Back Door Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 15, 1935

Decca Records C-9656-A De-7156

[SPOKEN INTRO: ???]

Says the blues come down the alley headed up to my back door
Says the blues come down the alley headed up to my back door
Says I had the blues today, mama, just like I never had before

Blues and trouble have been my best friends
Blues and trouble have been my best friends
I says when the blues leave me my trouble just walked in

Now some folks says blues is trouble, nothing but evil running across your mind
Some folks says blues is trouble, nothing but evil running across your mind
Lord, when you setting down thinking about someone have treated you so nice and kind

Said you roll and you tumble till it almost make you blind
Said you roll and you tumble till it almost make you blind
When you get to thinking about your good gal, well, you almost to lose your mind

I said when you start walking, your mind running every way
Lord, and you start walking, your mind running every way
If you think about that old black woman, Lord, that led you off astray

Big Leg Mama

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, September 11, 1935

Decca Records 90314-A De-7116

Now it's mama, mama, mama, please keep your big legs down
Now it's mama, mama, mama, please keep your big legs down
So I can stop old John Russell, Lord, form hanging around

Says, I load coal in the morning and I cut corn late at night
Says, I load coal in the morning and I cut corn late at night
When I come on home and you and John Russell sure don't treat me right

Says, I hate like the devil to declare war in my happy home
Says, I hate like the devil to declare war in my happy home
Says, I loaned you my money and then you stole my gal and gone

Now you going to hear thunder and lightning from the end of my pistol barrel
Now you going to hear thunder and lightning from the end of my pistol barrel
Says, you stole my money, then you turned around and took my gal

Now my *old-black* is a-breaking and my lights is a-burning low
Now my *old-black* is a-breaking and my lights is a-burning low
When I load this carload of coal, captain, I sure ain't going load no more

Front Door Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 15, 1935

Decca Records C-9655-A De-7156

Says I knocked on my front door mama, my good gal wouldn't seem to let me in
Says I knocked on my front door mama, my good gal wouldn't seem to let me in
Says it must be another rounder laying up with my old black hen

Says it thunders and lightnings and the rain begins to fall
Says it thunders and lightnings, mama,  and the rain begins to fall
Says it must've be another mule, mama, kicking in my stall

Says I'm going to buy me a thirty-two twenty, mama, with a long six inch barrel
Says I'm going buy to me a thirty-two twenty, mama, with a long six inch barrel
Says I'm going to kill that mule, then I'm sure going kill my gal

Then I'm going to Caruthersville, mama, just to take that right-hand road
Says I'm going to Caruthersville, mama, just to take that right-hand road
Says I never quit walking till I walked up in my mama's door

Says I'll be sad and I'll be lonesome, worried I'll be blue
Says I'm tired of being worried with you

I'll Be Up Some Day

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in New York, February 18, 1936

Decca Records 60515-A De-7172

Says, I've been traveling, mama, all by myself
When I had you, baby, you thought I had somebody else

But that's all right, mama, I'll be up some day
And just like you did me, baby, I'm going to do you the same old way

Says, I asked my baby to take me back once more
She said «You ain't got no money, sweet papa, there is the door»

I said «That's all right, mama, I'll be up some day
And just like you did me, baby, I'm going to do you the same old way»

Said «Now I ain't got no money and no place to go
I asked you for a little small favor and you drove me from your door

But that's all right, mama, I'll be up some day
And just like you did me, baby, I'm going to do you the same old way

Now I've got a little sweet woman that I can call my own
I want you *turning-gate* women to please leave me alone

'Cause that's all right, mama, I'll be up some day
And just like you did me, baby, I'm going to do you the same old way

Ever since you been gone, mama, I've been about to lose my mind
But I got another little sweet woman and I don't want your three sixty-nine

'Cause that's all right, mama, I'll be up some day
And just like you did me, baby, I'm going to do you the same old way

Long And Tall

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 12, 1937

Decca Records 91070-A De-7306

Says, I love you, mama, but you don't even care for me
Says, I love you, mama, but you don't even care for me
Because you a long tall woman and I sure, God, ain't going to let you be

Now, she's long and she's tall, shaped just like a cannonball
Now, she's long and she's tall, shaped just like a cannonball
Says, I found that woman where the Southern cross the Yellow Dog

Then I heard the church bells toning way out on Dago Hill
Then I heard the church bells toning way out on Dago Hill
Then my heart struck sorrow, I guess you know just how I feel

Says, now tell me, mama, what make you do me like you do
Says, now tell me, mama, what make you do me like you do
Now, some day you going to want me and I swear and I won't want you

Some people crave high yellow, please give me my black and brown
Some people crave high yellow, please give me my black and brown
Now, if you mess with me, mama, I'm sure going to turn your damper down

Milk Cow Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, September 10, 1934

Decca Records C-9428-B De-7026

Hollering good morning I said: «Blues, how do you do»
Hollering good morning I said: «Blues, how do you do»
Fell mighty well this morning, can't get along with you

I cannot do right, baby, when you won't do right yourself
I cannot do right, baby, when you won't do right yourself
Lord, if my good gal quits me, well, I don't want nobody else

Now you can read out your handbook, preach out your Bible, fall down on your knees and pray the good Lord to help you
Because you going to need, you going to need my help some day
Mama, if you can't quit your sinning please quit your lowdown ways

Says I woke up this morning and I looked outdoors, says I know my mamlish milkcow, pretty mama, Lord, by the way she lows
Lord, if you see my milkcow buddy I said please drive her home
Says I ain't had no milk and butter, mama, Lord, since my cow been gone

Says my blues fell this morning and my love come falling down
Says my blues fell this morning and my love come falling down
Says I'll be your lowdown dog, mama, but please don't dog me around

Takes a rocking chair to rock, mama, a rubber ball to roll, takes a little teasing brown, pretty mama, just to pacify my soul
Lord, I don't feel welcome, eee, no place I go
Lord, the little woman I love, mama, have done drove me from her door

Mister Charlie

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, October 24, 1936

Decca Records 90958-A De-7261

Why shouldn't I take a chance, mama, when good luck comes along
Why shouldn't I take a chance, mama, when good luck comes along
Seems like everybody's down on me, always somebody's doing me wrong

Says, I can't live for loving but I just can't help myself
Says, I can't live for loving but I just can't help myself
Now, the little woman I'm loving quit me, well, I sure don't want nobody else

Oh, Mr. Charlie, why don't you leave my gal alone
Oh, Mr. Charlie, why don't you leave my gal alone
Well, you keep on kicking her, you bound to break up my happy home

And it was early this morning, I was walking down the avenue
Says, it was early this morning, I was walking down the avenue
Says, I had a good spirit, thought I was strolling along with you

Says, I turned around and I wrung my hands and cried
Says, I turned around and I wrung my hands and cried
Says, I felt so lonesome, I didn't have my baby by my side

Old Original Kokomo Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, September 10, 1934

Decca Records C-9429-B De-7026

Now one and one is two, mama, two and two is four
Mess around here, pretty mama, you know we got to go
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Now four and one is five, mama, five and one is six
You mess around here, pretty mama, you going to get me tricked
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Now six and one is seven, mama, seven and one is eight
You mess around here, pretty mama, you going to get me late
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Says I told you, mama, when you first fell across my bed
You been drinking your bad whiskey and talking all out your head
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

I don't drink because I'm dry, mama, don't drink because I'm blue
The reason I drink, pretty mama, I can't get along with you
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Now eight and one is nine, mama, nine and one is ten
You mess around here, pretty mama, I'm going to take you in
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Now ten and one is eleven, mama, eleven and one is twelve
You mess around here, pretty mama, you going to catch you a lot of hell
Crying oh, baby don't you want to go
Back to the *living light* city to sweet old Kokomo

Policy Wheel Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, July 15, 1935

Decca Records 90158-A De-7147

Now while you playing policy, buddy, play four eleven and forty-four
When you get your money then pack your bags and go

Crying oh, look what that policy wheel have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now while you playing policy play four eighteen and fifty-six
You can pile up your black money 'cause you sure going to get it fixed

Crying oh, look what that greyhound have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now, when you change your numbers play thirteen thirty-two and fifty one
But be careful, buddy, 'cause you might have to run

Crying oh, look what that policy wheel have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now, while you playing policy, buddy, play five nine and fifty-nine
But be careful, buddy, 'cause you might lose your mind

Crying oh, look what that coal-field have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now *ask you to* about gambling play eleven seventeen and sixty-one
If they don't give you your money, go buy you a gatling gun

Crying oh, look what that greyhound have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now if you wake up in the morning, ain't got nothing on your mind
Play that old country number that you call three sixty-nine

Crying oh, look what that policy wheel have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Now you can break out your windows and look down at your glass
Think you going to get my money, mama, that's your yas yas

Crying oh, look what that policy wheel have done to me
Says it done took all my money and but still it won't let me be

Salty Dog

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 12, 1937

Decca Records 91071-A De-7267

Won't you let me be your salty dog
I don't wanna be your man at all
Oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog

Now just one thing that worry my mind
All of these womens, ain't none of them mine
You salty dog, oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog

Scaredest I ever been in my life
Old Uncle Bud liked to caught me kissing his wife
You salty dog, oh you salty dog

Now, big fish, little fish playing in the water
Come on back here, man, and give me my quarter
You salty dog, oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog

Won't you let me be your salty dog,
I don't wanna be your man at all
Oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog

Just like looking for a needle in a bed of sand
Just try to find a woman ain't got no man
You salty dog, oh you salty dog

Says, God made a woman and he made her mighty funny
The lips around her mouth just sweet as any honey
You salty dog, oh you salty dog, oh you salty dog

Old Uncle Bud, he's a man like this
He saves his money and use his fist
You salty dog, hey you puppy, oh you salty dog

Sissy Man Blues

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 15, 1935

Decca Records C-9654-A De-7050

I believe, I believe I'll go back home
I believe, I believe I'll go back home
Lord, aknowledge to my good gal, mama, Lord, that I have done you wrong

Now I'm going to ring up China, yeah man, see can I find my good gal over there
I'm going to ring up China, see can I find my good gal over there
Says, the Good Book tells me that I got a good gal in this world somewhere

Oh, and the church bells is toning, yeah man, on one Sunday morning
Oh, and the church bells is toning, on one Sunday morning
Hollering some old dirty deacon, I mean rung that bell stole my gal and gone

Lord, I woke up this morning with my Port China tickets in my hand
Says, I woke up this morning with my Port China tickets in my hand
Lord, if you can't send me no woman please send me some sissy man

I'm going to sing these blues, mama, yeah man, and I'm going to lay them upon your shelf
I'm going to sing these blues, mama, and I'm going to lay them upon your shelf
Lord, you going to hear these blues again, mama, well you sure got to sing them yourself

The Twelves

Kokomo Arnold

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, January 18, 1935

Decca Records C-9671-A De-7083

Says I want everybody fall in line
Shake your shimmy like I'm shaking mine
You shake your shimmy, shake it fast
If you can't shake your shimmy shake your yas yas yas

[CHORUS: ???]

Says *I am* wit your mama out across the field
Slipping and a-sliding just like an automobile
I hollered at you, mama, I told her to wait
She slipped away from me just like a Cadillac Eight

[CHORUS: ???]

Say I like your mama, sister too
I did like your papa but your papa wouldn't do
I met your papa around the corner the other day
I soon found out that he was funny that a-way

[CHORUS: ???]

Says I went out yonder New Orleans
The wildcat jumped on the sewing machine
The sewing machine sewed so fast
Sewed ninety-nine stitches up his yas yas yas

[CHORUS: ???]

Says God made Adam, made him stout
He wasn't satisfied until he made him a snout
He made him a snout jus as long as a rail
He wasn't satisfied until he made him a tail
He made him a tail just to fan the flies
He wasn't satisfied until he made him some eyes
He made him some eyes just to look on the grass
He wasn't satisfied then he made his yas yas yas
He made his yas yas yas *so he couldn't get a trick*
He wasn't satisfied until he made him some sick
He made him sick and then he made him well
You know by that the big boy coughing in hell

[CHORUS: ???]