Gravel Road Blues (version 1)

soundclip

by Mississippi Fred McDowell
recording of 19
from Good Morning Little School Girl (Arhoolie 424), copyright notice

I'm goin' down that gravel road, take that right hand road
I'm goin' down that gravel road, take that right hand road
Lord, I ain't gonna stop walkin' 'till I get in sweet mama's door

Well, that girl I'm lovin' got that great long, curly hair
Well, that girl I'm lovin' got that great long, curly hair
Lord, her mama and her papa sure don't 'low¹ me there

I got to study some scheme to get my baby to herself
I got to study some scheme, Lord, to get my baby to herself
Lord, I love that woman, I don't want nobody else

I looked down that road, baby, just as far as I could see
I looked down that road just as far as I could see
There was a bunch of women, Lord, they be followin' me

Well, the brook run into the ocean, the ocean run into that deep, blue sea
Lord, the brook run into the ocean, the river run into that deep, blue sea
You ought to seen the women, Lord, they be fishin' after me

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Note: this song is an imitation of Willie Newburn's "Roll And Tumble Blues", Robert Johnson's "Traveling Riverside" and Furry Lewis' "Goin' To Brownsville". All versions are derived from Newburn's recording;
Note 1: 'low, allow