Bukka White

Aberdeen Mississippi Blues - Bukka White

Aberdeen Mississippi Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2990-A OK-05743

I was over in Aberdeen on my way to New Orleans
I was over in Aberdeen on my way to New Orleans
Them Aberdeen women told me they will buy my gasoline

There's two little women that I ain't never seen
There's two little women that I ain't never seen
These two little women they's from New Orleans

I'm sitting down in Aberdeen with New Orleans on my mind
I'm sitting down in Aberdeen with New Orleans on my mind
Lord I believe them Aberdeen women going to make me lose my mind

Aberdeen is my home but the mens don't want me around
Aberdeen is my home but the mens don't want me around
They know I will take these women and take them out of town

Listen you Aberdeen women, you know I ain't got no dime
Oh, oh, listen you women, you know I ain't got no dime
They been had the poor boy all hobbled down

Black Train Blues - Bukka White

Black Train Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1940

Vocalion Records WC-2977-A Vo-05588

My heart is filled with pain, I believe I can't be trained
My heart is filled with pain, I believe I can't be trained
The woman I love she had another man

Yon come the train and I got no change
Yon come the train and I got no change
All I can do just stand and wring my hand

I don't feel ashamed standing and wringing my hands at the train
I don't feel ashamed standing and wringing my hands at the train
I ain't the first man the train left cold in hand

Now the same big black train that put me in a strain
Now the same big black train that put me in a strain
I'll ride the train, keep the women from spending my change

I don't see nothing but hands standing at the train
I don't see nothing but hands standing at the train
That's the same black train that left me in this pain

District Attorney Blues - Bukka White

District Attorney Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2988-A OK-05683

District attorney sure is hard on a man
They will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand
District attorney sure is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The district attorney sure is hard on a man
He has caused a-many men to be in some distant land
District attorney sure is hard on a man
He has caused so many women to be cold in hand

The district attorney sure is hard on a man
Ain't no woman but he sure will take a woman's man
District attorney sure is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The district attorney sure is hard on a man
He can *tell us where* when he going to take a woman's man
[Another possible transcription: «He can tell just where when he gonna take a woman's man»]
District attorney sure is hard on a man
Well he take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

The district attorney sure is hard on a man
He taken me from my woman, caused her to have some other man
District attorney sure is hard on a man
He will take a woman's man and leave her cold in hand

Fixin' To Die Blues - Bukka White

Fixin' To Die Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 1940

Vocalion Records WC-2989-A Vo-05588

I'm looking funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixing to die, believe I'm fixing to die
I'm looking funny in my eyes and I believe I'm fixing to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children crying

Just as sure as we live sure we's born to die, sure we's born to die
Just as sure as we live sure we's born to die
I know I was born to die but I hate to leave my children crying

Your mother treated me, child, like I was her baby child, was her baby child
Your mother treated me like I was her baby child
That's why's I tried so hard to come back home to die

So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry, how my children's mother would cry
So many nights at the fireside, how my children's mother would cry
'Cause I told their mother I had to say goodbye

Look over yonder on the burying ground, on the burying ground
Look over yonder on the burying ground,
Yon stand ten thousand standing to see them let me down

Mother take my children back before they let me down, before they let me down
Mother take my children back 'fore they let me down
And don't leave them screaming and crying on the graveyard ground

Good Gin Blues - Bukka White

Good Gin Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2982-A OK-05625

Spoken: Here come old Todd Walker, full-a his good gin

Good morning friends, I wants me a drink of gin
Good morning friends, I wants me a drink of gin
'Cause they told me this morning revenue men'll be back again

Oh, listen, you men, don't you let them in
Listen, you men, don't you let them in
Well, they might catch me all with a pint of gin

Oh, come in, friends, and have a drink of gin
Come in, friends, and have a drink of gin
I know it is a sin but I loves my good old gin

Oh, come back, friends, when I need my gin
Come back, friends, when I need my gin
Because I don't care nothing about on them revenue men

High Fever Blues - Bukka White

High Fever Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 1940

Vocalion Records WC-2987-A OK-05489

I'm taken down with the fever and it won't let me sleep
I'm taken down with the fever and it won't let me sleep
It was about three o'clock before he could let me be

I wish somebody would come and drive my fever away
I wish somebody would come and drive my fever away
This fever I'm having sure is in my way

The fever I'm having sure is hard on a man
The fever I'm having sure is hard on a man
They don't allow my lover come and shake my hand

I wonder what's the matter with the fever, shure is hard on a man
I wanna know what's the matter, how come this fever hard on a man
Doctor said «Ain't the fever, that's your lover has another man»

Doctor get your fever gauge and put it under my tongue
Doctor get your fever gauge and put it under my tongue
Doctor says all you need your lover in your harms

I wants my lover come and drive my fever away
I wants my lover come and drive my fever away
Doctor said she do me more good in a day than he would in all of his days

Parchman Farm Blues - Bukka White

Parchman Farm Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2981-A OK-05683

Judge, give me life this morning down on Parchman farm
Judge, give me life this morning down on Parchman farm
I wouldn't hate it so bad but I left my wife and my home

Oh, goodbye wife, all you have done gone
Oh, goodbye wife, all you have done gone
But I hope some day you will hear my lonesome song

Oh, listen, you men, I don't mean no harm
Oh, listen, you men, I don't mean no harm
If you want to do good you better stay off of Parchman Farm

We goes to work in the morning, just the dawn of day
We goes to work in the morning, just the dawn of day
Just at the setting of the sun that's when the work is done

I'm down on old Parchman Farm, I sure want to go back home
I'm down on old Parchman Farm but I sure want to go back home
But I hope some day I will overcome

Pine Bluff Arkansas - Bukka White

Pine Bluff Arkansas

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, September 2, 1937

Vocalion Records C-1996-2 Vo-03711

Ooo, well, I got a little woman in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
She was the sweetest little woman that you men most ever saw

Going to get up in the morning, baby, with the rising sun
Ooo, well, in the morning, baby, with the rising sun
If the train don't run, going to be some walking done

My baby she called me, she called me up on the phone
Ooo, well, she called me, she called me up on the phone
She said: «Daddy, daddy, I don't see how come you don't hurry home»

My baby says: «I'm tired going to bed and moan»
Ooo, well, she says: «Tired going to bed and moan»
She said: «I ain't no loving daddy, daddy, since that you been gone»

Aw, she said: «I'm tired, daddy, of singing these lonesome songs»
Ooo, well, she said: «I'm tired of singing these lonesome songs»
She *tired heaven* her: «Daddy, I ain't even had you home»

My baby said: «I'm tired, daddy, hearing my best friend groan»
Ooo, well, she says: «I'm tired hearing my best friend groan»
She said: «I declare if you want me, daddy, you better hurry home»

Shake 'Em On Down - Bukka White

Shake 'Em On Down

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, September 2, 1937

Vocalion Records C-1997-1 Vo-03711

Get your nightshirt mama and your gown
Baby, before day we going to shake 'em on down

Eeeh, I done stop hollerin', oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

*To much you daddy* to be going away
Train leaving *Jackson* some old rainy day
[Another possible transcription: «Too much of jelly to be throwed away / Save this jelly for some old rainy day»]

Eeeh, I done stop hollerin', oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

Fix my supper and let me go to bed
This white lightning done gone to my head

Eeeh, Must I holler, oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

I ain't been in Georgia, babe, I been told
Georgia women got the best jellyroll

Eeeh, I done stop hollerin', oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

See, see, mama, what you done done
Made me love you, now your man done come

Eeeh, I done stop hollerin', oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

Baby got something don't know what it is
Made me drunker than that old whiskey still

Eeeh, I done stop hollerin', oh, must I shake 'em on down
I done stopped hollerin', mama, must I shake 'em on down

Sleepy Man Blues - Bukka White

Sleepy Man Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2980-A OK-05743

When a man gets troubled in mind he want to sleep all the time
When a man gets troubled in mind he want to sleep all the time
He knows if he can sleep all the time his trouble won't worry his mind, won't worry his mind

I'm feeling worried in mind and I'm trying to keep from crying
I'm feeling worried in mind and I'm trying to keep from crying
I am standing into the sunshine to keep from weaking down, keep from weaking down

I want somewhere to go but I hate to go to town
I want somewhere to go to satisfy my mind
I would go to town but I hate to stand around, hate to stand around

I wonder what's the matter with my right mind, my mind keep me sleeping all the time
I wonder what's the matter with my right mind, my mind keep me sleeping all the time
But when I had plenty money my friend would come around

If I had my right mind I would write my women a few lines
If I had my right mind I would write my women a few lines
I will do most anything to keep from weaking down, keep from weaking down

Special Stream Line - Bukka White

Special Stream Line

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 1940

Okeh Records WC-2992-A OK-05743

Spoken: That's that fast Special Streamline leavin' outta Memphis, Tennessee, goin' into New Orleans. She runnin' so fast the hobos don't fool with this train. They stand on the track with their hat in their hands. I had a friend girl that mornin' was catchin' that train. She got up singin' this song:

«Hey Dad, I'm sorry to leave my home
Mm-mm-mm, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lordy»

Spoken: She heard that 8:30 local blowin' that mornin'. She hadn't rid the train in a good while. She thought it'd have that Special Streamline. She heard at 8:30 local when she is comin' to the line, declared up for that Streamline Blowin' like this:

[guitar and washboard play]

She said, «Daddy, is that my train?» I say «I ain't keepin' up with the train time, I'm tryin-a make a few dimes». She dropped her head went to singin' an cryin':

«Hey, it's alright how you turn me down
Mm-mm-mm, I ain't got a dime».

Spoken: After she called for a ticket she heard this Special Streamline going 36 miles from Memphis, Tennessee. Make ya lonesome, now, 'cause I'm a hobo myself, sometimes.

[guitar and washboard play]

Man asks her, «Where the other train»? She told him she didn't know. If she heard a bell she could tell him all about it. As she dropped over that hill and stopped off in the valley she heard the bell begin to toll like this:

[guitar and washboard play]

«Make a sound like a church bell toll».

Before she got to that ten mile tunnel she blowed and throw'd on the airbrakes.

[guitar and washboard play]

Airbrakes!

When she got to that ten mile tunnel she was gettin' close. She was tippin' cars on automatic switch, gettin' her water and coal on the fly. You could hear her when she was strikin' that double iron like this: [guitar and washboard play]

When she run 'cross the last one she squalled in.

[guitar and washboard play]

This girl looked out an seen that train. She commenced to singin' an cryin'.

«Hey, dad I don't wanna leave
Mm-mm
I believe I'll lose my mind».

Spoken: When that train got a little closer down to New Orleans, she went around that curve, you would hear her when she's blowin' like this: [guitar and washboard play]

The people's always standin' at the station lyin' there to see that train come in. You would hear her when she squalls. [guitar and washboard play]

«Boy, everywhere but here»

Strange Place Blues - Bukka White

Strange Place Blues

Bukka White

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, March 7, 1940

Vocalion Records WC-2978-A Vo-05526

I'm a stranger at this place and I'm looking for my mother's grave
I'm a stranger at this place and I'm looking for my mother's grave
Well, it seems like to me, ooo, well, someone must stoled it away

I was at my mother's grave when they put my mother away
I was at my mother's grave when they put my mother away
And I can't find no one, ooo, well, to take her place

I thought after my mother was put away, I thought my wife would take her place
After my mother was put away, I thought my wife would take her place
I show you a difference in a mother and a wife, ooo, well, my wife done throwed me away

I whished I could find someone to take my mother's place
I whished I could find someone to take my mother's place
If I can't find no one, ooo, well, you will find me in a grave

I'm standing on my mother's grave and I whished I could see her face
I'm standing on my mother's grave and I whished I could see her face
I be glad when that day comes, ooo, well, when these blues drive me away

When Can I Change My Clothes - Bukka White

When Can I Change My Clothes