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FFree Blues MP3!E Internet Blues RadioE Blues History Blues Language Lyrics by Artist Lyrics by Title Lyrics by Topic Top 100 Lyrics Sites Tabs & Chords Top 100 Tab Sites Lyrics&Tabs Wanted! Essential Blues CD's Essential Blues Books Message Board Chat Room Blues Musician Ad's Links Site Map The Awards Page About... alternate navigation menu ![[Charley Patton]](../photographs/charley_patton.jpg)   - statistics -
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by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from probably Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3 (1929-1934) (Document DOCD-5011), copyright notice Aw, the revenue man1 is ridin', boy, you'd better look out (spoken: High sheriff ain't purrty2) 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 saltwater3, 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 __________ Note 1: revenue man, probably: government officials commissioned to seek out and destroy illegal liquor distilleries during the times of the Prohibition. Also, possibly, the man who collects the rent, taxes (the taxman) or some other payments that are due. Note 2: purrty, according to the Webster dictionary, a low vibratory murmur typical of an apparently contented or pleased cat, in this case it's suppose to express that the sheriff wasn't in a friendly mood; Note 3: saltwater, an old synonym for alcohol "These scoundrels would get down on their knees and stomachs and crawl through the thickets to those big outfits; two and three at a time. Never under that. And they be's well armed, too; they carries high-powered rifles. Sometimes a rifle and two pistols apiece.... Whenever the revenue mens come 'round and approach you like that, it's always best to give up, to surrender. 'Cause if you don't start shootin' them, understand, they'll really kill you. And then some of them molly dodgers would drink that whiskey. Sure!. They wouldn't report it all; keep some of it for themselves.... Sometimes those guys would get some of those 'stilleries themselves... some of those scoundrels sell those things to a colored person." -- Skip James --
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from probably Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3 (1929-1934) (Document DOCD-5011), copyright notice Ah, the revenue man1 is runnin', boy, you'd better look out Ah, the revenue man is runnin', boy, you'd better look out (spoken: Boy, if he calls you, you don't stop, boy) If he hollers, you don't stop, you will likely be knocked out Oh, my doe loves her water, well, she always wants a drink (spoken: Got to have a drink) My doe loves her water, 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 the neck Oh, take me home to, Lord, that shiny star I said take me home to that shiny star (spoken: She don't need no tellin', daddy) She don't need no tellin', dad will take you in his car Oh, come on mama, let us, go to the edge of town 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 out on the ground Oh, I wake up every mornin', now, with a jinx all around my bed I wakes up every mornin', with a jinx all around my bed (spoken: You know I had a jinx here) I been a good book abider, but, I believe I've been misled __________ Note: see under version 1 what Skip James has to say about revenue men; Note 1: revenue man, probably, government officials commissioned to seek out and destroy illegal liquor distilleries during the times of the Prohibition. Also, possibly, the man who collects the rent, taxes (the taxman) or some other payments that are due.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below Jackson on a high hill, mama, Natchez just below (spoken ...1) I ever get back home, I won't be back no more Oh, my mama's gettin' old, her head is turnin' gray My mama's getting old, her head is turnin' gray Don't you know it'll break her heart, know, my livin' this-a way? Ever woke up in the mornin', jinx all around your bed? Ever woke up in the mornin', jinx all around your bed? (spoken: Children, I know how it is, baby) Turned my face to the wall and I didn't have a word to say No use a-hollerin', no use a-screamin' and cryin' No use a-hollerin', no use a-screamin' and cryin' For you know you got a home, mama, long as I got mine Hey, Lord have mercy on my wicked soul Oh, Lord have mercy on my wicked soul (spoken: You know I wouldn't mistreat you!) I wouldn't mistreat you, baby, for my weight in gold Oh, goin' away, baby, don't you wanna go? I'm goin' away, mama, don't you wanna go? (spoken: I know you wanna go, baby!) Take God to tell when I'll be back here anymore __________ Note 1: this unintelligible vocal part is probably a disclaimer, since it is Vicksburg that blues singers conventionally (and correctly) situate on the high hill.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall Throw it out the window, catch it 'fore it roll You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall ...it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall Everybody have a jelly roll like mine, I lives in town I, ain't got no brown, I, an' I want it now My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall You can snatch it, you can grab it, you can break it, you can twist it, any way that I love to get it I, had my right mind since I, I blowed this town My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall Jus' shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall .. it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls You can break it, you can hang it on the wall ...it out the window, catch it 'fore it... My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall I ain't got nobody here but me and myself I, stay blue all the time, aw, when the sun goes down My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall You can shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall ... it out the window, catch it 'fore it fall You can break it, you can hang it on the wall ...it out the window, catch... My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall You can snatch it, you can grab it, you can break it, you can twist it, any way that I love to get it I, had my right mind, I, be worried sometime 'Bout a jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall ... it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls You can break it, you can hang it on the wall ...it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall I know I been to town, I, I walked around I, start leavin' town, I, I fool around My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall Just shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall ... it out the window, catch it 'fore it falls You can break it, you can hang it on the wall ...it out the window, catch it 'fore it... My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it fall Jus' shake it, you can break it, you can hang it on the wall ... it out the window, catch it 'fore it... My jelly, my roll, sweet mama, don't let it... __________ Note: this song is an ode to... the jelly roll, a pastry but also, like in this case, a reference to the male genitals. The triple-dot parts are not missing lyrics, Patton just left them unspoken.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice
Oh babe, I'm a fool about my... (spoken: Don't take me long!) to get my... Hey baby, you know I need my... It's mens on Parchman1 (done lifetime) just 'bout a... Hey baby, (spoken: you know I ain't long) 'bout my... It's all I want (spoken: honey, in this creation) is a... I go to bed, get up and wanna fight 'bout a... (spoken: Look-y here, baby, would you slap me? Yes I will!) just 'bout a... Hey baby, (spoken: you know I'm a fool a-) 'bout my... Would you kill a man? (spoken: Yes I would, you know I'd kill him) just 'bout a... Most every man (spoken: that you see is) fool 'bout his... (spoken: You know baby, I need) that ol'... Hey baby, (spoken: I wanna hit the judge 'bout a) 'bout a... (spoken: Baby, you gonna quit me? Yeah honey!) just 'bout a... It's all I want, baby, this creation is a... (spoken: look-y here, baby, I'm leavin' town!) just 'bout a... Hey baby, (spoken: you know I need) that ol'... (spoken: Don't make me mad, baby!) 'cause I want my... Hey baby, I'm a fool 'bout that... (spoken: Look-y here, honey!) I need that... Most every man leaves without a... Sundays' mean (spoken: I know they are) 'bout a... Hey baby, (spoken: I'm sneakin' around here) and ain't got me no... Oh, that spoon', hey baby, you know I need my... __________ Note: the triple-dot parts are not missing lyrics, Patton left them unspoken, but then again it's not that hard to fill in the triple dots, is it?; Note 1: the state prison in Parchman, Mississippi, whose escapees often wandered into Patton's native Dockery, a Delta plantation town.. Parchman was a complex of 15 labor camps covering a large area in Mississippi, a closed society of black men who were offered as "contract" labor to farms, railroads and industries of many sorts, passed around to do labor for the financial benefit of both the contractor and the state who sold them.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice Well saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare Baby, saddle my pony, saddle up my black mare I'm gonna find a rider, baby, in the world somewhere "Hello central, the matter with your line?" "Hello central, matter, Lord, with your line?" "Come a storm last night an' tore the wire down" Got a brand new Shetland, man, already trained Brand new Shetland, baby, already trained Just get in the saddle, tighten up on your reins An' a brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat Brownskin woman like somethin' fit to eat But a jet black woman, don't put your hands on me Took my baby, to meet the mornin' train Took baby, meet that mornin' train And the blues come down, baby, like showers of rain I got somethin' to tell you when I gets a chance Somethin' to tell you when I gets a chance I don't wanna marry, just wanna be your man __________ Note: Patton recorded two versions of this song. The first was entitled "Pony Blues" while the second changed to "Stoney Pony Blues" This is one of Patton's most popular pieces. Most Delta musicians had a version of "Pony Blues" in their repertoire, Son House recorded a "Pony Blues" in his 1942 Library of Congress recordings. Tommy Johnson's "Bye Bye Blues" and Willie Brown's "M&O Blues" are both derivatives from the same source. As to which came first has never been clearly established.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice Laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee I laid down last night, hopin' I would have my peace, eee But when I woke up, Tom Rushen1 was shakin' me When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm When you get in trouble, it's no use to screamin' and cryin', hmm Tom Rushen will take you, back to the prison house flyin' It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm It were late one night, Halloway was gone to bed, hmm Mister Day2 brought whiskey taken from under Halloway's head An' it's boozy booze, now, Lord, to cure these blues It takes boozy boo', Lord, to cure these blues But each day seems like years in the jailhouse where there is no boo' I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around I got up this mornin', Tom Day was standin' around If he lose his office now, he's runnin' from town to town Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me Let me tell you folksies just how he treated me Aw, he caught me yellin', I was drunk as I could be __________ Note 1: Tom Rushen was the town sheriff of Merigold, Mississippi, around the time Patton recorded this song Note 2: Tom Day had been the predecessor in office. This couplet undoubtedly remarks on the procedure of taking seized liquor to the county courthouse in order to establish proof of an illegal still. Mississippi was a "dry" state well beyond WO II, I believe until the late sixties.
by Charley Patton recording of 1929-1934 from Charley Patton: Founder Of The Delta Blues (Yazoo L-1020), copyright notice When your way gets dark, baby, turn your lights up high (spoken: What's the matter with 'em?) Where can I see my man, Lord, if he come easin' by I take my daily... (spoken: Daily 'fore day prayer!) I take my daily... Trouble at home, baby (spoken: Tryin' to blow me down!) It wouldn't hurt so bad but the news all over this... I love my baby an' I (spoken: Tell the world I do) What made me love her, you will come an' love her, too Hey, someday, baby (spoken: You know, an' it won't be long) You'll call at me, baby, an', an' I'll be gone I'm goin' away, baby (spoken: Don't you wanna go?) I'm goin' away, baby, don't you wanna go? __________ Note: the triple dot parts are not missing lyrics, Patton just left them unspoken
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