Big Fat Mama Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, August 31, 1928

Victor Records 45465-1 Vi 38535

Crying big fat mama, meat shaking on her bones
Time the meat shake it's a sign a woman lose her home

Well, I'm going away mama, won't be back till fall, won't be back till fall
Mmm, going away mama, won't be back till fall
Big fat mama with the meat shaking on her bones

Well, I, mmm, got to murmur, got to murmur low, mmm
No need to holler, I got to murmur low
Big fat mama, Lord, meat shake on her bones

Every time the meat shake, fat mouth lose a home, fat mouth lose a home, mmm
Mmm, every time the meat shake it's a fat mouth lose a home
Time the meat shake it's a fat mouth lose a home

Mmm, what's the matter, rider, where did you stay last, where did you stay last night
Mmm, what's the matter, rider, where did you stay last night
Hair all down, baby, and you won't treat me right

Mmm, big fat mama, meat shaking on her bones, meat shaking on her bones
Mmm, big fat mama, meat shaking on her bones

Big Road Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, February 3, 1928

Victor Records 41837-2 Vi-21279

Cryin', ain't goin' down this big road by myself
Now don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama?
Lord, ain't goin' down this big road by myself
If I don't carry you, gon' carry somebody else

Crying, sun going to shine in my back door some day
Now don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama?
Lord, sun going to shine in my back door some day
And the wind going to change going to blow my blues away

Baby, what makes you do me like you do do do, like you do do do
Don't you hear me now?
What makes you do me like you do do do?
Now you think you going to do me like you done poor Cherry Red

Taken the poor boy's money now, sure, Lord, won't take mine
Now don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama?
Taken the poor boy's money now, sure, Lord, won't take mine
Taken the poor boy's money now, sure, Lord, won't take mine

Cryin', ain't goin' down this big road by myself
Now don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama?
Lord, ain't goin' down this big road by myself
If I don't carry you, gon' carry somebody else

Crying, sun going to shine in my back door some day
Now don't you hear me talkin', pretty mama?
Lord, sun going to shine in my back door some day
And the wind going to change, blow my blues away

Bye-Bye Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, February 4, 1928

Victor Records 41838-1 Vi-21409

Crying by-and-by, baby, by-and-by
It's by-and-by, baby won't you by-and-by
Cryin' by-and-bye, baby won't you bye and bye

Says Good Book tell you reap just what you sow
Says Good Book tell you, baby, reap just what you sow
Going to reap it now or baby reap it by-and by

Well, I'm going away, won't be back till fall
Well, I'm going away, Lord, baby, won't be back till fall
If I meet my good gal then baby won't be back at all

Says Good Book tell you reap just what you sow
Says Good Book tell you, baby, reap just what you sow
Going to reap it now or baby reap it by-and by

Well, it's two trains running, running side by side
Two trains running, baby, running side by side
You got my woman, babe I know you're satisfied

Canned Heat Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, August 31, 1928

Victor Records 45462-2 Vi-V38535

Crying canned heat, canned heat, mama, cryin' sure, Lord, killing me
Crying canned heat, mama, sure Lord, killing me
Takes alcorub to take these canned heat blues

Crying mama, mama, mama, you know, canned heat killing me
Crying mama, mama, mama, crying canned heat is killing me
Canned heat don't kill me, crying, babe, I'll never die

I woked up, up this morning with canned heat on my mind
Woked up this morning, canned heat was on my mind
Woked up this morning with canned heat, Lord, on my mind

Crying, Lord, Lord, I wonder, canned heat, Lord, killing me
Jake alcohol's [ruined me], [?churning?] 'bout my soul
Because brownskin women don't do the easy roll

I woke up, up this morning, crying, canned heat 'round my bed
Run here, somebody, take these canned heat blues
Run here, somebody, and take these canned heat blues

Crying mama, mama, mama, crying canned heat killing me
Believe to my soul, Lord, it going to kill me dead

Cool Drink Of Water Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennesse, February 3, 1928

Victor Records 41836-2 Vi-21279

I asked for water and she gave me gasoline
I asked for water, gave me gasoline
I asked for water and she gave me gasoline
Lord, good Lordy, Lord

Crying, Lord, I wonder will I ever get back home
Crying, Lord, I wonder will I ever get back home
Lord, good Lordy, Lord

I went to the depot, looked up on the board
I asked the conductor how long has this eastbound train been gone

It done taken you faro, blowed its smoke on you
It done taken you, blowed its smoke on you
Lord, good Lordy, Lord

Lord, I asked the conductor could I ride the blinds
spoken: Want to know, can a broke man ride the blinds?
Son, buy your ticket, buy your ticket because the train ain't none of mine
Son, buy your ticket, train ain't none of mine
Son, buy your ticket, 'cause this train ain't none of mine
Lord, good Lordy, Lord

Train ain't none of mine

Lonesome Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Grafton, Wisconsin c. December 1929

Paramount Records L-230-2 Pm-13000

Lonesome place don't seem like it's home to me
Lonesome place don't seem like it's home to me

I woke up this morning blues all around my bed
Lord, this morning, blues all around my bed
Had the blues so bad, mama, till I couldn't rise up my head

If you want to live easy pack your clothes with mine
Mmm, 'f you want to live easy pack your clothes with mine
If you want to live easy pack your clothes with mine

Mmm, soon one morning blues come falling down
Mmm, soon one morning blues come falling down
Well, they fell so heavy that it caused my heart to moan

Well, I'm going back home, going to fall down on my knees
Mmm, I'm going back home, going to fall down on my knees
Says, I'll acknowledge now, pretty baby, that I treated you mean

Lonesome Home Blues (take 1)

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, August 31, 1928

Victor Records 45463-1 Vi unissued

Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls
I'm going to find my woman, says she's in the world somewhere

Well, it's good to you mama sure Lord killing me
Well, it's good to you mama sure Lord killing poor me
But as good as you, mama, sure Lord killing me

I wonder do my rider think of me
I wonder do my rider think of poor me
Lord, if she did she would sure, Lord, feel my care

I woke up this morning, said my morning prayers
I woke up this morning, said my morning prayers
I woke up this morning, babe, said my morning prayers

I ain't got no woman speak in my behalf
I ain't got no woman, Lord, speak in my behalf
I ain't got no woman to speak in my behalf

Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls
Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls
I'm going to find my woman, says she's in the world somewhere

Said, I'll learn you how to starch 'em overalls

Lonesome Home Blues (take 2)

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, August 31, 1928

Victor Records 45463-2 Vi unissued

Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls
I'm going to find my woman, says she's in this world somewhere

I wonder do my good girl think of me
I wonder do my good girl think of poor me
Crying if she did she would sure, Lord, feel my care

Honey, it's good to you, mama, sure, Lord, killing me
Honey, it's good to you, mama, sure, Lord, killing poor me
It's good to you, mama, *but it's* sure, Lord, killing poor me

I woke up this morning, said my morning prayers
I woke up this morning, said my morning prayers
I ain't got no woman to speak in my behalf

Ah, it's good to you, sure, Lord, killing me
Honey, it's good to you, mama, sure, Lord, killing poor me
Eh, it's good to you, mama, says *he*, Lord, killing poor me

Ah wash my jumper, starch my overalls
Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls
I'll find my woman, says she's in this world somewhere

Won't you wash my jumper, starch my overalls

Maggie Campbell Blues

Tommy Johnson

Recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, February 4, 1928

Victor Records 41839-2 Vi-21409

Aah, who's that yonder coming down the road, coming down the road
Mmm, who's that yonder coming down the road
Well, it looks like Maggie, baby, but she walks too slow

Aah, sun going to shine in my back door some day, my back door some day
Mmm, sun going to shine in my back door some day
And the wind going to change, going to blow my blues away

Aah, see, see rider, see what you done done, see what you done done
Mmm, see, see rider, see what you done done
You done made me love you, now you're trying to put me down

Well, I'm going away, Lord, won't be back till fall, won't be back till fall
Well, I'm going away, Lord, won't be back till fall
And if I meet my good gal, well, I won't be back at all

Aah, who's that yonder coming down the road, coming down the road
Mmm, who's that yonder coming down the road
Well, it looks like Maggie, baby, but she walks too slow

Mmm, I'm going away, won't be back till fall, won't be back till fall
Well, I'm going away, Lord, won't be back till fall
Then if I meet my good gal, well, I won't be back at all