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by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1963, Houston and 1968 resp.
from Lightnin'
Hopkins - Morning Blues, Charly Blues Masterworks Vol. 8 (CD
BM 8) & Lightnin' Hopkins The
Ultimate Texas Bluesman (Bluetab BTAB CD-1000),
copyright
notice
What you gonna do with a woman, yeah, when she got a
back do'
friend?
What are you gonna do with a woman, yes, when she got a back
do' friend?
She just prayin' for you to move out, so her back do' friend
can move in
Yes, it's hard to love a woman, yes, you know she got a back
do' friend
Yes, it's hard to love a woman, oh Lord, yes, you know she
got a back do' friend
Yes, when she prayin' for you to move out, so her back do'
friend can move in
Yeah, you know I bought that woman a diamond ring, I thought
that she would change
I went home one morn' and I caught her doin', whoa, that
same old thing
Now what you gonna do with a mad woman, oh, when she got a
back do' friend
When she prayin' all the time for you to move out, so her
back do' friend, he can move in
__________
Note: this song is also known under the title "Letter To My
(Back Door Friend)" on Charly Blues Masterworks Vol. 8,
recording of 1963, Houston
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1959
from Lightnin'
Hopkins [Smithsonian/Folkways] (Smithsonian/Folkways
SF 40019), copyright
notice
Trouble Lord, trouble, trouble's all I see
Trouble, I said trouble, trouble's all I see
Yes, you know I got nobody to work and care for me
Bad luck and trouble, two of my best friends
Bad luck and trouble, two of my best friends
You'll see me with no trouble organizing' bad luck, which
I'm walkin' in
Bad luck and trouble, hangin' 'round my door
Bad luck and trouble, hangin' 'round my door
You believe it I'm a hopin', it won't come back no more
(spoken: goodbye trouble!)
Top
by Robert
Ellen
recording of early 1950's
from Sittin'
In With (Mainstream 905),
copyright
notice
Give me - I'm gonna take it - back that wig I bought you
woman,
oh Lord, let your doggone head go bald
Give me back that wig I bought you woman,
I'm mad at you as I can be,
let your doggone head go bald
You know the special del'vry brought me a letter this
mornin',
cryin', woman you don't need no hair at all
Special delivery man said he seed you on the corner last
night,
you was talking with another man
He said you was tagging all around with a,
whiskey bottle in your hand
I say give me back that wig I bought you,
oh Lord, let your doggone head go bald
Yes you know the news I got from downtown,
woman you don't need no hair at all
(what you want with a woman who ain't got no hair?
What's the matter with you girl?)
I'm just gonna tell you, po' Lightnin' is fair
I'm just gonna cut out one of these, little locks of my
hair
'Cause don't be bothered with you no more,
yes I want you to have pretty hair here, hair every place we
go
top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 19
from The
Jazz Life (Candid CCD-79019),
copyright
notice
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your
tree
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your
tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I take you down in town, I paid your doctor bill
When I'm in some trouble, you're tryin' to get me killed
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your
tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I took you in my home, you ate up all my bread
I left there this mornin', you tried to mess up in my
bed
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your
tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Well I woke up this mornin', the same thing on my mind
I was thinkin' 'bout you baby, you were walkin' down the
line
Well you're one black cat, some day you'll find your
tree
Then I'll hide my shoe somewhere near your sherry tree
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1964
from Complete
Prestige/Bluesville Recordings (Bluesville 7PCD-4406-2 and
Prestige 4406-2),
copyright
notice
Black ghost, black ghost, please stay away from my door
Black ghost, black ghost, will you please stay away from my
door
Yeah you know you worry po' Lightnin' so now, I just can't
sleep no more
Yeah you know I go to dreaming first night, black ghost is
all po' Lightnin' can see
I go to dreaming first night, black ghost is all po'
Lightnin' can see
You know that's why I begin to wonder why you keeps on
worryin' me
Black ghost is a picture, and the black ghost is a shadow
too
Whoa, black ghost is a picture, and the black ghost is a
shadow too
You just can see him, but you can't hear him talkin'
Ain't nothin' else that a black ghost can do
Black Ghost Blues!
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins s
recording of 19??
from Mojo
Hand: The Anthology (Rhino
R2-71226), copyright
notice
Mmmm, blues early in the mornin', whoa, Lord, ya know I have
them late at night
Mmmm, early in the mornin', God knows I have 'em late at
night
Yeah, you know I been wonderin' why my little baby, she just
won't straighten up and fly right
Well, you take a man have the blues, whoa, he can't last
very long
Mmmmmm, whoa, he can't last very long
Well, he wake up early and he moanin', "Om", in the woods,
that poor child, God, he's gone
Top
Breakfast
Time
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 19
from Jewel
Spotlights The Blues, Vol. 2 (Jewel
5016), copyright
notice
Cook my breakfast, bring it to my bed
Cook my breakfast, bring it to my bed
When I eat this morning, my whole family been fed
Cook my biscuits, cook 'em good and brown
Cook my biscuits, cook 'em good and brown
If you see my bread burning, turn you pan around
I want my coffee, I want it hot, hot
I want my coffee, I want it hot, hot
I want you to turn up your stove, so it will burn my coffee
hot
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of November 1961, Berkeley, California
from Lightnin' Sam Hopkins (Arhoolie F1011),
copyright
notice
Just look at the people, whoa, just look at the peoples I
got over here
I said just look at the people, just look at the peoples I
got over here
You know a little sixteen-year-old girl come to me talked
and said, "Lightnin',
would you take me for your souvenir?"
You know they had a big fire down in L.A., all them
buildings is burnin' down
Oh, they had a big fire down in L.A., (well in Beverly Hills
or somewhere a little close)
all them buildings is burnin' down
You know they was lookin' for the fire trucks and in time
none of 'em would come around
(Po' children were runnin' and cryin'
They couldn't help themselves, they was talkin' too)
You gotta get this lesson, children, you gotta get it from
the book
Talkin' about the things you buy raw, them is things you
gotta cook
Mama say she was hungry round about ten o'clock
That was the time the world was beginnin' to get on a
rock
That was the burnin' down in L.A., all them buildings was
burnin' down
Well you know they didn't have enough water to put out the
fire
250-some home they got burnin' down
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1969
from Los
Angeles Blues (Rhino 72173),
copyright
notice
Take me outta this bottom, take me outta this bottom, baby,
little girl, fore this water rise
Take me outta this bottom, take me outta this bottom, little
girl, fore this water rise
You know I must-a been born by the devil, po' Lightnin don't
wanna be baptized
See, it's rainin' in ol' California's the reason I said it,
the houses slidin' down off the hill
Many, many many friends have lost their home, just because
the water was falling so hard,
And the mudslide had taken their home
And I said
Lettin' ya know how it's happenin' now
Take me outta this bottom, take me outta this bottom, baby,
po' Lightnin can't feel satisfied
Take me outta this bottom, take me outta this bottom, po'
Lightnin just can't feel satisfied
Just you know many friends of mine lost they home, by that
old mudslide
Don't take me to be wrong people, forgive me for my
mistake
You know, please, please, please, forgive me for my
mistake
Well, after all that flood come in California, do you know,
the good Lord old ground begin to shake?
That's that earthquake that was comin'
Have mercy
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of December 1961, Berkeley, California
from Lightnin' Sam Hopkins (Arhoolie F1011),
copyright
notice
Just take a look at the weather, it keep rainin' all the
time
Just take a look at the weather, it keep rainin' all the
time
You know it be rainin' this minute and the next minute, you
look up and you'll see sunshine
Tell me why there's rain, why it storm in California all the
time
Tell me why do it rain, why it storm in California all the
time
I don't want the rain but you still have plenty sunshine
You know it keeps on rainin', you know this poor man can't
make no time
You know if it keeps on rainin', you know this poor man
can't make no time
You know if I can't go to my job, how I'm gonna feed this
family of mine?
You know the poor children are runnin' "I'm hungry", when I
don't have a lousy dime
Poor children runnin', cryin' "Daddy I'm hungry" and I don't
have a lousy dime
That's the reason I was singin' when it started rainin' in
California, why do it keep rainin' all the time?
You know it was dark and cloudy, raindrops settled on my
window pane
You know it was dark it was cloudy, the raindrops settled on
my window pane
You know my children didn't have nothin' to eat, now peoples
ain't that a cryin' shame
My poor wife walkin', tellin' the children this is a cryin'
shame
My poor wife walkin', tellin' the children this is a cryin'
shame
Yeah we all goin' down starvation I do believe but your
daddy ain't to blame
That's all right, that's all right, you don't have to worry
no more
That's all right, that's all right, children you don't have
to worry no more
You know the sun is shinin' now, cool breeze from the sweet
wind how it blow
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording between 1961 and 1969
from Po'
Lightnin' (Arhoolie 1087),
copyright
notice
Well I don't work in no candy kitchen, Lord knows I don't
stay on no chewin' gum
Well I don't work in no candy kitchen, Lord knows I don't
stay on no chewin' gum
Yes, but 'til I know how to grab no pick and shovel and roll
from town to town
I woke up this morning, saw the rain fallin' on the
ground
I woke up this morning, saw the rain fallin' on the
ground
I had to go to work on another job, way over 'cross town
It's an awful thing, just to hear her black man sing
It's an awful thing, just to hear her black man sing
You I done threw myself away, 'cause I don't have to work on
the W.P.A.
Top
Traditional
recording of 1961
from probably Blues
In My Bottle (Bluesville
OBCCD-506-2), copyright
notice
You know I wished I was a catfish, swimming in that deep
blue sea
I'd have all the good looking women there boy, fishing after
me
Fishing after me
Ooh ooh
I went down to my baby's house
She said, "Lightnin', come on in
Ain't nobody here with me good Lord
You know I'm your friend"
You know I went down to my baby's house, Lord, I sat down on
them steps
She said, "Come on in this house Lightnin', husband just now
left
My husband just now left, sho'h 'nough I'm by myself
He just now left"
You know I went down to the river, started jump overboard
and drown
I thought about that little mama, turned around, I went
walking back to town
Back to town
Back to town
Sho'h 'nough, back to town
You know I wish I was a catfish, swimming, Lord in that deep
blue sea
I'd have all the good looking women's, fishing after me
Fishing after me
Sho'h 'nough
Ain't lying
Mmm mmmm
Top
Cemetery
Blues
by Robert
Ellen
recording of early 1950's
from Sittin'
In With (Mainstream 905),
copyright
notice
Poor grandpa, he died but that's the debt we all got to
pay
Yeah, we livin' now but every livin' people done, whoa Lord,
he gotta died one day
Lord I followed the hearse down to the burial ground,
see four men when they let poor grandpa down
Yes I followed the hearse down to the burial ground,
see four men when they let poor grandpa down
Couldn't stand it, mercy, Lord
Yes you know it hurtin' me so bad, till I almost had a
nervous breakdown
Yes she know it was sad when we got back home, po'
grandma
That's who I felt sorry for, and myself too in a way
When we got back home, this is what grandma say
She "Son, where's my bonnet" and she had it on her head
You know it was sad time, sad time when grandpa died,
whoa, we didn't have no place to go
Grandma said "Your good times is over, grandpa is gone
You'll never have no good times no more"
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1950, New York
from The
Blues (Mainstream 311),
copyright
notice
Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no coffee
home
Mama got mad at papa 'cause he didn't bring no coffee
home
She begin to wonder what is going on wrong
Papa said, "Mama, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get
mad with me
Baby, I ain't mad with you, now, don't you get mad with
me"
Papa must have been teasing mama 'cause she said, "I ain't
mad with you"
Papa must have been teasing mama 'cause she said, "I ain't
mad with you"
She said, "Everything's all right; don't make no difference
what you do"
(Spoken: You know papa got good with mama somehow)
And I was crying for bread, and yes, I,
baby, I was crying for bread; and these are the words I
said
(Spoken: Now look at mama, just trying to shout)
It was early one evening but papa came home late at
night
It was early one evening but papa came home late at
night
That's when mama was mad and her and papa began to fight
Top
Contrary
Mary
by Robert
Ellen
recording of early 1950's
from Sittin'
In With (Mainstream 905),
copyright
notice
Contrary, she contrary, she won't do nothing she say
She contrary, she contrary, she won't do nothing in the
world she say
She done been married twice and her first husband, man he
just let her have her way
But you know I won't do that!
You better change your way woman, little girl, Johnny tells
you again, good advice!
You better change your way, little girl, Johnny tells you
again
Then you'll have better times, little girl and you'll have
much o'friend
One more, one more time'll do
One more, one more time'll do
Yes I'm gonna get me somebody else darling, then I'll be
through with you
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1964
from Complete
Prestige/Bluesville Recordings (Bluesville 7PCD-4406-2 and
Prestige 4406-2),
copyright
notice
Just to say hello, my little darling
Do you remember me?
Now it's been a great long time, I just wanna let you
see
Hello, speak to me
I been wondering, where can my little darling be?
But it's been such a great long time, darling do you
remember me?
I've been places, way over sea,
that's why I know you done forgotten all about poor me
But just to say hello, darling do you remember me?
Your face, somethin' I wanna see,
just to know darling, you used to enjoy with me
But hello, hello darling, baby, do you remember me?
Top
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 1961
from Complete
Prestige/Bluesville Recordings (Bluesville 7PCD-4406-2 and
Prestige 4406-2),
copyright
notice
Sound like I'm hearing moaning, death bell ringing all in my
head
Sound like I can hear moaning, death bell ringing all in my
head
Yeah I know that I was gonna leave on a chariot but I didn't
know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
I want you to remember every living people, every living
people bound to die
I want you to remember every living people, every living
people bound to die
Yeah you know when that chariot come at you, they'll break
running, try to hide
You all know my mama told me, you know my papa told me
too
You know my mama told me, oh papa told me too
He said you know one day son, that chariot, oh Lord, coming
after you
Yeah you know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a
many year
You know the life I'm living, I've been living it for a many
year
I know the chariot was coming for me but I didn't know,
what kind of chariot gonna take me away from here
Top
Don't
Keep My Baby Long
by Sam
"Lightnin' " Hopkins
recording of 19
from , copyright
notice
Do you know I took that boy, I've taken him for my best
friend
But he done took my little woman, you know he must be an
enemy I don't trust
Yes if he don't care if my little girl waits, please don't
keep my baby long
Maybe I may hear from her, maybe I may hear from her one
day
Maybe I may hear from her, maybe I may hear from her one
day
And if she don't find me, baby you don't do what you say
Well I woke up this mornin' just about the break of day
I went to get some milk, all gone away
Oh little woman, hope you'll come back some day,
and when you do, please change your low down ways
Top
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