Blues (cont.) Charley Patton 1891?-1934 Hinds County, MS “Father of Delta Blues” 1900 – with family moves to Dockery Plantation – Ruleville, MS Learns from Henry Sloan Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker learn from Patton Successful in Deep South Powerful voice, guitar showmanship “Pony Blues” (1929) – big recording success Debates – ethnicity, photograph

“Green River Blues” (1929) I see a river rollin' like a log I wade up Green River, rollin' like a log I wade up Green River, Lord, rollin' like a log Think I heard the Marion whistle blow I dreamed I heard the Marion whistle blow, and it blew just like my baby gettin' on board I'm goin' where the Southern cross the Dog I'm goin' where the Southern cross the Dog I'm goin' where the Southern cross the Dog Some people say the Green River blues ain't bad Some people say the Green River blues ain't bad Then it must-a not been the Green River blues I had It was late one night, everything was still It was late one night, baby, everything was still I could see my baby up on a lonesome hill How long evenin' train been gone? How long, baby, that evenin' train been gone? You know I'm worried now but I won't be worried long I'm goin' away, but may get lonesome here I'm goin' away, baby, you may get lonesome here Yes, I'm goin' away, baby, it may get lonesome here

Charley Patton – “A Spoonful Blues” (1929) Aw, the revenue man is ridin', boy, you'd better look out (spoken: High sheriff ain't purrty) Aw, the revenue man is ridin', boy, you'd better look out (spoken: Boy, if he hollers you, you don't stop, boy) If he hollers you, don't stop, you will likely be knocked out Oh, a doney loves her saltwater, well, she always wants a drink (spoken: Got to have a drink!) My doney loves saltwater, she always wants a drink (spoken: Boy, if they see you with a bottle, though) If they see you with a bottle, they will almost break your neck Oh, take me home to, Lord, that shiny star (spoken: Aw sho'!) I say take me home to that shiny star (spoken: She don't need no tellin's, daddy, aw sho') She don't need no tellin', daddy will take you in his car Oh, come on, mama, let us, go to the edge of town (spoken: Aw sho'!) Come on, mama, let us, go to the edge of town (spoken: Baby, I know where there's a bird's nest built at) I know where there's a bird's nest, built down on the ground Oh, I wake up every mornin', now, with a jinx all around my bed (spoken: Aw sho!) I wakes up every mornin', with a jinx all around my bed (spoken: You know I'll have them jinx forever) I have been a good provider, but I believe I have been misled

Willie Brown(1900-1952) Clarksdale, MS Not a showy frontman

Future Blues(1930) can't tell my future, boy lord can't tell my past seem like every minute going, gone be my last can't tell my future, lord i can't tell my past seem like every minute now sure going to be my last minutes seems like hours and hours seems like days i wish my woman quite her lowdown ways lord minutes seems like hours hours seems like days i wish my woman lord, quite her lowdown ways well you see that picture lord your mama's shelf know about that i'm tired of sleeping all by myself lord see that picture upon your mama's shelf know about that i'm tired of sleeping by myself

Future Blues (alternative lyrics) i had a notion yeah i belive i will i'll build me a mansion upon the keno hill lord i had a notion, my man i belive i will build me a mansion Lord upon keyta hill can't tell my future now can't tell my past feel like every minute going to be my last lord i can't my future boys yeah and i can't tell my past feel like every minute now sure going to be my last Future Blues (alternative lyrics) Can't tell my future, And I can't tell my past. Can't tell my future, And I can't tell my past. Lord, it seems like every minute, Sure gonna be my last. The minutes seems like hours, And hours seems like days. The minutes seems like hours, And hours seems like days. And it seems like my woman, Outta stop her lowdown ways.

The woman I love now, She's five feet from the ground The woman I love now, She's five feet from the ground. I said, the woman I love now, Lordy, five feet from the ground. And she's tailor made, And ain't no hand me down. Lord, and I got a woman now, Lordy, she's lightnin when she, Lightnin when she, lightnin smile. I say, I got a woman, Lord, and she's lightnin when she smiles. Five feet and four inches, And she's damn good lookin size. Well, I know you see that picture, Now, Lordy, up on your mother's, Up on your mother's, mama's shelf. I know you see that picture now, Up on your mother's shelf. Well, you know bout that, I'm gettin tired of sleeping by myself. And it's T for Texas, Now, it's T for Tennessee. And it's T for Texas, Now, it's T for Tennessee. Lord, bless that woman, That put that thing on me.

Son House 1902-1988 Riverton, MS Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson Killed a man in self defense – 1927? Spends time at Parchman – 1928-1929 Also records for Paramount – 1930 Records for Alan Lomax (LOC) – 1942 Assistant in Charge of the Archive of Folk Song

Son House – Jinx Blues (1942) Well, I got up this mornin', jinx all around, jinx all around, 'round my bed And I say I got up this mornin', with the jinx all around my bed Know I thought about you, an' honey, it liked to kill me dead Oh, look-a here now, baby, what you want me, what you want me, me to do? Look-a here honey, I say, what do you want poor me to do? You know that I done all I could, just tryin' to get along with you You know, the blues ain't nothin' but a low-down shakin', low-down shakin', achin' chill I say the blues is a low-down, old, achin' chill Well, if you ain't had 'em, honey, I hope you never will Well, the blues, the blues is a worried heart, is a worried heart, heart disease Oh, the blues is a worried old heart disease Look like the woman you be lovin', man, is so doggone hard to please I'd rather be outdoors, walkin' up, walkin' up and down the road I say, I'd rather be outdoors, I say, just walkin' up and down the road Than to be layin' around here, workin' just for my board and clothes Hey, look-a here, little girl, don't you cry, don't you cry, cry no more I say, look-y here, darlin', honey, don't you try to cry no more Well, when I leave this time (spoken: I'm gonna) hang crepe on your door

Index of blues terms