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Misc: Blues : Blind Willie McTell

  1. Broke Down Engine Blues
  2. Dark Night Blues
  3. Death Cell Blues
  4. Delia
  5. Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues
  6. I Got To Cross The River Jordan
  7. Lay Some Flowers On My Grave
  8. Lord, Send Me An Angel
    1
  9. Mama, T'ain't Long Fo' Day
  10. Savannah Mama
  11. Searching The Desert For The Blues
  12. Southern Can Is Mine
    1
  13. Statesboro Blues
  14. Talkin' To Myself
  15. Three Women
  16. Travelin' Blues
  17. Writing Paper Blues

Broke Down Engine Blues

Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivin' wheel Feel like a broke down engine, Mama, ain't got no drivin' wheel You all been down and lonesome, you know how a poor man feels I been shooting craps and gambling, Mama, and I done got broke I been shooting craps and gambling, Honey, and I done got broke I done pawned my pistol, Mama, my best clothes been sold Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord I went down in my praying ground and fell on bended knees I went down in my praying ground and fell on bended knees I ain't crying for no religion, Lordy, give me back my good girl please If you give me back my baby, I won't worry you no more If you give me my baby, I won't worry you no more You ain't got to put her in my house, Lordy, only lead her to my door Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord Don't you hear me, Baby, rappin' on your door? Don't you hear your daddy, rappin' on your door? Now you hear me tappin', tappin' across your floor Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no drivers at all Feel like a broke down engine, Mama, ain't got no drive at all What makes me love my woman? She can really do the Georgia crawl Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord, Lordy, Lord Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell Feel like a broke down engine, ain't got no whistle or bell If you's a real hot mama, drive away daddy's weeping spell And I won't be back no more, Baby

Dark Night Blues

I got the dark night blues I'm feeling awful bad I got the dark night blues Mama, I'm feeling awful bad That's the worst ol' feeling That a good man have ever had I followed my brown From the depot to the train I followed my fair brown From the depot to the train And the blues came down Like dark night showers o' rain I drink so much whiskey I stagger when I'm sleep Drink so much whiskey I stagger when I'm sleep My brains are dark and cloudy My mind's gone to my feet I got the blues so bad I can feel them in the dark I got the blues so bad I can feel them in the dark And one dark and dreary morning Baby, when you broke my heart I got a fair brown in Atlanta Got one in Macon too I got a fair brown in Atlanta Got one in Macon too I got one in Statesboro Give me them old dark night blues Everything I told you Went and told your outside man Everything I told you Mama, you went and told your outside man But I want to tell you something Your good man can't stand Riding the PNP Special Mama, and I'm leaving this town Riding the PNP Special Baby, and I'm leaving this town Say you didn't want me I'm a-quit hanging around

Death Cell Blues

They got me accused for murder and I haven't even harmed a man They got me accused for murder but I haven't even harmed a man They got me charged with burglin' and I haven't even raised my hand The judge won't give me no fine The judge won't give me no fine Ain't but one thing could release me and that's so far Beside I'll have to give you my number, 5994 I'll have to give your my number, 5994 Because I'll be there forever, I've have no other place to go They got me 'cused for forging and I can't even write my name Well they got me 'cused of forging and I can't even write my name And my eyes still don't miss, my baby left my poor heart in pain My baby left my heart in pain

Delia

<Trad; Roud 3264>
D* x54033
|
E
E7
|
F
F6
F#6
| |
C
|
G
|
C
|
C
|
C
D*
C
Delia, Delia, how can it be?
D*
C
F
F6
Say you love those rounders and don't love me (
F#6
)
C
G
C
C
Now she's one more rounder gone Delia, Delia sitting all alone Some of your old rounders gonna pay my way back home 'Cause she's one more rounder gone Sitting on the housetop, high as I can see Say you love those rounders and don't love me But she's one more rounder gone Delia's poor mother took a trip out West When she returned, little Delia was lyin' in rest Well, she's one more rounder gone Delia's mother weeped, Delia's father moaned They wouldn't have hated it so bad if that child had died at home But she's all I got and gone Delia was a gambler, wondered all around She was one girl never let the deal go down But she's one more rounder gone Rubber-tired buggy, double-seated hack Took little Delia to the cemetery but failed to bring her back Well she's one more rounder gone Delia was a gambler, wondered all around She was one girl never let the deal go down But she's one more rounder gone Kenny lookin' high, Kenny lookin' low Shot poor Delia down with that hated .44 Well, she's one more rounder gone Delia, Delia, wouldn't take no one's advice Last words I heard her say was, "Jesus Christ!" Well, she's one more rounder gone Kenny's in the barroom, drinking from a silver cup Delia's in the graveyard, may not never wake up Well, she's one more rounder gone Judge said to Kenny, "What was that fuss about?" "On account of them gamblers trying to put me out!" Well, she's one more rounder gone Judge said to Kenny, "I'm gonna tell you the natural fact You going to wait in jail till Delia come back" Well, that's one more rounder gone

Dyin' Crapshooter's Blues

Little Jesse was a gambler, night and day He used crooked cards and dice Sinful guy, good-hearted, but had no soul Heart was hard and cold like ice Jesse was a wild reckless gambler, won a gang of change Although a many gambler's heart he led in pain Began to spend a-loose his money Began to be blue, sad and all alone His heart had even turned to stone What broke Jesse's heart while he was blue and all alone Sweet Lorena packed up and gone Police walked up and shot my friend Jesse down Boys I got to die today He had a gang of crapshooters and gamblers at his bedside Here are the words he had to say Guess I ought to know exactly how I wants to go (How you wanna go, Jesse?) Eight crapshooters to be my pallbearers Let 'em be veiled down in black I want nine men going to the graveyard, bubba And eight men comin' back I want a gang of gamblers gathered round my coffin-side Crooked card printed on my hearse Don't say the crapshooters 'll never grieve over me My life been a doggone curse Send poker players to the graveyard Dig my grave with the ace of spades I want twelve polices in my funeral march High sheriff playin' blackjack, lead the parade I want the judge and solicitor who jailed me fourteen times Put a pair of dice in my shoes (then what?) Let a deck of cards be my tombstone I got the dyin' crapshooter's blues Sixteen real good crapshooters Sixteen bootleggers to sing a song Sixteen racket men gamblin' Couple tend bar while I'm rollin' along He wanted 22 womens outta the Hampton Hotel 26 off-a South Bell 29 women outta North Atlanta know Little Jesse didn't pass out so swell His head was achin', heart was thumpin' Little Jesse went to hell bouncin' and jumpin' Folks, don't be standin' around ol' Jesse cryin' He wants everybody to do the Charleston whilst he dyin' One foot up, a toenail dragging Throw my buddy Jesse in the hoodoo wagon Come here mama with that can of booze The dyin' crapshooter's leavin' the world The dyin' crapshooter's goin' down slow With the dyin' crapshooter's blues

I Got To Cross The River Jordan

I got to cross that river of Jordan Lord, I got to cross that for myself Says, nobody here can cross that for me Lord, I got to cross that for myself And I got to meet my dear old my mother I got to meet her for myself Left nobody here can meet her for me Lord, I got to meet her for myself I got to stand my trial and my judgement I got to stand that for myself Left nobody here can stand that for me So I got to stand that for myself Jordan river is so hard to swim in I got to cross that for myself Says, nobody here can cross that for me Lord, I got to cross that for myself I got to face my dear savior I got to face him for myself Says, nobody here can face him for me Lord, I got to face him for myself And I got to work soul salvation Lord, I got to work that for myself Left nobody here can work that for me Says, I got to work out for myself So I got to meet my mother and father I got to meet them for myself Says, nobody here can meet them for me Lord, I got to meet them for myself Ain't nobody here can stand that for me Lord, I got to stand that for myself So I got to lie so lonesome graveyard I got to lie there for myself Ain't nobody here can lie there for me Lord, I got to lie there for myself

Lay Some Flowers On My Grave

You must lay some flowers on my grave You must lay some flowers on my grave My mother and father have gone Left me in this world alone You must lay some flowers on my grave My father was a roll sport and a gambler too And he left me here just singin' the blues I hope my heart will change I don't want to die the same You must lay some flowers on my grave Put a wreath of flowers at my right side Then you'll know that McTell's satisfied Put a bouquet in my breast You know poor boy's gone to rest You must lay some flowers on my grave Now when this old building is fallin' down Just lay me six feet in the cold, cold ground Wrap me up in the solid clay 'Cause I come here to die one day Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave Put a morning glory at my head and feet Then you'll know that McTell's gone to sleep On my headboard write my name I leave 'em many girl's heart in pain Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave Don't snatch the pillow from under my head Don't grieve and worry after the days I'm dead When I bid you this last goodbye Don't none of you womens cry You just lay some flowers on my grave Now when I'm gone, to come no more And the old pallbearers lay me low When you hear that coffin sound You'll know McTell is in the ground Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave Now when the poor boy's dead and gone I'm left in this old world all alone When you hear that church bell toll You'll know McTell's dead and gone Hot mama, lay some flowers on my grave

Lord, Send Me An Angel

Capo:
-V
(sounding key:
Bb
)
E
B7
A
Am
A7
Good Lord, good Lord, send me an angel down
E
B7
E
Can't spare you no angel, I'll spare you you a teasin' brown That new way of loving, swear to God it must be the best All these Georgia women won't let Mr McTell rest There was a cry down on the corner, I wondered who could it be? Weren't a thing but the womens tryin' to get to me Went down to the shed, with my suitcase in my hand All the women run cryin', saying, "Mr Mac, won't you be my man?" And my mother, she told me, when I was a boy playing mama begged Don't drink no black cow milk and don't eat no black hen's egg My baby studyin' evil, and I'm studyin' evil too I'm gonna hang round here to see what my babe gon' do I can't be trusted, and I can't be satisfied When the men see me comin' they go to pinning their women to their side About my loving, take it any time of day Now to get my right lovin', I'm going to Georgia right away I got three women, and they're yellow, brown and black Take the governor of Georgia to judge the one I like One then's Atlanta yellow, another one Macon brown But the Statesboro dark skin will turn your damper down So bye bye mama, I'll see you some sweet day You'll be awful sorry you drove your McTell away

Mama, T'ain't Long Fo' Day

Tuning: DGDGBD (Open G)
Wake up mama, don't you sleep so hard Wake up mama, don't you sleep so hard For it's these old blues walkin' all over your yard I've got these blues [Incomprehensible] I'm not satisfied I've got these blues, I'm not satisfied That's the reason why I stroll away and cry Blues grabbed me in midnight, they didn't turn me loose till day Blues grabbed me in midnight, didn't turn me loose till day I didn't have no mama to drive these blues away The big star fallin', mama t'ain't long fo' day The big star fallin', mama t'ain't long fo' day [Incomprehensible] sunshine I drive these blues away Oh, come here quick, come on mama, now I've got you

Savannah Mama

Mmm, Lordy, Lordy, Lord Mmm, Lordy, Lordy, Lord Every woman I love treats me just just like a dog I love you baby but your ways I just can't stand I love you mama but your ways I just can't stand Say, you walked away and left me good girl, with another man Goin' back to Savannah mama, sign my initials down Goin' back to Savannah baby, sign my initials down Atlanta mens all hate me and the women don't want me round Goin' back to Savannah baby, write my initials on the wall Goin' back to Savannah mama, write my initials on the wall 'Cause you know Georgia women don't mean me no good at all Play that thing low and lonesome, boy Mmm, baby it's hard, it's hard, it's hard Ah, baby ain't it hard, ain't it hard, ain't it hard I'd like to love you baby but your good man's got me barred

Searching The Desert For The Blues

Capo:
-IV
(sounding key:
C
)
E
B7
A
A7
You may search the ocean, you might go 'cross the deep blue sea
E
B7
E
But Mama, you'll never find another hot shot like me I followed my baby from the station to the train And the blues came down like dark night showers of rain I left her at the station wringing her hands and crying I told her she had a home, just as long as I had mine I've got two women, and you can't tell them apart I've got one in my bossom, and one I got in my heart The one in my bossom, she's in Tennessee And the one in my heart, don't even give a darn for me I used to say a married woman was the sweetest woman ever was born But I've changed that thing, you better let married women alone Take my advice, let these married women be 'Cause their husbands 'll grab you, beat you ragged as a cedar tree When a woman say she love you 'bout good as she do herself I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else I really don't believe no woman in the whole round world do right Act like an angel in the daytime, mess by the ditch at night I'm going, pretty mama, please don't break this rule That's why I'm searching these deserts for the blues I'm going, pretty mama, searching these deserts now That's why I'm walking my baby home anyhow Lord, oh Lord, Lordy, Lordy, Lord Oh Lordy Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord When a woman say she love you 'bout good as she do herself I don't pay her no attention, tell that same line to somebody else Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord

Southern Can Is Mine

Now look a-here mama let me tell you this If you wants to get crooked I'm gonna give you my fist You might read from Revelations back to Genesee But if you get crooked, your southern can belongs to me Ain't no need you bringin' no jive to me 'Cause your southern can is mine Might go uptown have me arrested and have me put in jail Some hotshot got money come and throw my bail Soon as I get out, hit the ground Your southern can worth two dollar, half a pound Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me 'Cause your southern can is mine You might take it from the south you might carry it up north But understand you can't rule or either be my boss Take it from the east, hide it in the west When I get it mama, your can won't see no rest Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me 'Cause your southern can is mine (in the morning) Your southern can belongs to me (I'm not dreamin') Your southern can belongs to me Ah ashes to ashes mama, and sin to sin Every time I hit you you'll think I've got a dozen hands Give you a punch through that barb-wire fence Every time I hit you you'll say I've got no sense Ain't no need of bringing no stuff to me 'Cause your southern can is mine (every bit of it) Southern can belongs to me Get me a brick out of my backyard Give you the devil if you get kinda hard Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey 'Cause your southern can is mine (you hear me cryin') Southern can belongs to me Spank it a little bit, boy
Guitar run
Ah, your southern can is mine Now if I catch ya mama down in the heart of town Take me a brand new brick and tear your can on down Ain't no need you bringin' no stuff to me Because your southern can belongs to me (I'm talkin' to ya) Your southern can belongs to me You may be deathbed sick and mama and graveyard bound I'll make your can moan like a hound Ain't no need you bringin' no stuff to me Because your southern can is mine (you hear me talkin) Southern can belongs to me
Guitar run
Oh spank it like that The way Ruthie Mae likes it 'Cause your southern can is mine Sit there unsteady with your eyes all red What I said get your grandma dead Ain't no need of bringing no jive to me 'Cause your southern can is mine You got to stop your barkin' and raising the deuce I'll grab you mama and turn every way but loose Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey 'Cause your southern can belongs to me (every bit of it) Southern can belongs to me
Guitar run
Aw, whup it boy, that's the way the people like that thing Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey 'Cause your southern can is mine (you hear me talkin) Your southern can belongs to me Might twiddle like a tadpole Let it jump like a frog Every time I hit it you'll holler, god, oh God Ain't no need of bringing no jive here honey 'Cause your southern can is mine (you hear me talkin) Southern can belongs to me Now play it a little bit, just whup it Aw, shucks, play that thing, boy Southern can belongs to me

Statesboro Blues

Tuning: DADGBE (Drop D)
Willie was a master of Piedmont playing, so the song requires a strong right
hand technique. It features an alternating bass line all throughout, with
melodies improvised over the top. Willie's genius is that in the 4 bar open "D"
sections of each verse he employs different voicings of the D chord -- from
open, to open with an added major 3rd, to 5th fret to 7th fret. The other
sections are fairly consistent -- G section, back to D, then the turnaround of
5th fret D voicing and a descending on the beat bass run in G.
D
D7
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
G
D
Wake up mama, turn your lamp down low
D
G
D
Have you got the nerve to drive Papa McTell from your door? My mother died and left me reckless, my daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild Mother died and left me reckless, daddy died and left me wild, wild, wild No, I'm not good lookin' but I'm some sweet woman's angel child She's a mighty mean woman, to do me this-a-way She's a mighty mean woman, to do me this-a-way When I leave this town, pretty mama, I'm going away to stay I once loved a woman, better than any I'd ever seen I once loved a woman, better than any I'd ever seen Treat me like I was a king and she was a doggone queen Sister, tell your Brother, Brother tell your Auntie Now Auntie, tell your Uncle, Uncle tell my Cousin, now Cousin tell my friend Goin' up the country, Mama, don't you want to go? May take me a fair brown, may take one or two more Big Eighty left Savannah, Lord, and did not stop You ought to saw that colored fireman when he got that boiler hot You can reach over in the corner, Mama, and hand me my travelin' shoes You know by that, I've got them Statesboro blues Mama, Sister got 'em, Auntie got 'em Brother got 'em, friends got 'em, I got 'em Woke up this morning, we had them Statesboro blues I looked over in the corner, Grandma and Grandpa had 'em too

Talkin' To Myself

Good Lord, good Lord, send me an Angel down "Can't spare you no angel but I'll sure send you a teasin' brown" That new way of lovin', mama it must be best These a-Georgia women just won't let Mr Samuel rest There was a crowd out on the corner, wondered who could it be? It wasn't a thing but the women trying to get to me I even went down to the depot, with my suitcase in my hand Crowd of women run crying: "Mr Samuel won't you be my man?" My Mama she told me when I was a boy playin' mumble peg "Don't drink no black cow's milk, don't you eat no black hen's egg Black man give you a dollar mama, he won't think its nothin' strange Yellow Man will give a dollar but he'll want back ninety-five cents change If they call me cheater, pretty boy I'll real cheat you If you will allow me a chance, I'll gnaw your backbone half in two I took a trip out on the ocean, want the sound of the deep blue sea I found a crab with a swim trying to do the shimmy shea I want to tell you something mama, seem mighty doggone strange You done made me mess around gal and break my yo-yo string Honey I ain't gonna be the old work ox no more You done mess around, let your doggone ox get hauled My mama she got a mojo, please she try to keep it hid Papa Samuel got something to find that mojo with (take it from me!) I even heard a rumblin', deep down in the ground It wasn't a thing but the women tryin' to run me down

Three Women

Tuning: DADF#AD (Open D)
Got three womens, yellow, brown and black I got three womens, yellow, brown and black It'll take the Governor of Georgia To judge one of these women I like One for in the morning, one for late at night One for in the morning, one for late at night I got one for noontime To treat your old daddy right These blues at midnight, they don't leave me till day These blues at midnight, they don't leave me till day I didn't have none of my three women To drive these blues away One of them Memphis yellow, the other is a Savannah brown One of them Memphis yellow, the other Savannah brown One is a Statesboro dark skin She'll really turn your damper down Now if I had listen to what my three women said Now if I had listen to what my three women said I'd a-been home sleeping In a doggone feather bed

Travelin' Blues

Tuning: DADF#AD (Open D)
I had a dream last night I thought my good gal had gone Well, I woke up this mornin' She really hadn't done me wrong I know it's not fair But my good gal has done [Incomprehensible] I'm goin' away, leavin' today I'm gonna bring my baby back If that eight wheel driver Don't jump the railroad track I take her from that man Gonna bring her home if I can My gal's been triflin' 'round About a week I know Several of my friends Just told me so and so She's findin' new men And now I can't understand So I'm goin' away, leavin' today I'm gonna bring my baby back If that eight wheel driver Don't jump the railroad track I take her from that man Gonna bring her home if I can Well, it's true my baby's gone I know it won't be long We'll both be on that train My baby's comin' home again She's been triflin' 'round But now she has turned him down Yeah, I'm goin' away, leavin' today I'm gonna bring my baby back If that eight wheel driver Don't jump the railroad track I take her from that man Gonna bring her home if I can

Writing Paper Blues

I wrote you a letter, mama Put it in your front yard I wrote you a letter Put it in your front yard I would love to come and see you But your good man's got me barred You wrote me a letter To come back the Newport noon You wrote me a letter, mama Come back the Newport noon To leave the town And don't spread the news I wrote you a letter, mama Sent you a telegram I wrote you a letter, mama Sent you a telegram Not to meet me in Memphis But meet me in Birmingham Um, hear me weep and moan Um, hear me weep and moan Don't you hear my pleading? Hear me grieve and groan If I could get me one more drink of booze If I could get me one more drink of booze I guess it would ease these ol' writin' paper blues I caught a freight train special My mama caught a passenger behind Caught a freight train special My mama caught a passenger behind Said you can't quit me papa There ain't no need in tryin'