got to find my baby if it takes me all night and day
Vowed to love one another – Baby ‘neath the stars above
It was her man….. an’ he was doin’ her wrong. Frankie went down to da’ bar room, Get herself a bucket a beer.
Say hey to da’ lone bartender – Say hey has my lovely man been here?
It was my man…….an’ he was doin’ me wrong. Bartender say «Miss Frankie, huh, honey I can’t tell ya’ no lie.
He lef’ here ‘bout an’ hour ago with that hussy named Nelly Blye».
It was yo’ man……an he was doin’ you wrong. Frankie she cried, she cried, she cried, Lordy what have I done?
I done give my love to dis man – He done took my love an’ run.
It was my man……..an he was doin’ me wrong. Albert saw Frankie comin’, He say, Oh Lord baby, don’t you shoot
Well you know, out from under that red kimono
The gun went rootie toot toot,
She shot that man……cause he was doin’ her wrong. Boo Hoo! Boo Hoo! Boo Hoo! Boo Hoo!
Frankie say baby what have I done?
You know I shot the only man I loved,
A cold forty – one,
It was my man……..an he was doin’ me wrong. Play it for a while…. High Sheriff come clippety, clippety, clippety, clippety,
clippety, clippety, clippety the trail
I say look here Frankie I’m gon’ tell ya’
You done shot yo’ man,
I’m gon’ hafta’ put cha in da’ county jail.
Talkin’ ‘bout that man…..an’ he was doin’ her wrong. Frankie she laid in da’ jail house,
Now ya’ know there ain’t no one to go her bail.
But ‘cha know big Jim say honey,
«I’m workin’ on you, try to get you outta that jail»
Tell about yo’ man….’cause he was doin’ you wrong. An’ our story go on…… Frankie an’ Albert was sweethearts – Lordy how they could love. Vowed to love one another – Underneath the stars above
Talkin’ ‘bout that man….. an’ he was doin’ her wrong
♦→ «Big legged mommas are back in style» ↓ [‘Like Never Before_1991]
Talkin’ ‘bout big legged mommas back in style again – I mean, them big fat cuties back in style again You ain’t had no real good love till you been loved by one of them Size 14, 16, 18, 22, 24 in style again – I mean them big fat birdies back in style again You ain’t had no real lovin’ until you’ve been loved by one of them Well momma and poppa told me, son you better shout – Woman that you got she is gonna knock you out Big legged mommas, now, they’re back in style again – I mean them short fat fannies, back in style again You ain’t had no real good lovin’ till you’ve been loved by one of them She gonna rock you, she’s gonna roll you – Man, won’t try to control you Those big legged mommas, they’re back in style again – I mean them heart shaped booties, back in style again You ain’t had no juicy lucy till you’ve been loved by one of them Well, she will not make you shout, she won’t make you beg – But she will shake her hooters like a soft boiled egg Talkin’ about those big legged mommas, they’re back in style again. . . She says, «Honey get me some WD-40 and oil my spring Talkin’ about those big legged mommas, they’re back in style again You ain’t had no juicy lucy till you’ve been loved by one of them♦ ‘Strong Man Holler’ ↓
I remember you baby back in 1959 – You were seventeen years old and you sure look fine You did a little bad tattoo on this heart of mine You make a strong man holler – make a weak man lose his home Mama said, My son, don’t mess with you She can get evil right it’s on roots on you too [. . . ?] hoodoo and a hoo-doo-you-do Oh she stills makes a strong man holler – make a weak man lose his home Baby, you’re so fine, you make me wanna slap myself You’re so fine, I don’t want nobody else And when I get home, don’t put your love on the shelf But you still could make a strong man holler – make a weak man lose his home⇓ ‘Mailbox Blues’
Gonna move up to the country – paint my mailbox blue . . .
Put some flowers on it baby – Paint some trailin’ vines and dew
You know I’m leavin’ LA baby – Don’t you know this smog’s got me down
I’m leavin’ LA baby – Don’t you know this smog has got me down
I’m goin’ up to the country where there ain’t no doggone smog around
Well, come here baby – Sugar, let your papa take you by the hand . . .
Well, you be my woman and I’ll be your city-boy, country man.
I’m gonna move up to the country – Gonna paint, gonna paint, gonna paint, my mailbox blue …
Put some flowers on it honey – Paint some trailin’ vines and dew
◊ ‘Six Days On The Road’ ⇓
I’m headin’ out of Pitsburgh and I’m rollin’ down the eastern seaboard. Got my diesel fired up and she’s runnin’ like she never did before. There’s a speed zone ahead, alright. I don’t see a cop in sight. Six days upon the road I’m gonna’ see my baby tonight. She’s got 10 forward gears and a sweet Georgia overdrive. I’m takin’ little white pills and my eyes are open wide. I just passed a jimmy n’ white. I’ve been passin’ everything in sight. Six days upon the road I’m gonna’ see my baby tonight. It seems like a month since I kissed my baby bye bye. I’ve got a lot o’ women but I’m not like some other guys. My air horns runnin’ clear. Baby you oughta’ watch the way I shift my gears. Six days upon the road I’m gonna’ see my baby tonight. ICC is checkin’ on down the line. You know I’m a little over weight and my log books way behind. But nothin’ bothers a soul at night. I can dodge them scales all night. Six days upon the road and I’m gonna see my baby tonight. My rigs a little old but that don’t mean she’s slow. There’s a good fire comin’ from the smokestack and the smokes black as coal. My hometowns comin’ in sight. If you think I’m happy, Baby, Baby, Baby you’re right. Six days upon the road and I’m gonna’ see my baby tonight. Ow woo! Ow woo!∇ ‘Hard Way’ ⇓
Well, I really had to suffer – I’ve had a hard, hard way to go . . .
I’ve been down and out when the town was coming up with snow
I used to get so weary I would cry the whole night through . . .
Thinking ‘bout my troubles and the hardships I’ve been through
Someday, I may get lucky, find me a place to go . . .
I tried, I tried – But it’s a hard, hard way to go
Φ ‘Blue Light Boogie’⇐
They did the boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
I went to a party – Was nothin’ there but bobby socks
Went to a party – Man you oughta seen em to reel and rock
They did the boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
I started rockin’ – Man I threw my left foot out
I started swingin’ – Somebody begin to shout
You got to boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
The girls and boys, they made so much noise they even had a raid
But when the police got there all they could find was ice-cream and lemonade
Oh, what a party – I’m so glad I didn’t stay at home
Oh, what a party – They didn’t treat me like I was a chaperon
They did the boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
I started swingin’ – I threw my left foot out
I started rockin’ – Oh and they begin to shout
You got to boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
The women had their heads laid on their fellas’ shoulders
Who were boogie-woogeyin’ and squeezin ‘em up in the room
I couldn’t see how they was dancin’
‘Cuz their feet, they didn’t move
Oh, what a party – I’m so glad I didn’t stay at home
Oh, what a party – They didn’t treat me like I was a chaperon
They did the boogie real slow with the blue lights way down low . . .
♦ ‘Walking Blues’ ⇓ [R. Johnson]
Honey, you now by that I got these old walkin’ blues, baby
Woke this mornin’ feelin round for my shoes
Honey, you know by that, I got these old walkin’ blues
w/ Eric Bibb ↓ ‘Diving Duck Blues’ [1998]
If the river was whiskey and I was a diving duck . . .
I’d dive upon the bottom all my nightmares never come up
I said, The sun’s gone shine in my back door some day . . .
The wind gone right is gonna blow my blues away
I’m gonna sit up in my front porch, maybe in my rocking chair …
I’m gonna keep rolling sweet mamma, honey
If you love me sweet baby, honey won’t you say you do . . .
Since you’re 15 years old mamma and my eyes on you
If the river was whiskey I would be a diving duck . . .
I would swim to the bottom, but I would drink my way up
Since I love you baby I don’t care what you do . . .
Do anything in the world sweet mamma, honey get my hands on you
∞ with Ry Cooder:⇒ ‘By and By (Poor Me)’ ⇐
÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷ ÷
¤ Floyd Lee [1933-2020]
Ted Williams a.k.a. Floyd Lee was born 1933 in Mississippi. Captivated by the sound and feel of the genre, he started to play blues as a teenager and wandered the U.S. playing music.
In 1972 he moved to Harlem New York and fell in love with musical culture of the city. Since then, he played blues at clubs, street fairs and subway stations, including Times Square and Grand Central Station as an official musician of MTA’s Music Under New York.
@ Times Square Station ↓ August 2009
◊ Nowhere Is Where I Belong ↓
Nowhere, nowhere is where I belong Nowhere, nowhere is where I belong←Mean Blues
Mean blues – feel as an imfamy for me Mean blues – feel as an infamy Cruel world pullin’ me down it’s makin’ a hard way for me to see Three days I haven’t heard from my girlfriend – I know somethin’ is wrong . . . She left me for another – Left a hole now where my heart belonged There’s no use for me sayin’ I have to let her go . . . Ooooh! But nothin’ from her to come back to Me and blues got me sick and low Drowned my sorrows with a bottle until I lose my mind . . . Drank & drank – Drank the bottom of the East River That’s where my heart feel fine.
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