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Given Robert Johnson's pronunciation and the quality of the recordings, it's often hard to tell what exactly he's singing. I've consulted several sources on Robert Johnson's' songs, on the internet as well as in printed and published form such as songbooks and I had to come to the conclusion that the dead right and certain transcription of a song probably doesn't exist or there is no way to be sure which one it is. So if you're looking for certified exact transcriptions, wander on blues boy or gal because you won't find them here. What you will find however, is transcriptions that I think are (most likely to be) correct and in many occasions alternative word(s) or phrases for a specific part of the song. Finally, for some songs you'll find bits and pieces of interesting background information, enjoy !.

Table Of Content (41 songs, 41 soundclips)

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32-20 Blues Come On In My Kitchen (1) Come On In My Kitchen (2) Cross Road Blues (1) Cross Road Blues (2) Dead Shrimp Blues Drunken Hearted Man (1) Drunken Hearted Man (2) From Four Till Late Hell Hound On My Trail Honeymoon Blues I'm A Steady Rollin' Man I Believe I'll Dust My Broom If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day	Kind Hearted Woman Blues (1) Kind Hearted Woman Blues (2) Last Fair Deal Gone Down Little Queen Of Spades (1) Little Queen Of Spades (2) Love In Vain (1) Love In Vain (2) Malted Milk Me And The Devil Blues (1) Me And The Devil Blues (2) Milk cow's Calf Blues (1) Milk cow's Calf Blues (2) Phonograph Blues (1) Phonograph Blues (2)	Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped The Devil) Rambling On My Mind (1) Rambling On My Mind (2) Stones In My Passway Stop Breakin' Down Blues (1) Stop Breakin' Down Blues (2) Sweet Home Chicago Terraplane Blues They're Red Hot Traveling Riverside Blues Walkin' Blues When You Got A Good Friend(1) When You Got A Good Friend(2)

32-20 Blues tab version 1 tab version 2 GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 2nd of 5 sessions, November 26 1936, San Antonio, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice
'F I send for my baby, and she don't come 'F I send for my baby, man, and she don't come All the doctors in Hot Springs1 sure can't help her none And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do And if she gets unruly and thinks she don't wan' do Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light I got a 32-20, got to make the caps2 alright If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun3 I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gotta shoot my gatling gun You made me love you, now your man have come Ahoh, baby, where you stayed last night Ahah, baby, where you stayed last night You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right Her .38 special, boys, it do very well Her .38 special, boys, it do very well I got a 32-20 now, and it's a burning If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come All the doctors in Wisconsin4 sure can't help her none Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast

__________
General side-note:
An anonymous visitor wrote: "An interesting side-note to all of this is that while your site includes pictures of Johnson playing a wood-bodied acoustic guitar, his recordings seem to have been done with a brass bodied National resophonic guitar. Most people who carried handguns in those days preferred short-barreled .32S&W caliber revolvers (not to be confused with a 32-20) The body of a style “O” National was said to have been adequate to stop a bullet from one, thus increasing the instruments popularity among night-club performers." Thanks to the person submitting this suggestion.;

Note 1: Hot Springs, factually a place in Arkansas although an anonymous visitor wrote: "My guess about the term “Hot Springs”, given Johnson’s Faustian leanings, is that Hot Springs was a reference to Hell." Thanks to the person submitting this suggestion.;

Note 2: alternatively "camps" or "cats" instead of "caps". Though I'm convinced the correct word is caps (percussion caps, a paper or metal container holding an explosive charge, as for a pistol), I haven't been able to verify the absolute exact meaning of the phrase "got the make the caps". I think it means to make the right size persuccion caps for the caliber of the gun used.

An anonymous visitor wrote: "Make the caps” would be the correct term. In Johnson’s time, guns used modern ammunition, which did not require a separate percussion cap. The primer for a modern cartridge is integrated into the shell casing at the time the shell is assembled, whether at the factory, or at an individual’s re-loading bench. However, the primers used in modern ammunition are still often referred to as “caps”.
With modern ammunition (since the 1870’s), cartridge brass can be re-used many times, lead bullets can be cast from tire weights, and powder is so inexpensive the cost is not worth mentioning. However, primers, or caps, require a trip to the store. So to “bust a cap on” or “make a cap on” or simply “cap” someone meant that the shooter was mad enough at the intended victim to actually expend some capital. These terms have come back into popularity among urban gangs in recent years." Thanks to the person submitting this suggestion.

I you have any other suggestions, please mail me;

Note 3: alternatively but not very likely "girl and gone" instead of "gatling gun".
A gatling gun is a machinegun or cannon with multiple, usually between 3 and 7, revolving barrels each fired once per revolution. By using multiple barrels the rate of fire could be raised (up to 4,300 and more rounds per minute) and/or the barrels would not be worn out as fast as with a single barreled weapon. Invented by the American Richard Gatling in 1867.

An anonymous visitor wrote: "Gatling” or “Gat” was a common slang term for a revolver in the 1920’s." Thanks to the person submitting this suggestion.;

Note 4: "32-20 Blues" is Robert Johnson's version of the Skip James song "22-20 blues", recorded in 1931, in Crafton, Wisconsin. Robert changed the reference to Wisconsin throughout the song to Hot Springs, Arkansas, except in the third from last verse when he forgets to do so and uses Skip's original text instead.

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Come On In My Kitchen (Take 1) tab v 1 tab v 2 GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 1st of 5 sessions, November 23 1936, San Antonio, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors Ah, the woman I love, took from my best friend, some joker got lucky, stole her back again You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
Ohah, she's gone, I know she won't come back I've taken the last nickel out of her nation sack You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors (spoken: oh, can't you hear that wind howl?) Oh y', can't you hear that wind would howl? You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors When a woman gets in trouble, everybody throws her down
Lookin' for her good friend, none can be found You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors Winter time's comin', it's gon' be slow You can't make the winter, babe, that's dry long so You better come on in my kitchen, 'cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

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Come On In My Kitchen (Take 2) tab v 1 tab v 2 GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 1st of 5 sessions, November 23 1936, San Antonio, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors When a woman gets in trouble, everybody throws her down Lookin' for yo' good friend, none can be found You better come on in my kitchen, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors Nnn, the woman I love, took from my best friend Some joker got lucky, stole her back again She better come on in my kitchen, baby, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors (spoken: Mama, can't you hear that wind howl? Oh how the wind do howl!) You better come on in my kitchen, baby, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors Nnn, the woman that I love, I crave to see She's up the country, won't write to me Then, you better come on in my kitchen, goin' to be rainin' outdoors I went to the mountain, far as my eyes could see Some other man got my woman, lonesome blues got me But she better come on in my kitchen, 'cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors My mamma dead, papa well's1 to be, ain't got nobody to love and care for me She better come on in my kitchen, 'cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors __________ Note 1: a dialectic contraction of "had just as well", still in comon usage

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Cross Road Blues (Take 1)

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 3rd of 5 sessions, November 27 1936, San Antonio, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now save poor Bob, if you please"

Yeoo, standin' at the crossroad, tried to flag a ride
Ooo eeee, I tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody seem to know me, babe, everybody pass me by

Standin' at the crossroad, baby, risin' sun goin' down
Standin' at the crossroad, baby, eee, eee, risin' sun goin' down
I believe to my soul, now, poor Bob is sinkin' down

You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown¹
You can run, you can run, tell my friend Willie Brown¹
That I got the crossroad blues this mornin', Lord, babe, I'm sinkin' down

And I went to the crossroad, mama, I looked east and west
I went to the crossroad, baby, I looked east and west
Lord, I didn't have no sweet woman, ooh well, babe, in my distress

__________
Note 1: this could either be the close friend of Son House named Willie Brown with whom he played together when Robert Johnson first began to play, or the younger Willie Brown who did some recordings for the Library of Congress or yet another completely unknown Willie Brown, who knows(?);
Note: did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the devil at the crossroads?. Read about it at The Mudcat Café.

In the Delta of the Mississippi River, where Robert Johnson was born, they said that if an aspiring bluesman waited by the side of a deserted country crossroads in the dark of a moonless night, then Satan himself might come and tune his guitar, sealing a pact for the bluesman's soul and guaranteeing a lifetime of easy money, women, and fame. They said that Robert Johnson must have waited by the crossroads and gotten his guitar fine-tuned.

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Cross Road Blues (Take 2)

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 3rd of 5 sessions, November 27 1936, San Antonio, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, save poor Bob, if you please"

Mmmmm, standin' at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride
Standin' at the crossroad, I tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by

Mmmm, the sun goin' down, boy, dark gon' catch me here
Oooo, oooeeee, boy, dark gon' catch me here
I haven't got no lovin' sweet woman that love and feel my care

You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy¹ Willie Brown²
You can run, tell my friend-boy¹ Willie Brown²
Lord, that I'm standin' at the crossroad, babe, I believe I'm sinkin' down

__________
Note 1: friend-boy is a dialectic synonym for "boyfriend" when used between men;
Note 2: this could either be the close friend of Son House named Willie Brown with whom he played together when Robert Johnson first began to play, or the younger Willie Brown who did some recordings for the Library of Congress or yet another completely unknown Willie Brown, who knows(?);
Note: did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the devil at the crossroads?. Read about it at The Mudcat Café.

In the Delta of the Mississippi River, where Robert Johnson was born, they said that if an aspiring bluesman waited by the side of a deserted country crossroads in the dark of a moonless night, then Satan himself might come and tune his guitar, sealing a pact for the bluesman's soul and guaranteeing a lifetime of easy money, women, and fame. They said that Robert Johnson must have waited by the crossroads and gotten his guitar fine-tuned.

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Dead Shrimp Blues tab GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 3rd of 5 sessions, November 27 1936, San Antonio, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I woke up this mornin' and all my shrimps was dead and gone I woke up this mornin', ooh, and all my shrimp was dead and gone I was thinkin' about you, baby, why you hear me weep and moan I got dead shrimps here, someone is fishin' in my pond I got dead shrimps here, ooh, someone fishin' in my pond I've served my best bait, baby, and I can't do that no harm1 Everything I do, babe, you got your mouth stuck out Hole where I used to fish, you got me posted out Everything I do, you got your mouth stuck out, at the hole where I used to fish, baby, you've got me posted out I got dead shrimps here, 'n' someone fishin' in my pond I got dead shrimps here, someone fishin' in my pond Catchin' my goggle-eye perches, and they barbequin' the bone Now you taken my shrimps, baby, you know you turned me down I couldn't do nothin', until I got myself unwound You taken my shrimps, oohh, know you turned me down Babe, I couldn't do nothin', until I got myself unwound __________ Note 1: alternatively "more" instead of "harm"

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Drunken Hearted Man (Take 1)

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 5th of 5 sessions, June 20 1937, Dallas, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I'm a drunken hearted man, my life seems so misery
I'm a drunken hearted man, my life seems so misery
And if I could change my way of livin', it would mean so much to me

I been dogged and I been driven, ever since I left my mother's home
I been dogged and I been driven, ever since I left my mother's home
And I can't see the reason why that, I can't leave these no-good women's alone

My father died and left me, my poor mother done the best that she could
My father died and left me, my poor mother done the best that she could
Every man likes that game you call love, but it don't mean no man no good

Now, I'm the drunken hearted man and sin was the cause of it all
(spoken: Oh, play 'em now)
I'm a drunken hearted man, and sin was the cause of it all
And the day that you get weak for no-good women, that's the day that you bound to fall

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Drunken Hearted Man (Take 2)

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 5th of 5 sessions, June 20 1937, Dallas, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I'm a drunken hearted man, my life seems so misery
I'm a poor drunken hearted man, my life seems so misery
And if I could only change my way of livin', it would mean so much to me

I been dogged and I been driven, ever since I left my mother's home
I been dogged and I been driven, ever since I left my mother's home
And I can't see the reason why, that I can't leave these no-good women's alone

My poor father died and left me, and my mother done the best that she could
My poor father died and left me, and my mother done the best that she could
Every man love that game you call love, but it don't mean no man no good

I'm the poor drunken hearted man, and sin was the cause of it all
I'm a poor drunken hearted man, and sin was the cause of it all
But the day you get weak for no-good women, that's the day that you surely fall

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From Four Till Late

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 4th of 5 sessions, June 19 1937, Dallas, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

From four 'till late, I was wringin' my hands and cryin'
From four 'till late, I was wringin' my hands and cryin'
I believe to my soul, that your daddy's Gulfport bound

From Memphis to Norfolk, is a thirty-six hours ride
From Memphis to Norfolk, is a thirty-six hours ride
A man is like a prisoner and he's never satisfied

A woman is like a dresser, some man always ramblin' through its drawers
A woman is like a dresser, some man always ramblin' through its drawers
It cause so many men, wear an apron overall

From four 'till late, she get¹ with a no-good bunch and clown
From four 'till late, she get¹ with a no-good bunch and clown
Now, she won't do nothin', but tear a good man' reputation down

When I leave this town, I'm gon' bid you fare, farewell
And when I leave this town, I'm gon' bid you fare, farewell
And when I return again, you'll have a great long story to tell

__________
Note 1: alternatively "give up" instead of "she get"

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Hell Hound On My Trail tab GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 5th of 5 sessions, June 20 1937, Dallas, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice
I got to keep movin', I've got to keep movin' Blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail Umm mmm mmm mmm Blues fallin' down like hail, blues fallin' down like hail And the days keeps on worryin' me, there's a hellhound1 on my trail, hellhound on my trail, hellhound on my trail If today was Christmas eve If today was Christmas eve, and tomorrow was Christmas day If today was Christmas eve, and tomorrow was Christmas day (spoken: Aow, wouldn't we have a time, baby?) All I would need my little sweet rider just, to pass the time away, huh huh, to pass the time away You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm mmm, around my door, all around my door You sprinkled hot foot powder, mmm, all around your daddy's door, hmm hmm hmm It keep me with ramblin' mind, rider Every old place I go, every old place I go I can tell, the wind is risin', the leaves tremblin' on the tree, tremblin' on the tree I can tell, the wind is risin', leaves tremblin' on the tree hmm hmm mmm mmm All I need's my little sweet woman, and to keep my company, hmmm hmm, hey hey My company
_________ Note 1: According to the Webster online dictionary a hellhound is a "dog of hell, named Cerberus in Greek and Roman mythology, the three-headed dog guarding the gate of Hades". It will probably stay a secret for all times what Robert exactly meant by the hellhound, but the image of the hounds of hell, coming to seize sinners, was often used in southern churches.

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Honeymoon Blues

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 5th of 5 sessions, June 20 1937, Dallas, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

Betty Mae, Betty Mae, you shall be my wife someday
Betty Mae, Betty Mae, you shall be my wife someday
I wants a little sweet girl, that will do anything, that I say

Betty Mae, you is my heartstring, you is my destiny
Betty Mae, you is my heartstring, you is my destiny
And you rolls across my mind, baby, each and every day

Li'l girl, li'l girl, my life seem so misery
Hmm hmm, little girl, my life seem so misery
Baby, I guess it must be love, now, hoo mm, Lord that's takin' effect on me

Some day I will return, with the¹ marriage license in my hand
Some day I will return, hoohoo, with a marriage license in my hand
I'm gon' take you for a honeymoon, in some long, long distant land

__________
Note 1: alternatively "my" instead of "the"

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I'm A Steady Rollin' Man tab GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 4th of 5 sessions, June 19 1937, Dallas, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I'm a steady rollin' man, I roll both night and day I'm a steady rollin' man, hmm hmm, I roll both night and day But I haven't got no sweet woman, hmm mmm , boys, to be rollin' this-a way I'm the man that rolls, when icicles is1 hangin' on the tree I'm the man that rolls, when icicles is1 hangin' on the tree And now you hear me howlin', baby, hmm hmm mmm, down on my bended knee I'm a hard workin' man, have been for many years, I know I'm a hard workin' man, have been for many long years, I know And some cream puff's usin' my money, ooh well, babe, but that'll never be no more You can't give your sweet woman, everything she wants in one time ooh hoo ooo, you can't give your sweet woman, everything she wants in one time Well, boys, she get ramblin' in her brain, hmm mmm mmm, some monkey man on her mind I'm a steady rollin' man, I roll both night and day I'm a steady rollin' man, and I roll both night and day Well I don't have no sweet woman, hmm mmm, boys, to be rollin' this-a way _________ Note 1: alternatively "icicles hangin' " instead of "icicles is hangin' "

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I Believe I'll Dust My Broom

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by Robert Johnson
recording of 1st of 5 sessions, November 23 1936, San Antonio, Texas
from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice

I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm goin' get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room

I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
I'm gon' write a letter, telephone every town I know
If I can't find her in West Helena, she must be in East Monroe I know

I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
I don't want no woman, wants every downtown man she meet
She's a no good doney, they shouldn't allow her on the street

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
You can mistreat me here, babe, but you can't when I go home

And I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
I'm gettin' up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Girlfriend, the black man you been lovin', girlfriend, can get my room

I'm gonna call up Chiney, see is my good girl over there
I'm gonna call up China, see is my good girl over there
'F I can't find her on Philippine's island, she must be in Ethiopia somewhere

__________
Note 1: both West Helena and East Monroe are in Arkansas, some 30 miles apart.

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If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day tab GuitarPro soundclip by Robert Johnson recording of 3rd of 5 sessions, November 27 1936, San Antonio, Texas from The Complete Recordings (CBS 467246 2 & Columbia/Legacy C2K-46222 & Columbia 4622 & Sony 64916), copyright notice
If I had possession, over judgment day If I had possession, over judgment day Lord, the little woman I'm lovin' wouldn't, have no right to pray And I went to the mountain, lookin' as far as my eyes could see And I went to the mountain, lookin' as far as my eyes would see Some other man got my woman, and these lonesome blues got me And I rolled and I tumbled and I, cried the whole night long And I rolled and I tumbled and I, cried the whole night long Boy, I woke up this mornin', my biscuit roller gone Had to fold my arms and I, slowly walked away (spoken: I didn't like the way she done) Had to fold my arms and I, slowly walked away I said in my mind, "Yo' trouble gon' come some day1" Now run here, baby, set down on my knee Now run here, baby, set down on my knee I wanna tell you all about the way they treated me
__________ Note: this is another version of the Mississippi piece often known, though mostly with very differing lyrics, as Rollin' And Tumblin' (Rollin' And Tumblin', by McKinley Morganfield a.k.a. Muddy Waters & Rolling And Tumbling, by Elmore James), in many versions it's also known as Brownville Blues; Note 1: alternatively "I felt in my mind, your trouble gon' come some day" instead of "I said in my mind, "Yo, trouble gon' come some day" ".

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Created by:
Bluesman Harry
Page last updated on:
December 29 2000