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Table Of Content (9 songs, 1 soundclip)

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Early In The Morning 'Fore Day Blues Hard Lovin' Blues I Know What You're Puttin' Down Ration Blues Reconversion Blues Roamin' Blues (My Feet Are Killing Me, Marching In) The Infantry You Run Your Mouth And I'll Run My Business

Early In The Morning

soundclip

by Dallas Bartley / Hickman / Louis Jordan
recording of 19
from The Best of Louis Jordan [MCA] (MCA MCAD-4079) & Jivin' with Jordan (Charly 7), copyright notice

Early in the morning, and I can't get it right
Had a little fight with my baby last night
Early in the morning, early in the morning,
early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues

I went to the places where we used to go
I went to her house and she don't live there no more
Early in the morning, early in the morning,
early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues

I went to her girlfriend's house but she was not about
I went to her father's house and he began to shout
Early in the morning, early in the morning,
early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues

I went to the diner to get me something to eat
The waiter looked at me and said, "Buddy, you sure look beat!"
Early in the morning, early in the morning,
early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues

I had a lot of money when I started out
I lost my baby and the money ran out
Early in the morning, early in the morning,
early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues

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'Fore Day Blues

by Louis Jordan / J. Mayo Williams / Bradford
recording of November 1939
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1934-1940 (The Chronological Classics 636), copyright notice

'Fore day in the mornin', babe, you ain't got home yet
Hmm, it's 'fore day in the mornin', babe, you ain't got home yet
I cried and cried, 'til my pillow's soaking wet!

Babe, I can't get started, since you threw me down
Hmmm, I can't get started, since you threw me down
I thought you were the square, babe, and you played me for a clown

I loved you, baby, but you don't mean me no good
Hmmm, I loved you, baby, but you don't mean me no good
You give me so much trouble, I believe I move from your neighborhood!

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Hard Lovin' Blues

by
recording of 1940
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1934-1940 (The Chronological Classics 636), copyright notice

Good mornin', blues, blues, how do you do?
Eh, good mornin', blues, blues, how do you do?
I would like to have, just a few words with you

Yeah, I woke up this mornin', with an awful achin' head
Yes, early this mornin', with an awful achin' head
Now my man has left me, a room with an empty bed

Ain't it hard, lovin' another woman's man
Yes, it's so hard, lovin' another woman's man
You can't get him when you want him; you've got to catch him when you can,

It takes a good, smart woman these days, takes a good, smart woman these days
Yes, to hold her man, when these gals has got so many different ways
I'm gonna watch my man, don't care what these other gals say

Lord, lord, lord, lord, lord, oh, lord, hmmm, lord, lord!
Say, these men in Harlem, treat poor me like I was a dog

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I Know What You're Puttin' Down

by Louis Jordan / Bud Allen
recording of 1946
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1946-1947 (The Chronological Classics 1010), copyright notice

There's a whole lot of talk around town, about the way you carryin' yourself
There's a whole lot of talk around town, about the way you carryin' yourself
You're jivin' everybody in town, but baby, I know what you're puttin' down

Everybody's tryin' to dig you baby, everybody but me
Everybody's tryin' to dig you, everybody but me
You're foolin' everybody in town, but baby, I know what you're puttin' down

You went out last night, to a dinner, a show and a dance
Oh, you went out last night, to a dinner, a show and a dance
You must have been a perfect clown, but baby, I know what you're puttin' down

You got a ramblin' mind, just don't wanna stay at home
Yes baby you got a ramblin' mind, you just don't wanna stay at home
You tell me you're visitin' all your relatives in town, but baby, I know what you're puttin' down

You came home last night with a new hat, new dress, and a new pair o' shoes
Yes you came home at eight o'clock last night with a new hat, a new dress, and a new pair o'shoes
You ain't working nowhere in town, so baby, I know what you're puttin' down

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Ration Blues

by Pete Clark / Casey / Louis Jordan
recording of 19
from Songs That Got Us Through WW II, Vol. II (Rhino 71718), copyright notice

Baby baby baby, what's wrong with Uncle Sam?
He's cut down on my sugar, now he's messin' with my ham
I got the ration blues, blue as I can be
Oh me, I've got those ration blues

I got to live on forty ounces, of any kind of meat
Those forty little ounces gotta last me all the week
I got to cut down on my jelly, it takes sugar to make it sweet
I'm gonna steal all your jelly baby and rob you of your meat
I got the ration blues, blue as I can be
Oh me, I've got those ration blues

I like to wake up in the morning with my jelly by my side
Since rationing started baby, you just take your stuff and hide
They reduced my meat and sugar and rubber's disappearing fast
You can't ride no more with poppa, 'cause Uncle Sam wants my gas
I got the ration blues, blue as I can be
Oh me, I've got those ration blues

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Reconversion Blues

by Steve Graham / Fleecie Moore
recording of October 1945
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1939-1944 (The Chronological Classics 921), copyright notice

I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
Can't wait to buy a new automobile and a pair of two-tone shoes

I can walk right past my draft board and I won't get no dirty looks
I can go down to the grocer, without takin' my ration books
I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
I can drive in a gas station and get most anything I choose

I forgot the taste of bacon, butter and whipped cream cake
At night I wake up screamin', "Bring me a nice fat juicy steak!"
I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
I'm gonna buy my baby nylons, all the nylons she can use

No more fish on Tuesdays, I get plenty meat in my stews
There's plenty of cigarettes and chewing gum and nuts and bolts and screws
I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
If someone say "for the duration", brother, I'm gonna blow my fuse

I'm gonna reconvert my baby with a house and a diamond ring
We're gonna lock our door this winter and we won't come out till spring
I got those re-hee-hee, reconversion blues
I'm gonna buy a brand new radio, that don't know how to get the latest news

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Roamin' Blues

by Ben Lorre / Jeff Dane / Louis Jordan
recording of 1947
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1946-1947 (The Chronological Classics 1010), copyright notice

Left Chicago in the summer, New York in the fall,
Detroit in the winter didn't prove a thing at all
I got those roamin' blues yes I got those roamin' blues
Can't find no place to settle, woo I got those roamin' blues

Joined a club in old Saint Louis, that G.I. free loot club
Stood in line so long man, wore my legs down to a nub
I hit the road again, yes I hit the road again
Can't find no place to settle, so I hit the road again

I thought I'd made it Jack in good old Albuquerq'
I was on the wrong track, you know they tried to make me work - ain't that a killer?
I hit the road right quick, yes that judge was much too slick
Can't find no place to settle, woo I hit the road right quick

Then Las Vegas was the next stop, that fast town left me weak
The dice man made twelve passes and I was up the well-known creek
Those gamblers put me down, yes I had to walk right out of town
Mm-mm, that ain't no place to settle hmm, I had to walk right out of town

Ah but I hit the greatest town of all, Frantic Frisco
Got me a gal with plenty gold and she just won't let me go
I think I've found a place, yes I got my boots all laced
Found me a home, don't have to roam, it's good news, I've lost those roamin' blues

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(My Feet Are Killing Me, Marching In) The Infantry

by
recording of 1944
from Five Guys Named Moe: The Best of Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, copyright notice

(Carmen)
This is Carmen Cavellero. Now Louis and the boys dish up something which probably won't take up as much time as the title which is - and boy this is really a title - quote:
"My feet are killing me marching in the Infantry Blues" unquote...

(Louis:)
I got those "gee my feet are killin' me, since I'm in the infantry" blues
I got those "gee my feet are killin' me, since I'm in the infantry" blues
I walked so doggone much, I can't get my poor feet out of my shoes

I got those "roll two blankets in my pack, don't know when I'm comin' back" blues
I got those "roll two blankets in my pack, don't know when I'm comin' back" blues
The blankets ain't so tough, but what gets me is that extra pair shoes

I gotta hike ev'ry mornin', hike ev'ry night
Come back on the weekend, go out and see the sights
Yes, yes, but I can't help it I guess
I gotta take it like a soldier, 'cause I got those infantry blues

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You Run Your Mouth And I'll Run My Business

by Louis Armstrong
recording of 1940
from Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, 1934-1940 (The Chronological Classics 636), copyright notice

You catch me beatin' up your chops?
I ought to turn you over to the cops,
but dig this spiel I'm going to lay on you, gate
Don't cop your broom, park the body and wait

You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother
You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother
You tell everybody I'm busted, you talk so much you got me disgusted
But you run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother

You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother
You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother
You start in tellin' me you're my pal, and end up tellin' me how to handle my gal
You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother

You run your juicy mouth and I'll run my business, brother
Just run your juicy mouth and I'll run my business, brother
You always tellin' me what to do, sayin', "I wouldn't do that if I was you!"
You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother

Just clap your liver lips and I'll run my business, brother
Clap your liver lips and I'll run my business, brother
If I'd followed your advice on how to make dough, I'd been in the jailhouse long ago
You run your mouth and I'll run my business, brother

(Spoken: Do you dig me, Jack?)

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Created by:
Bluesman Harry
Page last updated on:
June 8 2000